Pests Of Jatropha

Jatropha Curcas is gaining value commercially as the demand of fossil fuels increases significantly and likewise Jatropha is an environmentally friendly energy plantation. Plantation of this plant is considered to be an outstanding fuel replacement and it is likewise very economical compared to other fuels. Recently, Jatropha is facing some difficulty with bugs and illness. The bugs are categorized into 2 varieties: Pest that impact young plants and Pest that impact matured plants.

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

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

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

Scarabaeid Beetle: This insect 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 might kill the whole plant.

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

Army worm: Spodoptera litura existence can be determined by biting in the leaves. The extreme infection might entirely kill the plants.

Control: Insecticides are utilized to manage the pests.

Grasshopper: This is common insect discovered in a number of plants. Valanga nigricornis and Locusta migratoria extensively attacks the plant. The bug often attacks the young plant.

Control: The insecticides used 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 commonly seen in Indonesia. The stem attacked by this bug generally fall down. The presence can be identified by the larva penetration hole at the stem.

Control: The Insecticide typically utilized to manage this pest is carbofuran.

Pest of leaf: The common bugs 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 minimized due to the heavy attack.

Control: This can be managed by picking the old larvae around the surface and throwing away the assaulted leaves.

Needle Caterpillar: This caterpillar is covered with spinal columns and produces a burning sensation when allowed to call with skin as it produces certain chemical compound. Initially the bug crowded in the leaf and after that spread all over the plant when it gets older.

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

Leaf Hopper: This insect is found primarily in tropical and subtropical areas. The insect targets the leaf and draws 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 utilizing insecticides like imidachloprid, beta cyfluthrin or carbosulfan.

Mite: Mite also assaults the leaf and makes the entire plant weak. The bug existence can be identified when the leaf become yellowish, shrinks, reddens and fall down. The pest can also be spread through fallen leaves.

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

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

Chrysocoris javanus, Tip borer caterpillar.

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

The in the plant shrinks the whole plant.

Control: Insecticides recommended for this bug is chlorfluazuron, diflubenzuron, alfamethrin, and lamda cyhalothrin.

Tip borer caterpillar: The insects frequently takes place attacks the plant in blooming season and this insect is seen extensively in tropical areas. The female bug laid the eggs on the tender part of the plant and the young larvae feed the young fruits and plant ideas.

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