Symptoms of Damage

• Rosetted flowers.
• Excreta observed at the point of bore holes by larval feeding. .
• Interlocular boring and formation of double seeds.
• The attacked buds and immature bolls drop off. Discoloured lint and burrowed seeds.

Identification Characters and Biology

• Destructive stage: Larva.
  Egg: Flat, laid singly on leaves, flowers, bolls. Egg period 4-20 days.
  Larva: Young larva are white and late instar becomes almost black, brown or green to pale or pink. Larval period: 25-35 days.
  Pupa: Pupation in soil and debris. Pupal period: 8-12 days.
  Adult: Small moth. Forewings are brown or dull yellow olive grey with dark spots. Hind wings margins are deeply fringed. Adult longevity: 7-10 days.

Pink bollworm - Damage

Economic threshold:

• ETL: 10% infested fruiting parts or 8 moths/trap

Young larva

Adult

Integrated Management

• Use pheromone traps to monitor the adult moth activity @ 5 / acre.
• Spraying any one of the insecticides viz., Emamectin benzoate 5% SG 76 – 88 g/acre or Diflubenzuron 25%WP 120-140 g/acre or Chlorantraniliprole18.5% SC 60 ml /acre.