Eggplant Integrated Pest Management AN ECOLOGICAL GUIDE

__________________________________________________________________________________Major Eggplant Insect PestsPoints to remember about fruit and shoot borer:1. Fruit and shoot borer (FSB) is the most serious insect pest of eggplant, especially during thefruiting stage. During vegetative stages, eggplants can often compensate for loss of shoots byproducing new shoots.2. Removing infested shoots and fruits helps preventing population build-up.3. Pheromones, where available, help reduce FSB population by removing large numbers of males.4. Several naturally occurring parasitoids such as Trathala sp. and Cotesia sp. attack FSB larvae.Efficacy of these parasitoids under no-spray conditions needs to be further studied.5. Introduction of Trichogramma chilonis may be worth testing because this parasitoid has givengood FSB control in some areas, and it affects the eggs of FSB, thus reducing larval populations.6. Cultural practices such as proper sanitation, leveling soil, flooding, and the use of net houses mayreduce populations or prevent/delay crop infestation.7. Experimental methods to control FSB include the use of insect-killing nematodes.8. Pesticides are seldom effective for control of FSB.Related exercises from CABI Bioscience/FAO Vegetable IPM Exercise Manual4.1. Insect zoo4-A.3. Plant compensation study: shoot-pruning at different crop stages4-C1 Sanitation to control shoot borersFor more background reading and practical exercises on insect-killing nematodes for fruit and shootborer management, please refer to the report “Participatory Action Research on Vegetable IPM (withemphasis on Fruit and Shoot borer Management)” authored by Prabhat Kumar, FAO Vegetable IPMTraining Consultant, Jessore, Bangladesh, 1998. See reference list (chapter 11) on how to obtain copies.5.2 Epilachna beetle - Epilachna sp.See photos 8, 9 (page 176).Scientific name: Epilachna sp. or Henosepilachna sp.Common names: Epilachna beetle, Ladybird beetle, spotted leaf beetle.Ladybird beetles are well known for their role as predators of aphids, mealy bugs, and other insect pests.However, there is one group of ladybird beetles which is feeding on plants rather than on insects. Theseare the Epilachna beetles.There are many species of Epilachna known, but the most important ones are Epilachnavigintioctopunctata, E. duodecastigma, E. chrysomelina, E. similis, E. fulvosignata, E. sparsa and E.varivestis (the Mexican bean beetle). Epilachna vigintioctopunctata is the most commonly reportedeggplant pest. For field situations, it is usually not necessary to identify Epilachna beetles to the exactspecies as the management and control practices for all species are similar.DescriptionAdults and larvae are often seen living together. The adult is oval to round in shape, orange-red tobrownish-yellow in color and has 12 or 28 black spots on the back. Its body is covered with very finegolden hairs.The adult female lays clusters of oval, yellow eggs on the undersides of leaves. The larva which emergesabout 4-5 days later grows to a length of 6-7 mm. Larvae are pale yellow in color and have black,branched spines covering the back and sides. Fully grown larvae are dark yellow, broad, with a darkhead and strong branched spines. Larval development takes about 2 weeks.Adults and larvae can be found at both sides of the leaves. Adults fall to the ground or fly when they aredisturbed. The young normally stay in place. Due to their yellow color, they can easily be found on theplants. Adults are strong fliers.76Eggplant Ecological Guide