Pests Of Jatropha

Jatropha Curcas is gaining significance commercially as the need of nonrenewable fuel sources increases significantly and likewise Jatropha is an eco-friendly energy plantation. Plantation of this plant is considered to be an outstanding fuel alternative and it is likewise very affordable compared to other fuels. Recently, Jatropha is dealing with some problem with pests and diseases. The insects are classified into 2 varieties: Pest that impact young plants and Pest that impact matured plants.

Young plant pests: Cutworm, Scarabeid Beetle, Army worm, Grasshopper.

Agrotis ipsilon: It is commonly referred to as Cut worm. This insect affects the seedlings and young Jatropha plants. If the plant is affected by the cutworm, the stem gets cut nearer to the soil surface and this will shrunk the plant totally.

Control: This bug can be managed by choosing the larva found around the plants or by blending the bran, sawdust with insecticides.

Scarabaeid Beetle: This insect ruins the root of the young plant. Initially, the larva takes in the natural matters present in the soil and after that comes to the root. The might kill the entire plant.

Control: The plant with great resistance power can conquer the insect. For heavy attack, insecticides with parts carbosulfan and carbofuran can be utilized to kill the bug.

Army worm: Spodoptera litura existence can be identified by biting in the leaves. The serious infection could entirely eliminate the plants.

Control: Insecticides are used to control the pests.

Grasshopper: This is common pest found in a number of plants. Valanga nigricornis and Locusta migratoria widely assaults the plant. The bug frequently assaults the young plant.

Control: The insecticides utilized betacyfluthrin, cypermethrin, thiodicarb, MIPC, and fipronil.

Pest observed in mature plants:

Pest of Stem: Ostrinia furnacalis, Xyleborus spp.

Ostrinia furnacalis and Xyleborus: This bug damages the Jatropha stem and it is extensively seen in Indonesia. The stem attacked by this insect normally fall down. The presence can be determined by the larva penetration hole at the stem.

Control: The Insecticide usually used to manage this insect is carbofuran.

Pest of leaf: The typical insects observed are leaf caterpillar, Neetle caterpillar, Leaf hopper, Mite, Ear corn caterpillar.

Leaf Caterpillar: This insect can eat all the leaves of the plant in short duration. The quality and yield of the seeds get reduced due to the heavy attack.

Control: This can be managed by choosing the old larvae around the surface area and getting rid of the attacked leaves.

Needle Caterpillar: This caterpillar is covered with spines and produces a burning feeling when permitted to call with skin as it produces certain chemical substance. Initially the pest crowded in the leaf and after that spread out all over the plant when it grows older.

Control: Manually, the insect can be killed only by soaking it in water or kerosene. The heavy attack can be controlled by spraying organophosphate insecticides.

Leaf Hopper: This bug is found mostly in tropical and subtropical regions. The pest targets the leaf and draws all the nutrients of the leaf and gets curls at the tip. Later, the entire leaf dry and pass away.

Control: The heavy attack can be managed by utilizing insecticides like imidachloprid, beta cyfluthrin or carbosulfan.

Mite: Mite also attacks the leaf and makes the entire plant weak. The bug presence can be determined when the leaf ended up being yellow-colored, shrinks, turns red and drop. The bug can also be spread through fallen leaves.

Control: Some preventive measures can be done like appropriate sanitation and burning the fallen leaves. Heavy attack can be treated by spraying insecticides.

Some dreadful insect which assaults flower and fruit are, Stink bug (Nezara viridula)

Chrysocoris javanus, Tip borer caterpillar.

Stink Bug: Sting bug is a severe insect which assaults the plant throughout blossom duration so the crop yield entirely drops. This pest is seen around the tropical area.

The hazardous enzyme in the plant shrinks the whole plant.

Control: Insecticides suggested for this pest is chlorfluazuron, diflubenzuron, alfamethrin, and lamda cyhalothrin.

Tip borer caterpillar: The bugs typically happens attacks the plant in blooming season and this pest is seen commonly in tropical regions. The female bug laid the eggs on the tender part of the plant and the young larvae feed the young fruits and plant suggestions.

Control: Manually, the assaulted seeds are suggested to burn. The insecticides like monocrotophos and bensultap are sprayed at the flowering season.