Pests Of Jatropha

Jatropha Curcas is gaining significance commercially as the need of fossil fuels increases greatly and also Jatropha is an eco-friendly energy plantation. Plantation of this plant is considered to be an excellent fuel replacement and it is also extremely affordable compared to other fuels. Recently, Jatropha is dealing with some trouble with pests and illness. The insects are categorized into 2 ranges: Pest that affect young plants and Pest that affect developed plants.

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

Agrotis ipsilon: It is commonly called Cut worm. This insect impacts 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 entirely.

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

Scarabaeid Beetle: This pest damages 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 larva attack may kill the whole plant.

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

Army worm: Spodoptera litura presence can be recognized by biting in the leaves. The serious infection could totally eliminate the plants.

Control: Insecticides are utilized to control the insects.

Grasshopper: This prevails insect discovered in several plants. Valanga nigricornis and Locusta migratoria widely attacks the plant. The bug often 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 insect damages the Jatropha stem and it is widely seen in Indonesia. The stem attacked by this pest normally drop. The existence can be recognized by the larva penetration hole at the stem.

Control: The Insecticide usually used to manage this pest 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 period. The quality and yield of the seeds get lowered due to the heavy attack.

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

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

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

Leaf Hopper: This pest is found mostly in tropical and subtropical areas. The pest targets the leaf and sucks all the nutrients of the leaf and gets curls at the suggestion. Later, the entire leaf dry and die.

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

Mite: Mite also assaults the leaf and makes the entire plant weak. The pest existence can be identified when the leaf ended up being yellow-colored, shrinks, reddens and fall down. The insect can also be spread through fallen leaves.

Control: Some preventive steps can be simulated correct sanitation and burning the fallen leaves. Heavy attack can be treated by spraying insecticides.

Some terrible pest which attacks flower and fruit are, Stink bug (Nezara viridula)

Chrysocoris javanus, Tip borer caterpillar.

Stink Bug: Sting bug is a major insect which attacks the plant throughout bloom duration so the crop yield totally falls down. This insect is seen around the tropical area.

The poisonous enzyme in the plant diminishes the entire plant.

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

Tip borer caterpillar: The insects typically happens attacks the plant in flowering season and this insect is seen widely in tropical areas. The female insect laid the eggs on the tender part of the plant and the young larvae feed the young fruits and plant suggestions.

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