Cotton Stem Weevil: Pempheres (Pempherulus) affinis
Symptoms of damage
- Swellings on the stem just above the ground level
- Young plants are invariably killed
- Older plants that survive lack vigor and strength, breaks at the nodes due to strong wind
Identification of the pest
- Larva – Grub, white in colour without leg (apodous)
- Adult – Very small weevil, dark in colour with two small white patches on the elytra
Management
- ETL: 10% infestation
- Basal application of FYM 25 t/ha and 250 kg/ha of neem cake
- Seed treatment with chlorpyriphos 20 EC @ 10ml/kg of seed+ Drenching collar region with chlorpyriphos 20 EC @ 2.5ml/ l on 15 and 30 DAS+ earthing up
- Spray any one of the following insecticides
- Carbaryl50 WP 2.5 kg/ha
- Carbofuran 3G 33.3 kg/ha.
Source-
- TamilNadu Agritech Portal
