Pests Of Jatropha
Jatropha Curcas is getting value commercially as the demand of fossil fuels increases significantly and likewise Jatropha is an eco-friendly energy plantation. Plantation of this plant is considered to be an outstanding fuel replacement and it is also extremely cost-effective compared to other fuels. Recently, Jatropha is facing some difficulty with pests and diseases. The insects are categorized into 2 ranges: Pest that affect young plants and Pest that affect developed plants.
Young plant pests: Cutworm, Scarabeid Beetle, Army worm, Grasshopper.
Agrotis ipsilon: It is frequently understood as Cut worm. This pest affects the seedlings and young Jatropha plants. If the plant is affected by the cutworm, the stem gets cut nearer to the soil surface and this will shrunk the plant totally.
Control: This insect can be managed by selecting the larva discovered around the plants or by mixing the bran, sawdust with insecticides.
Scarabaeid Beetle: This pest destroys the root of the young plant. Initially, the larva takes in the raw materials present in the soil and after that comes to the root. The larva attack may eliminate the entire plant.
Control: The plant with excellent resistance power can the pest. For heavy attack, insecticides with components carbosulfan and carbofuran can be utilized to eliminate the insect.
Army worm: Spodoptera litura presence can be determined by biting in the leaves. The severe infection might completely kill the plants.
Control: Insecticides are utilized to manage the bugs.
Grasshopper: This is typical bug discovered in numerous plants. Valanga nigricornis and Locusta migratoria extensively attacks the plant. The pest often assaults the young plant.
Control: The insecticides used betacyfluthrin, cypermethrin, thiodicarb, MIPC, and fipronil.
Pest observed in mature plants:
Pest of Stem: Ostrinia furnacalis, Xyleborus spp.
Ostrinia furnacalis and Xyleborus: This pest harms the Jatropha stem and it is commonly seen in Indonesia. The stem attacked by this pest usually fall down. The existence can be determined by the larva penetration hole at the stem.
Control: The Insecticide usually used to control this bug is carbofuran.
Pest of leaf: The common insects observed are leaf caterpillar, Neetle caterpillar, Leaf hopper, Mite, Ear corn caterpillar.
Leaf Caterpillar: This bug can eat all the leaves of the plant simply put duration. The quality and yield of the seeds get decreased due to the heavy attack.
Control: This can be controlled by selecting the old larvae around the surface area and getting rid of the assaulted leaves.
Needle Caterpillar: This caterpillar is covered with spinal columns and produces a burning experience when allowed to exposure to skin as it produces certain chemical compound. Initially the bug crowded in the leaf and after that spread out all over the plant when it ages.
Control: Manually, the insect can be eliminated just by soaking it in water or kerosene. The heavy attack can be controlled by spraying organophosphate insecticides.
Leaf Hopper: This pest is found mostly in tropical and subtropical areas. The bug targets the leaf and draws all the nutrients of the leaf and gets curls at the pointer. Later, the entire leaf dry and pass away.
Control: The heavy attack can be managed by utilizing insecticides like imidachloprid, beta cyfluthrin or carbosulfan.
Mite: Mite also attacks the leaf and makes the entire plant weak. The insect presence can be recognized when the leaf become yellowish, shrinks, reddens and drop. The insect can also be spread through fallen leaves.
Control: Some preventive measures can be simulated appropriate sanitation and burning the fallen leaves. Heavy attack can be treated by spraying insecticides.
Some dreadful pest which attacks flower and fruit are, Stink bug (Nezara viridula)
Chrysocoris javanus, Tip borer caterpillar.
Stink Bug: Sting bug is a severe insect which assaults the plant throughout blossom duration so the crop yield entirely falls down. This pest is seen around the tropical region.
The toxic enzyme in the plant shrinks the entire plant.
Control: Insecticides suggested for this insect is chlorfluazuron, diflubenzuron, alfamethrin, and lamda cyhalothrin.
Tip borer caterpillar: The pests frequently occurs attacks the plant in blooming season and this pest is seen extensively in tropical areas. The female pest laid the eggs on the tender part of the plant and the young larvae feed the young fruits and plant tips.
Control: Manually, the assaulted seeds are suggested to burn. The insecticides like monocrotophos and bensultap are sprayed at the blooming season.