Pest: Spotted borer

The adult is a slender moth. The fore wing has a large transverse hyaline band and a few smaller spots. The hind wing is hyaline with brown outer margin. The moths shelter among the lower leaves. The full grown larva is brownish green with black warts. It pupates with in debris or near the surface of the ground. The larva is parasitized by Bracon greeni.

  • Spottedborer image1

Symptoms

  • The caterpillar enters the bud, flower or the pod. With in the pod the caterpillar feeds on the seeds.
  • Entrance hole is plugged with excreta.
  • The larva may also bore in to the tender stem. Infested flowers and pods may be webbed together.