Plant Protection Database at www.indiaagronet.com

		Cucurbits

SN	Features	Name of Pest
		Melon Fruit fly Dacus cucurbitae C
	Host plants	Gourds, Melon, Tondli, Guava, Mango, Ber & other fruits
	Identification	Adult is wedge-shaped small insect with greyish body They walk diagonally. Pupation: in soil. Active Stage: Active during rainy season
	Nature of damage	Both nymphs & adults suck the cell sap from young leaves, tender shoots, flowers Flower & flower buds wither and dry Damage is more pronounced in flowering season Premature dropping of flowers and fruits occur. Also excrete honey dew which encourages development of black sooty mould. As a result upper surface of flower shoots become black which affects the fruit setting.
	Control measures	Clean cultivation, i.e. removal and destruction of fallen & infested fruits daily. Deep ploughing to expose hibernating stages. Application of spray baits. Spraying with 0.05% malathion or 0.-1% carbaryl at flowering.



		Name of Pest
		Pumpkin beetle Raphidopalpa foveicollis
	Host plants	All cucurbits, bottle gourd, red pumpkin & cucumber
	Identification	Adult beetles are small. The Elyria of red pumpkin beetle is pale orange yellow to deep pale brown while in case of black pumpkin beetle it is black & it is yellowish in yellow pumpkin beetle. Grubs small, slender, elongate, creamy yellow with brown head and legs Pupation: in soil Active Stage: Active during hot weather i.e. March to May
	Nature of damage	Beetles damage the leaves, flowers and fruits, making irregular holes and causing death and retardation of growth. The grubs live in the soil and feed on roots and stem of plant. Fruits and leaves also get damaged when comes in contact with soil. Damaged roots, stems start rotting.
	Control measures	Preventive measures like burning of old creepers, ploughing & harrowing of field after harvest of crop to destroy the stages of pest. Collection & destruction of beetle in early stage of infestation. Spraying with 0.05% malathion or dusting with 5% malathion dust @ 10 kg/ha. In case of heavy infestation resowing is required to be done.



		Name of Pest
		Blister beetle Mylabris pustulata
	Host plants	Polyphagus different cucurbits, cotton, groundnut, millets, bhendi, rose.
	Identification	The Beetles are medium sized having three black & yellowish orange band running alternately on elytra. These beetles when disturbed exclude an acid fumes which contains contharidin and causes blisters on human skin. Pupation: in soil. Active Stage: active during August to December
	Nature of damage	Beetles feed on pollen and petals of flowers & flower buds; Affecting fruit-setting adversely
	Control measures	Hand collection & destruction of beetles. Dust 4% Carbaryl or spray 0.05% Malathion



		Name of Pest
		Leaf-eating beetles Epilachna duodecastigma
	Host plants	Polyphagus, cucurbits, brinjal,potato, tomato, etc.
	Identification	Beetles are spherical, pale brown with black spots. E.duodecastima has 6 spots on each elytra Pupation: on leaves.
	Nature of damage	Both grubs & beetle feed by scrapping chlorophyll from epidermal layers of leaves which gradually dry away.
	Control measures	Collect & destroy infested leaves along with insects in the initial stages Spray 0.1% Carbaryl or 0.05% Malathion or Dichlorvos (DDVP)