Arecanut (Areca catechu)

Inflorescence caterpillar(Tirathaba mundella)

Symptoms

  • Feed on the inflorescences especially the tender female flowers and rachillae.
  • Web together the rachillae into a wet mass with silken threads and take shelter in it. Spathe opening is delayed.
  • Yellowing of spadices and presence of small holes with frass and drying on the spathe.

Management

  • Affected spadices may be opened and if all the female flowers have been damaged the inflorescence should be removed and burnt
  • Control slugs.

Chemical Control

Sl.No Generic Name Trade Name Color code Dosage/litre Knapsack Sprayer (Capacity 10L) Dosage/acre (200 L) Dosage/hectare (500 L)
1 Malathion 50 EC Agromala, Thisol, Agromala Malathion, Simala Milthion, Kthion, Hilmala, Malaacid, Tagthion Malamar, Celthion Blue 2.5 ml 25 ml 500 ml 1.25 L
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Extremely Toxic
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Highly Toxic
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Moderately Toxic
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Slightly Toxic