Cut
Worm
Management
Cultural and mechanical: Deep ploughing of potato fields during summer months in the plains exposes the immature stages to high temperature and to predatory birds. Similarly, deep ploughing of fields during autumn in the hills also minimises cutworms population. Light traps installed in and around potato fields attract the adults of cutworms, and helps in mass collection and destruction of the moths.
Chemical: Chlorpyrifos 20 EC is recommended at 0.05% concentration for the cutworm control. The first spraying with either of these insecticides should be given soon after noticing the attack on the crop. This may be repeated once after 20-30 days of first spraying if the damage persists.
Biological: Broscus punctatus Dist and Liogryllus bimaculatus Linn have been reported to be the parasitises of cutworms larvae. Macrocentrus collaris (Spin), Netelia ocellaris (Thomson), Coelichneumon sp. nr truncatulus Thomson , Periscepsia carbonaria Panzer and Turanogonia chinensis Wiedemann also parasitise A. ipsilon and A. segetum under natural field conditions . Entomogenous fungus , Metarrhizium anisopliae (Meld.), pathogenic bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner and entomophilic nematode, Stinernema (Neoaplectana ) sp. are also well known as dominant regulatory factors for cutworm populations from various parts of the country .
Integrated management: The cutworms can be successfully managed by adopting the following IPM schedule:
1. Deep ploughing of potato fields during summer months in the plains and in autumn in hilly areas.
2. Light traps be installed in/around potato fields to attract the moths of cutworms for mass collection and destruction.
3. Spraying of crop and drenching the ridges with chlorpyrifos 20EC @ 2.5 lit/ha after noticing 2% plant damage in the fields.
4. Conservation of natural enemies of cutworms by spraying the crop and ridges with biopesticides (Bt @ 109 spores /ml)