Gram cutworm: Agrotis ipsilon (Noctuidae:Lepidoptera)

Damaging symptoms:           

• The caterpillar hides during the day and come out in the evening for damage.
• They remain the soil at a depth of 2-4 inches.
• The caterpillars cut the tender plants at the base, and branches or stems of growing plants.
• The caterpillars drag the cut parts into soil for feeding. 

Management:

Cultural Control

• Deep summer ploughing.
• Use well decomposed organic manure.
• Adapt crop rotation.
• Early sowing in the last week of October.
• Intercropping with wheat or Linseed or Mustard reduces infestation.
• In the early stages pick the insects and destroy.
• Do not grow Tomato or Lady finger in near by field.
• Grow Marigold on bunds.

Mechanical Control

• The adult insects can be controlled by light traps.

Biological Control

• Conserve Braconids, Microgaster sp., Bracon kitcheneri, Fileanta ruficanda (parasitods) and Broscus punctatus, Liogryllus bimaculatus (predators).

Chemical Control

• Apply chemical insecticides only if the insect population crosses the economic threshold.
• Spray insecticides like endosulfan 35 EC @ 1000 ml/ha.
                          OR
• Deltamethrin 2.8 EC @ 750 ml/ha.
                           OR
• Quinalphos 25 EC @ 1000 ml/ha              

In case of severe infestation

• Spray insecticides like polytrin C-44 EC @ 1000 ml/ha.
                           OR
• Profenophos 50 EC @ 1500 ml/ha.
                            OR
• Spray insecticides like spark 36 EC at the rate of 1000 ml/ha.
• Dilute the above in 500 - 600 liters water and spray