Root grub: Holotrichia consanguinea: H. serrata, Leucopholis lepidophora

Symptoms of damage:

• Yellowing and wilting of leaves
• Drying of crown
• Affected canes come off easily

Identification of the pest:

i) Holotrichia consanguinea, H. serrate:

• Egg: White, almost round
• Larva: Young grubs are translucent, whitish yellow in colour, fleshy ‘C’ – shaped
• Adults: Dark brown beetle

ii) Leucopholis lepidophora:

• Larvae: Creamy white with swollen dark last abdominal segment
• Adults: Reddish brown beetle with dark tinge

Management:

• Crop rotation
• Deep ploughing during summer
• Avoid ratoons in infested fields
• Provide adequate irrigation since under inadequate soil moisture conditions the pest appears in the rootzone