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Tobacco caterpillar (Spodoptera litura)

Spodoptera litura, the tobacco caterpillar, is a polyphagous noctuid that defoliates chilli, cotton, tobacco, soybean and pulses across south Asia. Management combines IPM tactics (pheromone trapping, handpicking, trap crops) with diamide and oxadiazine chemistries; chlorantraniliprole, emamectin benzoate, flubendiamide, indoxacarb and novaluron have been validated by ICAR-CTRI and AICRP trials.

Identification and biology

  • Host Range: polyphagous on tobacco, chilli, cotton, soybean, pulses, vegetables
  • Recommended Insecticide: emamectin benzoate 5 SG @ 5 g / 10 L; novaluron 10 EC @ 10 ml / 10 L
  • Diamide Efficacy: chlorantraniliprole gives ~85% larval reduction; LC50 ~0.56 mg a.i./L on moths
  • IPM Component: pheromone traps, castor/marigold trap crops, handpicking of 4th-5th instars

Management

Resistance to older organophosphates and synthetic pyrethroids has driven shift to newer chemistries.

See also: Helicoverpa Armigera Fruit Borer.

References

  1. Control of Insect Pests - ICAR-CTRI Rajahmundry. https://ctri.icar.gov.in/for_controlPests.php
  2. Management of Tobacco Caterpillar - Plantwise factsheet. https://plantwiseplusknowledgebank.org/doi/full/10.1079/pwkb.20157800053