Insects Pest of Safflower

Raju Kumar Verma1*,Shravan Kumar Verma2, Aman Pratap Singh3, Kartikey singh4, Prince
sahu5

1*
Research scholar, Dept. of Entomology, Banda University of Agriculture and Technology

Banda (210001) Uttar Pradesh

2
Research scholar, Dept. of Entomology, Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture
and Technology Kanpur (208002) Uttar Pradesh

3
Research scholar, Department of Entomology, Acharya Narendra Dev University of

Agriculture and Technology, Ayodhya, U.P.

4
Research scholar, Dept. of Entomology, Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture

and Technology Kanpur (208002) Uttar Pradesh

5
Research scholar, Dept. of Entomology, Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture

and Technology Kanpur (208002) Uttar Pradesh

*
Corresponding email – rajuverma502860@gmail.com (Raju Kumar Verma)

Introduction

Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) is an annual plant belonging to the Asteraceae family. The
cultivated ( Carthamus tinctorius L.) has a chromosome number of 2n = 24 (Knowles, 1989;
López-González, 1989; Zehra, 2005). It is native of eastern Mediterranean region and has been
cultivated for thousands of years. It is widely cultivated for its oil-rich seeds, which are used in
cooking, as a dietary supplement, and in various industrial applications.It has been under cultivation
in India for coloured florets and orange-red dye (carthamin) extracted from them and seed. The seed
contain24-36% oil. Maharashtra and Karnataka are major safflower growing states.Safflower
provides three principal products: oil, meal and birdseed. Safflower oil consists of two types:
those high in monounsaturated fatty acid (oleic) and those high in polyunsaturated fatty acid
(linoleic) linoleic acid in safflower oil might help reduce the risk of heart disease. Safflower also
contains chemicals that might help prevent blood clots, widen blood vessels, lower blood
pressure, and stimulate the heart.Safflower is known to be attacked by 101 different pests at
various growth and development phases of the crop (Singh et al., 1996).The key insect pests
attacking safflower include Acanthiophilushelianthi (Rossi), Helicoverpaarmigera and
Uroleuconcarthami (Hanumantharaya et al., 2008) considered as major pests which causes
severe damage to safflower crop and reduces yield by up to 35-80 per cent.

Capsule fly/ Safflower bud fly: Acanthiophilus helianthi rossi (Tephritidae: Diptera)

Host range - The safflower bud fly Acanthiophilus helianthi (Rossi) of genus
Acanthiophilus Becker in subfamily Tephritinae is a polyphagous insect. The safflower fly
and sometimes known as the shoot fly or capsule fly, A. helianthi, is one of the most
important pests causing serious damages to safflower.

Biology:

 Egg: Eggs are laid in clusters of 6 to 24 which hatch in a day.

 Larva: Maggot is dirty white in colour.

 Adult: The adult flies are ash coloured with light brown legs. The flies are active
during March and infestation of flower buds takes place after a week.

Symptoms: Newly hatched maggots feed on the soft parts (ovaries of florets and thalami of
capitula) of capsules and later instars feed on the soft part within. The infested buds rot and
give an offensive smelling fluid.

Management

 Remove and destroy the infested buds early.

 Conserve larval parasitoids viz., Ormyrussp, (Ormyridae), Eurytoma sp. (Eurytomidae)
and Pachyneuronmuscarum (Braconidae) and predator Chrysopavirgestes (Chrysopidae).
 Application of dimethoate 30 EC @ 600-650 ml/ha or malathion 50 EC @ 1.00
litre/ha or phosphomidon 100 EC@ 150-200 ml/ha. About 600 to 650 litre of water is
needed for spraying in about one hectare area.

Safflower catterpillar: Perigaea capensis (Thunberg) (Noctuidae, Lepidoptera)

Host range -The insect occurs throughout India. It is a regular pest of safflower .
 Biology:

 Egg: The female lays an average of 345-371 green coloured eggs either singly or in
clusters on the crop foliage. The incubation period varies from 4 to 5 days.
 Larva: The larval duration varies from 2-3 weeks.
 Pupa: The pest pupate in soil and it last about a week.
 Adult:The adult is a dark brown in colour, medium sized moth with pale wavy marks
on forewings. Caterpillar is stout, green and smooth. The anal segment is humped
and the body has some purple markings.

Symptoms: The larva feeds on the leaves and sometimes on capitulum too. It also feeds on
bracts, flowers, capsule enormous yield losses of 62.6 to 100% have been encountered due to
excessive foliage feeding by a large number of larvae.

Management

 Intercropping with non-host crop like wheat.

 Excessive application of nitrogen should be avoided.
 Parasitoids: Apantelesruficrus, Rogas percurrens, Euplectruseuplexiae,
Eriborusargenteopilosus, Pteromalusspetc.
 Predators: Lacewing, ladybug beetle, reduviid bug, spider, red ant, robber fly, black
drongo (King crow), common mynah, big-eyed bug (Geocorissp), earwig, ground
beetle, Pentatomid bug (Eocantheconafurcellata), preying mantis etc.
 Spraying of carbaryl 50 WP@ 2.5 - 3.00 kg/ha or fenvalerate 20 EC @ 250 ml/ha.

