Status of Shoot and Fruit Borer, Conogethes sahyadriensis, on Spice Crops

Abstract

Conogethes sahyadriensis (Shashank PR, Kammar V, Mally R, Chakravarthy AK, Zootaxa 4374(2):215–234, 2018) is a serious insect pest of zingiberaceous spice crops such as cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum Maton), ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.) and turmeric (Curcuma longa L.). On ginger and cardamom the borer incurs up to 25% and 80% yield losses, respectively. On cardamom the economic threshold level is fixed at 10% shoot infestation. The fecundity of female moths and the duration for completing the generations varied with the season, the spice crop and the habitat. C. sahyadriensis infesting spice crops in South India has alternate wild Zingiberaceae plants, viz. species of Alpinia, Amomum, Hedychium, Curcuma, Aframomum, etc. Over a dozen, promising parasitoids and predators have been recorded on Conogethes larvae and pupae. Therefore, need-based applications of selective insecticides are warranted. Use of semiochemicals for borer management should be rendered practicable.