IMPORTANT FORAGE/FODDER CROPS OF

INDIA

Guar Cowpea Berseem

Sorghum Lucern Maize

 LIST OF INSECT PESTS OF FORAGE CROPS
Shorgum – Shootfly (Atherigona varia soeeata), Stem borer (Chilo partel/us)
, Aphids (Schizaphis graminum), Sorghum midge (Contarinia sorghieola) ,
Pyrilla (Pyrilla perpusilla) , Pollen eating beetle (Chi/oba aeuta), Army worm
(Mythimna separata, Spodoptera exigua) , Cutworms (Agrotis sp.), Leaf roller
(Marsemia trapezalis), Ear head bug (Caoeoris angustatus),
Ear head caterpillar (Helieoverpa armigera)
Berseem- Gram caterpillar (Helicoverpa armigera), Bihar hairy caterpillar
(Spilosoma obliqua), Hairy caterpillars (Euproctis virguncola and E. lunata),
Green semilooper (Plusia nigrisigna, Thysanoplusia orichalcea), Aphid
(Aphis craccivora) , Dusky bug (Oxycaraenus sp.), Leaf miner (Phytomyza sp.
Lucern- Lucerne weevil (Hypera postica) , Hairy caterpillar (Spilosoma
obliqua), Aphid (Acyrthosiphon pisum and Therioaphis ttiiolii f.maculata),
Leaf hoppers (Exitianus indicus, Empoascanara sp., Austroagalia sp.,
Macrosteles sp. and Empoasca sp.), Alfalfa caterpillar (Spodoptera exigua),
Tobacco caterpillar (S. litura) , Lucerne butterfly (Terias hecabe),Semilooper
(Thysanoplusia nigrisigna), Thrips (Halothrips tenuipennis)
Cowpea- Flea beetles (Monolepta signata), Hairy cater pillars
(Spilosoma obliqua) , semilooper (Plusia nigrisigna) , Leaf hopper
(Empoasca kerri), Blue butterfly (Limpidness booties), Pod
borer(Maruca testulalis) , Gram caterpillar (Helicoverpa armigera),
Black aphid (Aphis craccivora) , Blister beetle (Mylabris phalerata)
Maize- Shootfly (Atherigona varia soccata), Stem borer (Chilo
partel/us) , Aphids (Schizaphis graminum), Sorghum midge
(Contarinia sorghicola) , Pyrilla (Pyrilla perpusilla) , Pollen eating
beetle (Chi/oba acuta), Army worm (Mythimna sepereie, Spodoptera
exigua) , Cut worms (Agrotis sp.), Leaf roller (Marsemia
trapezalis), Ear head bug (Caocoris angustatus), Ear head caterpillar
(Helicoverpa armigera)
Guar- Leaf hoppers (Empoasca sp., Exitianus indicus). Yellow
mite (Polyphagotarsonemus latus and P. datus
 Sorghum Shootfly (Atherigona varia
soccata)
This is aserious pest of sorghum and other
graminaceous plants in the seedling stage. The
adult is small resembling common housefly,
measuring about 3-4 mm in length. The male
fly is black in colour while the female has pale
gray thorax and yellow abdomen with pawed
brown patches. The female fly lays 35-40 eggs
singly on the ventral side of the plant leaf. These
eggs are boat-shaped which hatch within 2
days.
The larvae bore into the stem in between the
sheath and the axis. They feed inside the shoot
and pupate within 6-10 days inside the stem or
may come out and pupate in soil. Many
generations are completed in a year
Sorghum Stemborer (Chilo partellus)
The caterpillars are grayish white with black
head and four brownish longitudinal strips on
the back. The female moth lays about 300 eggs
in the overlapping clusters of about 20 each.
The eggs are flat, oval and yellowish in colour.
The borer completes about five generations in a
year. The male moth is smaller, measuring 20-
30 mm across the wings and darker than female
in colour. It has pale brown fore wings with
dark brown scales forming a streak along the
costa. The hind wings are pale straw coloured.
The female has pale fore wings and the hind
wings are almost white.
 Sorghum midge (Contarinia
sorghicola)
This pest has a wide distribution in India.
The adult midge is stout bodied measuring
about 2 mm in length. The female has a
dark orange abdomen The female lays the
eggs inside the glumes and the larvae feed
on the ovaries of the spikelet's abrupting
the formation of seeds. The incubation
period ranges from 2-3 days, the larval
period are about 12 days and the pupal
period lasts for about 4 days. The larvae
itself diapauses in the plant spike.
Pod borer (Helicoverpa armigera)
The moth is stoutly built and yellowish
brown in colour.There is a dark speck and a
dark area near the outer margins of each fore
wing. The fore wings are marked with
grayish wavy lines and black spots of varying
size and a black kidney shaped mark and a
round spot on the underside. The full-grown
larva is stout bodied usually greenish or
brownish caterpillar, measuring about 4 cm
in length with longitudinal bands. The female
adult lays 200-1500eggs singly on tender
leaves, which hatch in about 2-4 days in April
to October. The larval period is 13-19 days
and larvae pupate in soil. There may be as
many as eight generations in a year.
 Lucerne weevil (Hypera postica)
The adult weevils are brown coloured stout
bodied beetles measuring about half cm in
length. A dark strip extends down wards more
than half-length of the body. The body becomes
darker with age.
Adult female lays 1-30 lemon yellow coloured
eggs inside the stem at injured sites by them.
Hatching lastsfor about a week. Larval and pupal Adult Weevil
period ranges from 25-30 and 15-20 days
respectively. The total life cycle completes in
40-50 days.
 Spotted alfalfa aphid
(Therioaphis trifolii f.maculata)
The aphid is pale yellow with six or
more rows of black spots along the
back. Most adults are wingless, but
those with wings have smoky areas
along the veins. About ten
generations are being completed
annually.
Maize Aphid (Rhapalosiphum maidis)
The main host of this pest is maize
however sorghum serves as an
alternate host. Under heavy
infestation the aphids cover
leaves, leaf sheath and
inflorescence of the plant. Due to
aphid infestation the leaves
become mottled and distorted
and the new growth is dwarfed.
Honeydew production is quite
prolific which hampers
photosynthesis as sooty mould
grows on it.
Maize Cut worms.(Agrotis segatum.)

The female lays

as many as 1000 eggs, which are
white, globular and ribbed on the
leaves. These hatch in 10-14
days. The larvae are brownish
with a broad pale marking. The
early instars feed on leaves for a
week or two. Later they move into
the soil and assume the cutworm
habits.
 Cowpea Flea beetle
(Pagria signata)
The eggs are laid in the soil near
the vicinity of the host plants. The
larvae feed on the roots and
generally do not cause economic
damage. Pupation takes place in
the soil. The adults vary in colour
from shiny brown to dark brown
with strips on the elytra.
They have stout femora with
which they jump in a flea like
manner.