Epilachna beetle (Epilachna septima, E. implicate, E. dodecastigma)

Symptoms

• The yellowish coloured grubs and adults of the beetle feed voraciously on leaves and tender plant parts.
• The leaves are completely skeletonized leaving only a network of veins.
• When in large number, the pest causes serious defoliation and reduces yield.

Management

• Remove and destroy egg masses, grubs and adults occurring on leaves.
• Spray neem garlic emulsion (20 ml neem oil + 20 gram garlic paste+ 5 gram bar soap/litre of water).
• Spray Neem seed kernel extract (50 gram/litre of water).
• Spray Beauveria bassiana (20 g/litre of water).