PAU EXPERT ALERTS THE FARMERS ABOUT ARMYWORM ATTACK ON WHEAT CROP

LUDHIANA, FEBRUARY 25:-----



Alerting the farmers about the armyworm attack on wheat crop, Dr A.K. Dhawan, Head, Department of Entomology, PAU, said the armyworm is a minor pest of wheat in Punjab during the current season. He pointed out that severe damage is observed in some pockets of Gurdaspur, Amritsar and Sangrur. Called as ear cutting caterpillar, it also damages the paddy crop. It shifts from paddy to wheat. The pest is destructive in the larval stage only. The newly hatched larvae feed on tender leaves and their feeding generally remains unnoticed. He added that the grown up larvae feed on the leaves, flag leaf, awns, glumes and on the developing grains. The larvae are shy of sun and very rarely found on the plants during daytime, rather it remains hidden in tillers. Dr Dhawan elaborated that the larvae feed at night in the shade or at dawn and dusk, but its attack can be located from the presence of larvae and faucal pallets on the ground close to the stem of the plant. At higher populations, it defoliates the plants completely and feed on the grains in the milky stages. Keeping this in view, the farmers should monitor their crop regularly, advised Dr Dhawan.



He suggested that if the damage due to armyworm increases, the farmers should spray 200 ml Nuvan 85 SL or 1.2 kg Sevin/Hexavin 50 WP or 400 ml Ekalux 25 EC in 100 litres of water per acre with Knapsack sprayer. Dr Dhawan asked the farmers to spray the damaged areas in the evening hours only by using the insecticides.
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