Major Pests of Nerium are:-
1.Sphingid caterpillar: Deilephila nerii
Symptom of damage:
- Caterpillar feed on the leaves
- Defoliation
Identification of the pest:
- Larva is stout with a spine in the anal region.
- Adult is robust green moth with yellow markings.
Management:
- Handpicking and destruction of caterpillars.
- Expose the pupae by deep ploughing
- Spray phosalone 35 EC 1 ml/lit or monocrotophos 25 EC 2 ml/lit
- Encourage predatory birds by erecting bird perches.
2.Common Indian Crow butterfly: Euploea core
Symptom of damage:
- Caterpillar feeds on the leaves
- Defoliation
Identification of the pest:
- Larva is blackish brown, striped with six tentacles, two near the anterior and posterior ends
- The adult is a black butterfly with a series of white spots on the margin of the wing.
Management:
- Hand picking and destruction of caterpillar
- Alternate Cropping
- Spray phosalone 35 EC 1 ml/lit or monocrotophos 25 EC 2 ml/lit
- Encourage predatory birds by erecting bird perches.
Source-
- TamilNadu Agritech Portal
