Species:
 
Diaphania indica  (Saunder, 1851)
   
Common name:
 
Cucumber moth
   
Cotton caterpillar
   
Damaging stage:
 
Larvae
   
Crops Affected:
 
Cucurbits, legumes
   
Characteristic Damage:
 
Larvae cause serious damage on fruits by puncturing and feeding on the skin of young fruits.
   
Feeding result to lace-like patches and skeletonised leaves.
   
Folded leaves contain mature larvae and pupa in some cases.
   
Management and Control:
 
Monitor the area regularly.
   
Handpick larvae to reduce insect population.
   
Use microbial insecticides like Bacillus thuringensis (BT) and Nucleopolyhedrosis virus (NPV).
   
lambda-Cyhalothrin (BidaⓇ, KarateⓇ, DescarteⓇ), cypermethrin (e.g. BushwackⓇ, MagnumⓇ, Cymbush 5ECⓇ), fipronil (e.g. Ascend®, Flipper®), Bacillus thuringiensis subspecies aizawai (Bta) (e.g. Xentari®, Aztron), acephate (e.g. Acetam®, BlackhawkⓇ), fenitrothion (Sumithion 50Ⓡ), deltamethrin (e.g. Decis®, DecideⓇ, ScoutⓇ, Agro DeltametrinⓇ).
   
References:
http://www.plantwise.org/KnowledgeBank/Datasheet.aspx?dsid=19657
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diaphania_indica
http://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/51922-Diaphania-indica
http://new.russellipm-agriculture.com/insect.php?insect_id=167&lang=en

 

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