Management of Leaf Eating Caterpillar in Spinach: Symptoms, Treatment, Chemical, Biological, Natural, and Organic Control

Leaf eating caterpillar is a common pest that affects spinach plants and causes significant damage to the yield. The pest is known for feeding on the plant’s leaves, shoots, and buds, severely hollowing out internal tissues. Farmers often resort to chemical pesticides to control the population of Leaf eating caterpillars, but these methods harm the environment and non-target organisms.

In recent years, an increasing interest has been in developing sustainable and eco-friendly methods to manage this pest. This article provides an overview of the cultural, biological, chemical, and organic/natural methods that can be used to control the population of Leaf eating caterpillar in spinach fields.

Management of Leaf Eating Caterpillar in Spinach

Life Cycle of Leaf Eating Caterpillar

Egg: The spherical, yellowish eggs are laid singly on tender parts and buds of plants. The egg period lasts for 2-4 days.
Larva: After hatching from the egg, the caterpillar or larva emerges. The caterpillars are initially brown and later turn greenish with darker broken lines along the side of the body. The body is covered with radiating hairs. When fully grown, they measure 3.7 to 5 cm in length. The larval period lasts for 18-25 days.
Pupa: The full-grown caterpillar pupates in the soil in an earthen cell. Pupation occurs inside the soil; the pupal stage lasts 7-15 days.
Adult: The moth is stout, medium-sized, with brownish/greyish forewings with a dark cross band near the outer margin and dark spots near coastal margins, with a wing expanse of 3.7cm. After emerging from the pupal stage, the adult moth will mate and lay eggs, completing the life cycle of the Leaf eating caterpillar.

Damage Symptoms of Leaf Eating Caterpillar in Spinach Field

Feeding on leaves: The young larvae of Leaf eating caterpillar feed on spinach leaves. They eat through the internal tissues, severely damaging and completely hollowing out the leaves. This can lead to defoliation and reduce the photosynthetic capacity of the plant.
Feeding on shoots and buds: The caterpillars also feed on the shoots and buds of spinach. They thrust their head inside the shoot or bud and feed on the internal tissues, leaving the rest of the body outside. This can cause stunted growth and deformation of the plant.

Management of Leaf Eating Caterpillar in Spinach by Cultural Method

Use pheromone traps: Pheromone traps can be installed at a distance of 50 m at a rate of 5 traps/ha to monitor the population of Leaf eating caterpillars. These traps emit pheromones that attract male moths, which are then trapped, reducing the population of moths and the number of eggs laid.
Deep summer ploughing: Deep summer plowing can be carried out in 2-3 year intervals to eliminate quiescent pupae of Leaf eating caterpillars in the soil. This practice can expose the pupae to high temperatures, desiccation, and predators, reducing the pest population.
Early sowing and short-duration varieties: Early sowing of spinach can help avoid the peak period of Leaf eating caterpillar infestation, reducing the damage caused by the pest. Short-duration varieties can also ensure the crop matures before the peak infestation period.
Avoid closer plant spacing: Closer plant spacing can create favorable conditions for the development and spread of Leaf eating caterpillar. Therefore, it is recommended to maintain proper plant spacing to reduce the risk of infestation.
Crop rotation: Crop rotation with non-host crops can help reduce Leaf eating caterpillar’s population. This practice can disrupt the pest’s life cycle, making it difficult for them to complete their development.

In case you missed it: Management of Crown Mite in Spinach: Symptoms, Treatment, Chemical, Biological, Natural, and Organic Control

Management of Leaf Eating Caterpillar In Spinach By Biological Method

Parasitoids: Several species of parasitoids have been reported to be effective against Leaf eating caterpillar, including Trichogramma chilonis, Tetrastichus spp., Telenomus spp., Braconid wasp, Ichneumon spp., Bracon hebetor, Goniophthalmus halli, Carcelia spp., Campoletis chlorideae, Lissopimpla excels, and Ichneumon promissorius. These parasitoids lay their eggs inside the eggs or larvae of Leaf eating caterpillar, leading to their death.
Predators: Several natural predators can be used for biological control of Leaf eating caterpillar, including lacewings, king crows, dragonflies, spiders, robber fly, reduviid bugs, praying mantis, red ants, etc. These predators feed on the eggs or larvae of Leaf eating caterpillar, reducing their population.
Entomopathogenic nematodes: Ovomermis albicans is an entomopathogenic nematode that can be used for biological control of Leaf eating caterpillar. These nematodes infect the larvae of Leaf eating caterpillar, leading to their death.

Management of Leaf Eating Caterpillar in Spinach By Chemical Method

Use of quinalphos and carbaryl: Quinalphos and carbaryl can be used as insecticides for controlling the population of Leaf eating caterpillar. These insecticides can be applied at 25 kg/ha for quinalphos 4D and 5D for carbaryl. These insecticides disrupt the pest’s nervous system, leading to their death.
Spray Quinalphos 25 EC: Quinalphos 25 EC can be sprayed at a rate of 1000 ml/ha to control the population of Leaf eating caterpillar. This insecticide works by inhibiting the activity of the enzyme cholinesterase, which is essential for the proper functioning of the pest’s nervous system.

Management of Leaf eating caterpillar in Spinach by Organic/Natural Method

Application of NPV: NPV (Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus) can be applied at a rate of 250 LE/ha along with teepol at 0.1% and jaggery at 0.5%. This method helps reduce the Leaf eating caterpillar population by infecting the larvae with the virus, leading to their death. It is important to note that the insecticide should be applied when the larvae are in the early stage.
Use of Bt and neem/pungam oil: Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) can be used as an effective biopesticide for controlling the population of Leaf eating caterpillar. It can be applied at a rate of 600 g/ha. Neem or pungam oil at a concentration of 2 ml/liter can also be used to control the Leaf eating caterpillar population. These methods disrupt the pest’s digestive system, leading to its death.
Spray NSKE followed by triazophos: NSKE (Neem Seed Kernel Extract) can be sprayed twice at a concentration of 5%, followed by triazophos at 0.05%. This method helps reduce the Leaf eating caterpillar population by acting as a contact and systemic insecticide.

Conclusion

Effective management of Leaf eating caterpillar is essential for maintaining the yield and quality of spinach plants. This article highlights various cultural, biological, chemical, and organic/natural methods that can be used to control the population of Leaf eating caterpillar in spinach fields. Farmers can choose the most suitable method based on their conditions and resources.

In case you missed it: Management of Cutworms in Spinach: Symptoms, Treatment, Chemical, Biological, Natural and Organic Control

Using sustainable and eco-friendly methods such as cultural and biological control methods and organic/natural methods can help reduce dependence on chemical pesticides and promote sustainable agriculture practices. By adopting an integrated pest management approach, farmers can effectively control Leaf eating caterpillar’s population and ensure their farming practices’ sustainability.

Management of Leaf Eating Caterpillar in Spinach: Symptoms, Treatment, Chemical, Biological, Natural, and Organic Control

Table of Contents [hide]