Gram pod borer/ Capsule borer: Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) ( Noctuidae :

Lepidoptera)
Host range - Safflower, Cotton, sorghum, lablab, pea, chillies, groundnut, tobacco, okra,
maize, tomato, soybean, gram, etc. It is a polyphagous species and is an important pest on
pulses.

Biology :

 Eggs: Spherical in shape and creamy white in colour, laid singly.

 Larva: Shows colour variation from greenish to brown . It has dark brown grey lines
on the body with lateral white lines and also has dark and pale bands.
 Pupa: Brown in colour, occurs in soil, leaf, pod and crop debris
Adult : Light pale brownish yellow stout moth.

Fore wings are olive green to pale brown with a dark brown circular spot in the centre.

Hind wings are pale smoky white with a broad blackish outer margin.

Symptoms :

 In early stage of crop growth larvae feed on leaves and shoot apices.
 Later, the larvae shift to the developing capitula.
 The symptoms are perforated leaves, perforated involucral bracts, partially or
completely eaten capitula in the bud stage and bored developing capitula.

Management :

 Intercropping with non host crop like wheat or barley.

 Avoid chickpea as intercrop.
 Excessive application of nitrogen should be avoided.
 Ha NPV can be applied at 250-300 larval equivalents/ha.
 Conserve Campoletis chloridae, Enicospilus sp, etc.
 Spray monochrotophos 750 ml/ha in 600-800 litres of water per hectare.

Safflower aphid: Uroleucon carthami ( Aphididae , : Homoptera)

Host range - Many alternative host plants have been recorded for the aphid at different
places. In India only few species of weeds and crop plants have been recorded as alternative
hosts of safflower aphid. Mallapur (2000) and Anon (2006), recorded sunflower, niger,
Euphorbia geniculata, Calendula, Glyricidia maculate, Ashwaghanda, Lactus sp. and
Parthenium hysterophorus hosts of safflower aphid.
Biology –

An asexual-viviparous mode of reproduction is reported in this aphid species.

Nymph : Nymphs are reddish brown. Nymphal stage with four instars lasted in an average of
9.34 days.

Adult: Aphids are soft bodied insects and 1.5 to 2 mm in length.

Adults are large sized, black with pear-shaped body and conspicuous cornicles, winged or
wingless. An average fecundity of 89 offsprings per female has been reported. Adult
longevity, pre-reproductive and reproductive periods last for 14.9, 1.28 and 14.6 days,
respectively.

Symptoms :

During pre-flowering stage both nymphs and adults suck the cell sap from shoot apices,
peduncles, leaves and stem, secrete a honey dew like secretion on upper surface of the leaves
and plant parts forming a black sooty mold which hinders photosynthetic activity resulting in
stunted growth.

• Finally the plants dry up.

• Honey dew excreted gets deposited on the upper surface of the leaves, on which sooty
molds grow and hinder the photosynthesis, resulting in stunted growth and poor yields.

• In case of heavy infestation the plants dry and die. Infestation may start even when the crop
is 15 days old.

• About 40-50% yield losses are observed due to this insect. • Infestation may occur 30-45
days old crop.

Management

 Avoid late sowing.

 If the attack is observed in the border rows take control measures.
 Avoid excess use of nitrogen.
 Maintain 2 or 3 rows of Maize and Sorghum around the fields.
 Release of Chrysoperla eggs/grubs @ 1-2/plant.
 Conserve Aphidencyrtus aphidivorus, Micromus cinearis, Ischiodon scutellaris,
Harmonia octomaculat and Aphelinus sp.
  Spray dimethoate 30 EC @ 750 ml/ha,40 and 60 days after sowing or
monochrotophos 0.05%. Use 500 litres of spray mixture and 20 kg dust formulation/
ha.

Cutworms : Agrotis epsilon (Noctuidae : Lepidoptera)

Host range - Cutworms are general feeders that can attack a wide range of plants.
Common vegetables they like to feed on include asparagus, beans, cabbage and other
crucifers, carrots, celery, corn, lettuce, peas, peppers, potatoes and tomatoes. A few
species feed on turfgrass.

Identification: Cutworms are nocturnal caterpillars that are typically dark-colored, ranging
from gray to brown or black. They have smooth bodies and can reach lengths of up to 2
inches. Cutworms often curl up into a C-shape when disturbed.

Life Cycle: Cutworms go through complete metamorphosis, starting as eggs laid by adult
moths. The eggs hatch into caterpillars, which then feed on safflower plants. Cutworms
usually hide in the soil during the day and emerge at night to feed. After going through
several larval stages, they pupate in the soil and eventually emerge as adult moths.

Symptoms : Cutworms primarily feed on the stems of safflower seedlings or young plants.
They can sever or chew through the stems near ground level, causing the plants to wilt,
droop, or die. Cutworm damage is usually observed during the early stages of safflower
growth.

Management :

 Handpicking and removing cutworms can be effective for smaller infestations.

