Jatropha Curcas is acquiring significance commercially as the demand of fossil fuels increases tremendously and likewise Jatropha is an environmentally friendly energy plantation. Plantation of this plant is thought about to be an exceptional fuel replacement and it is also really economical compared to other fuels. Recently, Jatropha is dealing with some problem with bugs and illness. The insects are classified into two ranges: Pest that affect young plants and Pest that affect developed plants.
Young plant insects: Cutworm, Scarabeid Beetle, Army worm, Grasshopper.
Agrotis ipsilon: It is frequently known as Cut worm. This bug impacts the seedlings and young Jatropha plants. If the plant is impacted by the cutworm, the stem gets cut nearer to the soil surface and this will diminished the plant completely.
Control: This pest can be controlled by choosing the larva discovered around the plants or by mixing the bran, sawdust with insecticides.
Scarabaeid Beetle: This insect ruins the root of the young plant. Initially, the larva consumes the raw materials present in the soil and then concerns the root. The larva attack may kill the entire plant.
Control: The plant with good resistance power can conquer the bug. For heavy attack, insecticides with components carbosulfan and carbofuran can be used to kill the insect.
Army worm: Spodoptera litura existence can be recognized by biting in the leaves. The serious infection might totally eliminate the plants.
Control: Insecticides are used to manage the insects.
Grasshopper: This is typical pest found in several plants. Valanga nigricornis and Locusta migratoria extensively assaults the plant. The bug typically assaults the young plant.
Control: The insecticides utilized betacyfluthrin, cypermethrin, thiodicarb, MIPC, and fipronil.
Pest observed in fully grown plants:
Pest of Stem: Ostrinia furnacalis, Xyleborus spp.
Ostrinia furnacalis and Xyleborus: This pest damages the Jatropha stem and it is commonly seen in Indonesia. The stem attacked by this insect usually drop. The existence can be determined by the larva penetration hole at the stem.
Control: The Insecticide generally used to control this insect is carbofuran.
Pest of leaf: The typical pests observed are leaf caterpillar, Neetle caterpillar, Leaf hopper, Mite, Ear corn caterpillar.
Leaf Caterpillar: This bug can eat all the leaves of the plant simply put duration. The quality and yield of the seeds get reduced due to the heavy attack.
Control: This can be managed by choosing the old larvae around the surface and throwing away the assaulted leaves.
Needle Caterpillar: This caterpillar is covered with spines and produces a burning experience when allowed to contact with skin as it produces certain chemical substance. Initially the pest crowded in the leaf and after that spread out all over the plant when it gets older.
Control: Manually, the insect can be eliminated just by soaking it in water or kerosene. The heavy attack can be controlled by spraying organophosphate insecticides.
Leaf Hopper: This bug is found mostly in tropical and subtropical areas. The bug targets the leaf and draws all the nutrients of the leaf and gets curls at the tip. Later, the whole leaf dry and pass away.
Control: The heavy attack can be controlled by using insecticides like imidachloprid, beta cyfluthrin or carbosulfan.
Mite: Mite also assaults the leaf and makes the entire plant weak. The pest existence can be determined when the leaf become yellowish, shrinks, turns red and drop. The bug can also be spread through fallen leaves.
Control: Some preventive procedures can be done like appropriate sanitation and burning the fallen leaves. Heavy attack can be dealt with by spraying insecticides.
Some dreadful pest which attacks flower and fruit are, Stink bug (Nezara viridula)
Chrysocoris javanus, Tip borer caterpillar.
Stink Bug: Sting bug is a severe insect which assaults the plant during blossom duration so the crop yield totally falls down. This pest is seen around the tropical region.
The harmful enzyme in the plant diminishes the whole plant.
Control:
Insecticides recommended for this insect is chlorfluazuron, diflubenzuron, alfamethrin, and lamda cyhalothrin.
Tip borer caterpillar: The insects frequently happens attacks the plant in flowering season and this insect is seen commonly in tropical regions. The female insect laid the eggs on the tender part of the plant and the young larvae feed the young fruits and plant suggestions.
Control: Manually, the assaulted seeds are advised to burn. The insecticides like monocrotophos and bensultap are sprayed at the flowering season.
