Sesame Crop Insects A Presentation To IPM Course/FFS Participants

ByMr. Allah Dad Khan

Provincial Coordinator IPM KPK For MINFAL Pakistan

Crop: Sesamum Scientific name: Sesamum

indicum Family: Pedaliaceae

Symptoms of damage:

The young larvae roll together a few top leaves and feed them

In the early stage of infestation, the plant dies without producing any branch or shoot

In later stage of attack, infested shoots stop growing

At flowering, larvae feed inside the flowers and on capsule formation, larvae bore into capsule and feed on developing seeds

Leaf webber/ roller and capsule borer: Antigastra catalaunalis

Identification of the pest:

Larvae: Greenish in colour with black head having short white hairs

Adult: Medium sized moth with reddish yellow forewings

Leaf webber/ roller and capsule borer: Antigastra catalaunalis

Symptoms of damage: Caterpillar feeding

The young larvae roll together a few top leaves and feed them

In the early stage of infestation, the plant dies without producing any branch or shoot

In later stage of attack, infested shoots stop growing

At flowering, larvae feed inside the flowers and on capsule formation, larvae bore into capsule and feed on developing seeds

Hawk or Dead head moth (Sphinx caterpillar): Acherontia styx

Identification of the pest:

Larvae:  Greenish in colour with black head having short white hairs

Adult: Brownish giant hawk moth, thorax with a characteristic skullmarking, abdomen has violet and yellow band. Forewings are dark brown and Hind wings are yellowish with 2 black lines

Hawk or Dead head moth (Sphinx caterpillar): Acherontia styx

Symptoms of damage:

Fully grown larvae make a hole in the bud and damage the flower

Linseed gall fly: Dasyneura sesame 

Identification of the pest:

Larva: Maggots are whitish, legless

Adult: Mosquito like fly

Linseed gall fly: Dasyneura sesame

Symptoms of damage: Infested Flower Bud

Maggots feed inside the floral bud

Leading to formation of gall like structure which do not develop in to flower/capsules

The flower buds wither and drop

Gall fly: Asphondylia sesami

Identification of the pest:

Larva: Maggots are whitish, legless and with body tapering exteriorly

Adult: Mosquito like fly

Gall fly: Asphondylia sesami

Symptoms of damage:

Curling of leaf edges and leaves turn red or brown

The leaves dry up and shed

Vector of sesamum phyllody

Leaf hopper: Orosius albicinctus

Identification of the pest:

Adult: Light brown coloured hopper

Leaf hopper: Orosius albicinctus

Symptoms of damage:

Crinkling and curling of leaves

Leaves appear shiny and sticky due to honeydew excreted by the insects

Later sooty mold grows on honey dew and leaves have a black coating

Aphids:  Aphis gossypii

Identification of the pest:

Adult: Yellowish to dark

Aphids:  Aphis gossypii