 Cultural control practices, such as tilling the soil before planting to expose cutworms
to predators or disrupting their habitat, can also help reduce their numbers.
 Release Trichogramma parasitoid weekly once for 3 weeks continuously to control
cutworm eggs.
 Spray carbaryl 50 WP @2.5 kg/ha or quinalphos 20 EC@2 lit/ha or phoshalone 35 EC
@1.25 lit/ha.
Wireworms: (Elateridae ,: Coleoptera)

Host range - Wireworms are extremely polyphagous pests and feed on nearly all cultivated
(all cereals; all kinds of vegetables including on‐ ions, leek, and garlic; maize; potatoes; sweet
potatoes; ornamentals, sugar beet and more) and wild plant species, including weeds.
(Waseem, Mohammed & Sanmugasundaram 2023 et al.)

Identification: Wireworms are usually yellowish to brown and range in size from a few
millimeters to about an inch long. They have distinct segments and a hardened body.
Wireworms have chewing mouthparts and can move freely through the soil, burrowing into
plant roots, stems, and tubers.

Life Cycle: Wireworms have a relatively long-life cycle that can last several years,
depending on the species. The adult clicks beetles lay eggs in the soil, and the larvae
(wireworms) emerge and feed on plant material in the soil. After several molts, wireworms
pupate in the soil and eventually emerge as adult beetles.

Symptoms: Wireworms primarily feed on underground parts of safflower plants, such as

roots and stem bases. They can cause direct damage to safflower seedlings, leading to stunted
growth, wilted plants, or plant death. Wireworms can also tunnel into safflower seeds,
reducing germination rates and overall crop establishment .

Management

 Bait traps can be set up by burying pieces of raw potato or carrot in the soil.
 Rotate safflower with non-host crops that are less attractive to wireworms. This helps
break the life cycle and reduces the risk of wireworm infestations.
 Some beneficial organisms, such as certain species of entomopathogenic nematodes
and predatory beetles, can help control wireworm populations.
 Soil drenching with insecticide pyrethrin.

Safflower Weevil Centoris spp. (Curculionidae ; Coleoptera)

Host range - The safflower weevil (Eusomus spp.) is an insect pest that can cause damage to
safflower crops. It is a type of weevil belonging to the family Curculionidae. Safflower
weevils primarily target the seeds of safflower plants.
Identification: Safflower weevils are small beetles with elongated bodies and a characteristic
snout or rostrum. They are typically dark brown or black in color and have a rough or
textured appearance on their wing covers. Safflower weevils measure around 5 to 6
millimeters in length.

Life Cycle: Safflower weevils undergo complete metamorphosis, consisting of four stages:
egg, larva, pupa, and adult. The adult weevils emerge from overwintering sites in the spring
and lay eggs on the developing safflower seeds. The larvae hatch from the eggs and bore into
the seeds to feed. After completing their development inside the seeds, the larvae pupate and
eventually emerge as adult weevils to start the cycle again.

Symptoms : Safflower weevils primarily attack the developing safflower seeds. Adult
weevils puncture the immature seeds and lay eggs inside. The hatched larvae then feed on the
seeds, causing damage that can lead to reduced seed quality and yield.

Management :

 These include removing crop residues after harvest, practicing crop rotation, and
avoiding planting safflower in close proximity to previous safflower fields or other
crops that may serve as hosts.
 1% carbaryl (20gm/lt) or neem seed kernel powder (2:1) .

Conclusions : This new information about the pests associated with Carthamus tinctorius L.
crop are very useful in the context of food and nutritional safety and sustainable production
of safflower in our country and new strategies are required to raise safflower productivity
sustainably. Despite the many uses of safflower, it has remained a minor crop. Safflower is a
crop which should be particularly prized by scientists due to its high nutritional value of its
oil, pharmacological and medicinal, industrial, textile, food, animal feed and cutflower uses.
It is hoped that scientists will develop interest on safflower and develop multidisciplinary
research projects to address issues related with the agronomy, ecophysiology, diseases and
pests, developmental patterns, morphological ideotypes, increase seed yield through genetic
manipulation, product-related research, utilization research, development of pharmaceuticals
and clinical trials to elucidate the effectiveness of safflower products, decoctions and
concotions in the treatment of various human diseases.
Refrences :

Hanumantharaya, L., Kubasad, V. S., & Raju, S. G. (2008). Role of cropping pattern for the
management of insect pests of Safflower, Carthamus tinctorius L. In VII International
Safflower Conference, Waga Waga, Australia, November.

Waseem, M. A., Suriya, S., & Sheikh, S. A. INSECT PEST OF SAFFLOWER AND THEIR
MANAGEMENT.

Basiame, K., Tiroesele, B., &Emong

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https://www.ndsu.edu/agriculture/ag-hub/ag-topics/crop-
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http://www.agritech.tnau.ac.in/crop_protection/crop_prot_crop_insect_oil_safflower.html.

A New Record of Safflower Fly Acanthiophilushelianthi (Rossi) of Genus Acanthiophilus

Becker in Subfamily Tephritinae (Diptera: Tephritidae) from the Fauna of Pakistan.
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