Pests Of Jatropha

Jatropha Curcas is gaining importance commercially as the demand of nonrenewable fuel sources increases significantly and likewise jatropha curcas is an environmentally friendly energy plantation. Plantation of this plant is considered to be an excellent fuel substitute and it is likewise very economical compared to other fuels. Recently, Jatropha is dealing with some problem with pests and illness. The pests are categorized into two ranges: Pest that impact young plants and Pest that impact grown plants.

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

ipsilon: It is commonly known as Cut worm. This pest impacts the seedlings and young jatropha curcas plants. If the plant is impacted by the cutworm, the stem gets cut nearer to the soil surface and this will diminished the plant completely.

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

Scarabaeid Beetle: This pest destroys the root of the young plant. Initially, the larva consumes the raw materials present in the soil and then concerns the root. The larva attack might eliminate the entire plant.

Control: The plant with great resistance power can overcome the pest. For heavy attack, insecticides with elements carbosulfan and carbofuran can be utilized to kill the pest.

Army worm: Spodoptera litura existence can be identified by biting in the leaves. The severe infection might totally kill the plants.

Control: Insecticides are used to control the bugs.

Grasshopper: This is common insect discovered in numerous plants. Valanga nigricornis and Locusta migratoria commonly 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 pest harms the Jatropha stem and it is commonly seen in Indonesia. The stem assaulted by this insect usually fall down. The presence can be identified by the larva penetration hole at the stem.

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

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

Leaf Caterpillar: This bug can consume all the leaves of the plant in other words period. The quality and yield of the seeds get reduced due to the heavy attack.

Control: This can be managed by selecting the old larvae around the surface area and throwing away the attacked leaves.

Needle Caterpillar: This caterpillar is covered with spines and produces a burning experience when enabled to contact with skin as it produces specific chemical compound. Initially the pest crowded in the leaf and then spread out all over the plant when it gets older.

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

Leaf Hopper: This bug is found mainly in tropical and subtropical regions. The bug targets the leaf and draws all the nutrients of the leaf and gets curls at the tip. Later, the whole leaf dry and die.

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

Mite: Mite also attacks the leaf and makes the whole plant weak. The bug 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 appropriate sanitation and burning the fallen leaves. Heavy attack can be treated by spraying insecticides.

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

Chrysocoris javanus, Tip borer caterpillar.

Stink Bug: Sting bug is a severe insect which attacks the plant during bloom period so the crop yield totally drops. This bug is seen around the tropical area.

The harmful enzyme in the plant diminishes the whole plant.

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

Tip borer caterpillar: The bugs commonly occurs attacks the plant in blooming season and this pest is seen extensively 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 tips.

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