Description:

• The pink bollworm is widely distributed and thrives in hot, arid climates.
• In severe cases, up to 10 larvae may be found in a single boll, with 75–100% of bolls affected.

Damage Symptoms:

• Occurrence of "rosette" flowers.
• Premature opening of bolls.
• Infested flowers drop prematurely, and seeds are destroyed in advanced stages.
• Staining of lint both in the boll and during ginning, significantly reducing ginning percentage and lint quality.
• Retarded and weakened lint development.
• Poor germination capacity of seeds from affected bolls.

Preventive Measures:

• Install pheromone traps in the field.
• Grow early-maturing varieties to ensure bolls mature before the pest population builds up.

Control Measures:

• Apply cypermethrin at 2 ml/l or thiodicarb at 1.5 g/l.