Nature of Damage

  • Caterpillar bores through the upper tapering part of the flower and flower bud and eats up inner content of ovary and petals leading to no flower setting or retention (Fig. 1 & 2). 
  • The infested bud show milky appearance and presence of larval excreta on top (Fig. 3 & 4). 
  • Furthermore, the affected flowers and flowers buds dry up and later dropped down in considerable numbers caused further yield loss (Fig. 5 & 7).
  • Early larval instar also cuts the margin and leaf lamina of the newly emerged leaves (Fig. 8).​