Pests Of Jatropha
Jatropha Curcas is gaining importance commercially as the need of fossil fuels increases significantly and likewise jatropha curcas is an eco-friendly energy plantation. Plantation of this plant is thought about to be an exceptional fuel replacement and it is likewise extremely cost-effective compared to other fuels. Recently, Jatropha is dealing with some difficulty with pests and diseases. The bugs are classified into 2 ranges: Pest that affect young plants and Pest that impact developed plants.
Young plant pests: Cutworm, Scarabeid Beetle, Army worm, Grasshopper.
Agrotis ipsilon: It is commonly referred to as Cut worm. This bug impacts the seedlings and young jatropha curcas plants. If the plant is affected by the cutworm, the stem gets cut nearer to the soil surface and this will shrunk the plant completely.
Control: This insect can be managed by picking the larva discovered around the plants or by blending the bran, sawdust with insecticides.
Scarabaeid Beetle: This pest ruins the root of the young plant. Initially, the larva consumes the raw materials present in the soil and after that pertains to the root. The larva attack may eliminate the whole plant.
Control: The plant with great resistance power can get rid of the insect. For heavy attack, insecticides with parts carbosulfan and carbofuran can be utilized to kill the insect.
Army worm: Spodoptera litura existence can be identified by biting in the leaves. The extreme infection might entirely eliminate the plants.
Control: Insecticides are utilized to manage the insects.
Grasshopper: This is common insect found in a number of plants. Valanga nigricornis and Locusta migratoria widely attacks the plant. The pest often attacks the young plant.
Control: The insecticides used betacyfluthrin, cypermethrin, thiodicarb, MIPC, and fipronil.
Pest observed in fully grown plants:
Pest of Stem: Ostrinia furnacalis, Xyleborus spp.
Ostrinia furnacalis and Xyleborus: This insect harms the jatropha curcas stem and it is commonly seen in Indonesia. The stem attacked by this pest generally drop. The presence can be recognized by the larva penetration hole at the stem.
Control: The Insecticide generally utilized to manage this bug is carbofuran.
Pest of leaf: The typical bugs observed are leaf caterpillar, Neetle caterpillar, Leaf hopper, Mite, Ear corn .
Leaf Caterpillar: This pest can eat all the leaves of the plant in other words duration. The quality and yield of the seeds get lowered due to the heavy attack.
Control: This can be managed by selecting the old larvae around the surface and getting rid of the attacked leaves.
Needle Caterpillar: This caterpillar is covered with spinal columns and produces a burning feeling when allowed to contact with skin as it produces certain chemical substance. Initially the insect crowded in the leaf and then spread all over the plant when it gets older.
Control: Manually, the pest can be eliminated just by soaking it in water or kerosene. The heavy attack can be controlled by spraying organophosphate insecticides.
Leaf Hopper: This insect is found mainly in tropical and subtropical regions. The insect targets the leaf and sucks all the nutrients of the leaf and gets curls at the pointer. Later, the entire leaf dry and die.
Control: The heavy attack can be controlled by using insecticides like imidachloprid, beta cyfluthrin or carbosulfan.
Mite: Mite also assaults the leaf and makes the entire plant weak. The bug existence can be determined when the leaf become yellow-colored, diminishes, turns red and drop. The insect can likewise be spread through fallen leaves.
Control: Some preventive measures can be done like 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 serious insect which assaults the plant during blossom duration so the crop yield totally falls down. This insect is seen around the tropical area.
The hazardous enzyme in the plant diminishes the entire 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 extensively in tropical areas. The female pest laid the eggs on the tender part of the plant and the young larvae feed the young fruits and plant tips.
Control: Manually, the assaulted seeds are advised to burn. The insecticides like monocrotophos and bensultap are sprayed at the blooming season.