| Common Species: | |
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Spodoptera litura (Fabricius) |
| Common Name: | |
|
taro catterpillar |
|
cluster caterpillar |
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common cutworm |
|
cotton leafworm |
|
cotton worm |
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tobacco caterpillar |
| Damaging Stage: | |
|
Larvae
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| Crops Afected: | |
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Cucurbits, solanaceous, legumes, brassicas, cotton, tobacco, onion
|
| Characteristics Damage: | |
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Newly hatched larvae attack their hosts in cluster and feed gregariously by scraping the leaf surface.
|
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Larvae move and feed on the other leaves making large irregular holes and may leave only the veins. |
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High infestation results to severe defoliation. |
| Control and Management: | |
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Monitor the area regularly.
|
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Hand pick the larvae to reduce the population. |
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Remove weeds and volunteer plants that may serve as alternate hosts. |
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Cultivate the soil by plowing and harrowing and use plastic mulch to minimize pupation in the soil. |
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Plant trap crops like sunflower, taro or castor plants around the area. |
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Use of pathogens like the nuclear polyhedrosis virus and entomopathogenic fungi Aspergillus flavus, Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae to reduce cutworm population. |
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Apply botanical insecticide like neem extract. |
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Apply lamda-cyhalothrin (e.e. Karate®), tebufenozide (e.g. Mimic®) and fipronil (e.g. Ascend®) when necessary. |
| References: | |
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spodoptera_litura |
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