Fruit borers are a group of insects that infest fruits and cause significant damage to crops. They lay eggs on the surface of fruits or flowers, and the resulting larvae bore into the fruit and feed on its flesh and seeds, often making the fruit inedible or reducing its quality. The pomegranate butterfly, or Deudorix isocrates, is a common example of a fruit borer pest that infests pomegranate and guava crops in North India.
Management of Fruit Borer in Guava
The Life Cycle of Fruit Borer
The life cycle of fruit borers generally consists of four stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. The female fruit borer lays eggs singly on tender leaves, stalks, or flower buds of the host plant. After a few days, the eggs hatch into larvae. The larvae are dark brown, short and stout, and covered with short hairs. They bore into the fruit or flower buds and feed on the flesh and seeds, causing significant damage. The larval period lasts 18-47 days, depending on temperature and other environmental factors.
Once the larvae have completed their feeding, they enter the pupal stage. The pupa develops either inside the damaged fruit or on the stalk holding it. The pupal period lasts 7-34 days, depending on temperature and other environmental factors. Finally, the adult fruit borer emerges from the pupa as a bluish-brown butterfly. The female butterfly has a V-shaped patch on its forewing, which can aid in identifying the species. The adult fruit borer mates and lays eggs, completing the life cycle, which can take anywhere from 1 to 2 months, depending on environmental conditions
Identification of Fruit Borer in Guava
Identifying fruit borers in a guava field can be important for implementing appropriate management strategies. The larvae of fruit borers are typically dark brown, short, stout, and covered with short hairs. They can be found inside the fruit or flower buds, feeding on the flesh and seeds. If you cut open a damaged fruit, you may be able to spot the larvae inside.
The adult fruit borer is a bluish-brown butterfly. A V-shaped patch on its forewing can identify the female butterfly. Observing the adult butterflies in the field can confirm the presence of fruit borers and their species. Monitoring for the presence of eggs, larvae, and damage to the fruit can also aid in identification.
Damage Symptoms of Fruit Borer in Guava
- Caterpillar/larva boring: The caterpillar or larva of the fruit borer bores into the young fruits and feeds on the internal contents, including the pulp and seeds, making the fruit hollow from the inside.
- Hollow fruits: As the fruit borer larvae continue to feed on the internal contents of the fruit, the fruits become hollow and lose their quality, nutritional value, and commercial value.
- Fruit rotting: The damage caused by the fruit borer provides entry points for other pathogens to enter and infect the fruit, causing it to rot and drop from the tree.
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Management of Fruit Borer in Guava by Cultural Method
- Discouraging pomegranate cultivation: Pomegranate should not be cultivated close to guava plants as it is the preferred host of the fruit borer. By avoiding pomegranate cultivation near guava, the population of the fruit borer can be controlled.
- Collection and destruction of infested fruits: Regular collection and destruction of infested fruits can help prevent the further spread of the fruit borer population. This can be done by handpicking the infested fruits and destroying them.
- Clean cultivation: Clean cultivation is essential to prevent the growth of weed plants that serve as alternate hosts for the fruit borer. Regular weeding and maintenance of the guava field can help reduce the fruit borer population.
- Crop rotation: Crop rotation can be practiced to break the life cycle of the fruit borer. By rotating guava with non-host crops, the population of fruit borers can be reduced.
- Trapping: Trapping can also be used to control the fruit borer population. Pheromone traps can be set up in the field to attract and trap the adult fruit borer, thereby reducing their population.
Management of Fruit Borer in Guava by Biological Method
- Biological control of fruit borers involves using natural enemies such as parasitoids and predators to regulate the pest population.
- Parasitoids are insects that lay eggs inside the pest larvae or eggs, which then hatch and feed on the host, eventually killing it. Parasitoids commonly used for controlling fruit borers in guava include Trichogramma chilonis, Tetrastichus spp., Telenomus spp., Chelonus blackburni, Carcelia spp., Campoletis chlorideae, and Bracon spp.
- Predators: These insects feed on the pest directly, often by capturing and killing them. Predators that can be used for controlling fruit borers in guava fields include Chrysoperla, rove beetles, spiders, coccinellids, robber flies, dragonflies, reduviid bugs, praying mantis, fire ants, big-eyed bugs, pentatomid bugs, earwigs, ground beetles, common mynah, and king crow.
Management of Fruit Borer in Guava by Chemical Method
- Chemical management of fruit borers in guava involves using insecticides to control the pest population. Some commonly used insecticides for managing fruit borers in guava include malathion 50 EC and carbaryl or ethophenprox.
- Malathion 50 EC: This insecticide can be sprayed at a concentration of 0.1% twice, once during flower formation and the other during fruit set.
- Carbaryl or Ethophenprox: These insecticides can be sprayed at the beginning of the fruiting season and before the ripening of fruits at a concentration of 0.2% and 0.05%, respectively. A waiting period of at least 15 days should be observed before beginning the harvest. The spray may be repeated at fortnightly intervals depending on the severity of the attack.
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Conclusion
Fruit borer infestation can cause significant damage to guava crops, resulting in fruit loss and potential secondary infections. However, several management options are available, including cultural methods such as clean cultivation and biological control with natural enemies, as well as chemical methods such as insecticide sprays. Careful monitoring and timely action can help prevent and control fruit borer infestations in guava fields.
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