Pests Of Jatropha

Jatropha Curcas is getting importance commercially as the demand of fossil fuels increases enormously and likewise Jatropha is an environmentally friendly energy plantation. Plantation of this plant is considered to be an outstanding fuel replacement and it is also very economical compared to other fuels. Recently, Jatropha is dealing with some trouble with bugs and illness. The bugs are classified into two ranges: Pest that impact young plants and Pest that impact matured plants.

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

Agrotis ipsilon: It is frequently 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 and this will shrunk the plant entirely.

Control: This insect can be controlled by selecting the larva discovered around the plants or by mixing the bran, sawdust with insecticides.

Scarabaeid Beetle: This insect ruins the root of the young plant. Initially, the larva consumes the natural matters present in the soil and then pertains to the root. The larva attack may kill the entire plant.

Control: The plant with good resistance power can overcome the pest. For heavy attack, insecticides with components carbosulfan and carbofuran can be used to eliminate the insect.

Army worm: Spodoptera litura presence can be recognized by biting in the leaves. The severe infection could completely kill the plants.

Control: Insecticides are utilized to manage the bugs.

Grasshopper: This is common pest discovered in numerous plants. Valanga nigricornis and Locusta migratoria widely assaults the plant. The pest 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 widely seen in Indonesia. The stem assaulted by this bug normally drop. The existence can be determined by the larva penetration hole at the stem.

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

Pest of leaf: The common pests are leaf caterpillar, Neetle caterpillar, Leaf hopper, Mite, Ear corn caterpillar.

Leaf Caterpillar: This insect can eat all the leaves of the plant in other words 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 area and discarding the assaulted leaves.

Needle Caterpillar: This caterpillar is covered with spinal columns and produces a burning feeling when enabled to exposure to skin as it produces certain chemical substance. Initially the insect crowded in the leaf and then spread out all over the plant when it grows 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 pest is discovered primarily in tropical and subtropical areas. The pest 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 managed by utilizing insecticides like imidachloprid, beta cyfluthrin or carbosulfan.

Mite: Mite likewise attacks the leaf and makes the entire plant weak. The insect existence can be recognized when the leaf become yellowish, diminishes, reddens and fall down. The insect can also be spread through fallen leaves.

Control: Some preventive measures can be simulated appropriate sanitation and burning the fallen leaves. Heavy attack can be dealt with by spraying insecticides.

Some dreadful bug which attacks 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 during bloom duration so the crop yield completely drops. This bug is seen around the tropical region.

The harmful enzyme in the plant shrinks the entire plant.

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

Tip borer caterpillar: The pests commonly occurs attacks the plant in flowering season and this bug is seen widely 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 pointers.

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