The caterpillars spend their days hiding underground and feed on the surface of the plant during the night.
Moths emerge after dusk, mate, and lay eggs on the ventral surface of leaves and in moist soil. Freshly ploughed fields are preferred by insects for oviposition.
Damage Symptoms:
The fallen plants will lie on the ground with the stem still sticking out of the soil when infested.
Young larvae feed on tender foliage, while mature larvae cut the stem at the collar region.
Preventive Measures:
Fork the soil during summer months to expose larvae and pupae to avian predators and prevent infestation.
Install light traps during summer to attract adult moths.
Install pheromone traps at 5 per hectare.
Control Measures:
Drench the collar region of plants in the evening with chlorpyrifos 20 EC or endosulfan 35 EC at 4 ml/L a day after planting to help control the pests.
In endemic areas, apply NSKE 5%, endosulfan 35 EC 1 L, chlorpyrifos 20 EC 1 L, or neem oil 5 L in 500-750 L of water per hectare.