The eggplant fruit and shoot borer (Leucinodes orbonalis) is a serious pest affecting eggplant cultivation, causing significant economic losses. Understanding its life cycle is crucial for developing effective management strategies.

Taxonomy and Distribution

• • Taxonomic Classification: Leucinodes orbonalis belongs to the family Crambidae.
  • Geographical Distribution: This pest is predominantly found in South and Southeast Asia, posing a major threat to eggplant crops in these regions.

Host Plants

• • Primary Host: Eggplant (Solanum melongena).
  • Secondary Hosts: Other solanaceous crops, including tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), potato (Solanum tuberosum), and various nightshades.

Life Cycle of Leucinodes orbonalis

1. Egg Stage

• • Oviposition: Females lay creamy white eggs singly on the underside of leaves, shoots, or flower buds.
  • Incubation Period: Approximately 3-5 days.

2. Larval Stage

• • Appearance: Newly hatched larvae are creamy white, turning pinkish as they mature.
  • Behavior: Larvae bore into tender shoots and fruits, causing wilting and fruit damage.
  • Duration: Lasts about 12-15 days, encompassing five instars.

3. Pupal Stage

• • Pupation Sites: Occurs in plant debris, soil near the plant base, or within damaged plant parts.
  • Pupal Period: Approximately 6-10 days.

4. Adult Stage

• • Morphology: Moths have white wings with brown patches and a wingspan of about 20-30 mm.
  • Behavior: Nocturnal and attracted to light.
  • Lifespan: Adults live for 2-3 days.

Seasonal Dynamics

• Generations: In tropical climates, L. orbonalis can have multiple overlapping generations annually.
• Life Cycle Duration: The complete life cycle spans approximately 23-35 days, varying with environmental conditions.

Impact on Eggplant Cultivation

Damage Symptoms

• Shoots: Infested shoots exhibit wilting and dieback due to internal larval feeding.
• Fruits: Bored holes, internal tunneling, and premature dropping.

Economic Losses

• Severe infestations can lead to yield losses ranging from 30% to 50% or more.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Strategies

1. Cultural Controls

• • Crop Rotation: Avoid successive planting of solanaceous crops to disrupt the pest’s life cycle.
  • Sanitation: Remove and destroy infested plant parts and debris to reduce larval and pupal populations.

2. Mechanical Controls

• • Pheromone Traps: Utilize sex pheromone traps to monitor and mass-trap male moths, reducing mating success.

3. Biological Controls

• • Natural Enemies: Encourage predators like lady beetles and parasitic wasps that target eggs and larvae.

4. Chemical Controls

• • Insecticides: Apply Cartap insecticides 2ml/liter water, focusing on early larval stages and adhering to safety guidelines.

5. Biotechnological Approaches

• • Bt Eggplant: Genetically engineered eggplant varieties expressing Bacillus thuringiensis toxins have shown resistance to L. orbonalis, offering a promising control method.

Conclusion

A comprehensive understanding of the eggplant fruit and shoot borer’s life cycle is essential for implementing effective management practices. Integrating cultural, mechanical, biological, chemical, and biotechnological strategies can sustainably mitigate the impact of this pest on eggplant production.

References

1. Ponnusamy, N., et al. (2021). The Life Cycle of Shoot and Fruit Borer Leucinodes orbonalis (Guen.) on Eggplant in Different Seasons under Samastipur Conditions of Bihar, India. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 13(1), 63-67.
2. Srinivasan, R. (2009). Integrated Pest Management for Eggplant Fruit and Shoot Borer (Leucinodes orbonalis) in South and Southeast Asia: Past, Present, and Future. Journal of Biopesticides, 2(1), 1-9.
3. “Leucinodes orbonalis.” Microlepidoptera on Solanaceae – ITP.
4. “Eggplant Fruit and Shoot Borer: Leucinodes orbonalis.” PlantwisePlus Knowledge Bank.
5. “Life Cycle of Brinjal Shoot and Fruit Borer.” Agrostar.
6. “Integrated Pest Management for Eggplant Fruit and Shoot Borer.” OISAT.
7. “BRINJAL :: MAJOR PESTS :: SHOOT AND FRUIT BORER.” eagri.org.
8. “A Review on Comprehensive Management Strategies of Brinjal Shoot and Fruit Borer.” ResearchGate.
9. “Top Tips to Control Brinjal Fruit and Shoot Borer.” Krishi Seva Kendra.
10. “How to Plant and Grow Eggplant.” Better Homes & Gardens.

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