Pests Of Jatropha
Jatropha Curcas is acquiring significance commercially as the demand of fossil fuels increases greatly and also Jatropha is an environmentally friendly energy plantation. Plantation of this plant is considered to be an exceptional fuel alternative and it is also really cost-effective compared to other fuels. Recently, Jatropha is facing some trouble with pests and illness. The pests are categorized into two ranges: Pest that impact young plants and Pest that impact developed plants.
Young plant bugs: Cutworm, Scarabeid Beetle, Army worm, Grasshopper.
Agrotis ipsilon: It is typically known as 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 insect can be managed by choosing the larva found around the plants or by mixing the bran, sawdust with insecticides.
Scarabaeid Beetle: This pest ruins the root of the young plant. Initially, the larva takes in the natural matters present in the soil and then concerns the root. The larva attack may eliminate the entire 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 eliminate the bug.
Army worm: Spodoptera litura existence can be identified by biting in the leaves. The extreme infection could totally eliminate the plants.
Control: Insecticides are used to manage the bugs.
Grasshopper: This is common pest discovered in numerous plants. Valanga nigricornis and Locusta migratoria widely assaults the plant. The bug frequently 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 pest normally fall down. 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 consume all the leaves of the plant in other words period. The quality and yield of the seeds get decreased due to the heavy attack.
Control: This can be managed by choosing the old larvae around the surface and discarding the assaulted leaves.
Needle Caterpillar: This caterpillar is covered with spines and produces a burning sensation when enabled to exposure to skin as it produces specific chemical substance. Initially the bug crowded in the leaf and then spread out all over the plant when it grows older.
Control: Manually, the pest can be killed just by soaking it in water or kerosene. The heavy attack can be managed by spraying organophosphate insecticides.
Leaf Hopper: This pest is discovered mostly in tropical and subtropical regions. The bug targets the leaf and draws all the nutrients of the leaf and gets curls at the pointer. Later, the entire leaf dry and pass away.
Control: The heavy attack can be controlled by using insecticides like imidachloprid, beta cyfluthrin or carbosulfan.
Mite: Mite likewise attacks the leaf and makes the entire plant weak. The pest existence can be recognized when the leaf become yellowish, diminishes, turns red and drop. The pest can also be spread out through fallen leaves.
Control: Some preventive measures can be done like proper sanitation and burning the fallen leaves. Heavy attack can be dealt with by spraying insecticides.
Some awful bug which attacks flower and fruit are, Stink bug (Nezara viridula)
Chrysocoris javanus, Tip borer caterpillar.
Stink Bug: Sting bug is a severe pest which attacks the plant throughout blossom duration so the crop drops. This bug is seen around the tropical area.
The hazardous enzyme in the plant diminishes the entire plant.
Control: Insecticides suggested for this insect is chlorfluazuron, diflubenzuron, alfamethrin, and lamda cyhalothrin.
Tip borer caterpillar: The pests commonly occurs attacks the plant in flowering season and this pest 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 advised to burn. The insecticides like monocrotophos and bensultap are sprayed at the blooming season.