ECONOMIC THRESHOLD LEVEL

Economic Threshold Level (ETL) is the pest population density at which control measures should
be initiated to prevent an economic loss. It's crucial to monitor pest populations and implement
control strategies when the ETL is reached to avoid unnecessary pesticide use and economic
damage.
MAJOR SUCKING INSECT PESTS:
1. Whitefly (Bemisia tabaci)
Taxonomy:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hemiptera
Family: Aleyrodidae
Genus: Bemisia
Species: Bemisia tabaci
Habitat:
Thrives in warm, dry conditions. Commonly found on the underside of leaves.
Life History:
Complex life cycle with stages including egg, nymph, pupa, and adult.
High reproductive potential and multiple generations per year.
Host Plants:
A wide range of host plants, including cotton, vegetables, and ornamentals.
Mode of Damage:
Adults and nymphs suck sap from plant leaves, leading to leaf yellowing, curling, and reduced
photosynthesis.
Honeydew excretion attracts sooty mold, interfering with photosynthesis.
Vector of plant viruses.
ETL: 5 Adults/Nymph per leaf or varies depending on crop stage and variety but typically when
whitefly populations start to build up and leaf yellowing is observed.
2. Thrips (Thrips tabaci)
Taxonomy:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Thysanoptera
Family: Thripidae
Genus: Thrips
Species: Thrips tabaci
Habitat:
Found on flowers, buds, and young leaves.
Life History:
Incomplete metamorphosis with stages including egg, nymph, and adult.
Rapid reproduction and multiple generations per year.
Host Plants:
A wide range of host plants, including cotton, vegetables, and ornamentals.
Mode of Damage:
Feed on plant tissues, causing leaf distortion, silvering, and reduced growth.
Can transmit plant viruses.
ETL: 8-10 per leaf or varies depending on crop stage and variety, but typically when thrips
populations start to cause visible damage to leaves.
3. Jassid/Hopper (Amrasca biguttula biguttula)
Taxonomy:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hemiptera
Family: Cicadellidae
Genus: Amrasca
Species: Amrasca biguttula biguttula
Habitat:
Found on the underside of leaves.
Life History:
Incomplete metamorphosis with stages including egg, nymph, and adult.
Multiple generations per year.
Host Plants:
Cotton and other crops.
Mode of Damage:
Nymphs and adults suck sap from plant leaves, causing leafhoppers, curling, and reduced
photosynthesis.
Heavy infestations can lead to plant stunting and yield loss.
Vector of plant viruses.
ETL: 1 adult/nymph per leaf or varies depending on crop stage and variety, but typically when
jassid populations start to cause visible damage to leaves.
4. Aphid (Aphis gossypii)
Taxonomy:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hemiptera
Family: Aphididae
Genus: Aphis
Species: Aphis gossypii
Habitat:
Found on young shoots, buds, and leaves.
Life History:
Complex life cycle with both winged and wingless forms.
High reproductive potential and rapid population growth.
Host Plants:
A wide range of host plants, including cotton, vegetables, and ornamentals.
Mode of Damage:
Suck sap from plant tissues, causing leaf curling, distortion, and reduced growth.
Honeydew excretion attracts sooty mold.
Vector of plant viruses.
ETL: 10 per leaf or varies depending on crop stage and variety, but typically when aphid
populations start to cause visible damage to plants.
5. Mealybug (Phenacoccus solenopsis)
Taxonomy:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hemiptera
Family: Pseudococcidae
Genus: Phenacoccus
Species: Phenococcus solenopsis
Habitat:
Found on stems, leaves, and fruit.
Life History:
Complex life cycle with various stages.
Slower reproduction compared to other sucking pests.
Host Plants:
A wide range of host plants, including cotton, vegetables, and ornamentals.
Mode of Damage:
Suck sap from plant tissues, causing plant weakening, reduced growth, and yield loss.
Honeydew excretion attracts sooty mold.
ETL: Varies depending on crop stage and variety, but typically when mealybug populations start
to cause visible damage to plants.
6. Cotton Stainer (Dysdercus cingulatus)
Taxonomy:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hemiptera
Family: Pyrrhocoridae
Genus: Dysdercus
Species: Dysdercus cingulatus
Habitat:
Found on cotton plants, especially bolls.
Life History:
Incomplete metamorphosis with stages including egg, nymph, and adult.
Multiple generations per year.
Host Plants:
Cotton is the primary host.
Mode of Damage:
Adults and nymphs pierce cotton bolls and feed on seeds, causing stain damage to the fiber.
Reduced cotton quality and yield.
ETL: Varies depending on crop stage and variety, but typically when cotton stainer populations
start to increase and stain damage is observed.
7. Dusky Cotton Bug (Oxycarenus laetus)
Taxonomy:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hemiptera
Family: Lygaeidae
Genus: Oxycarenus
Species: Oxycarenus laetus
Habitat:
Found on cotton plants, especially bolls.
Life History:
Incomplete metamorphosis with stages including egg, nymph, and adult.
Multiple generations per year.
Host Plants:
Cotton is the primary host.
Mode of Damage:
Adults and nymphs feed on cotton bolls, causing stain damage to the fiber.
Reduced cotton quality and yield.
ETL: Varies depending on crop stage and variety, but typically when dusky cotton bug populations
start to increase and stain damage is observed.

MAJOR CHEWING INSECT PESTS:

1. American Bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera)
Taxonomy:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Noctuidae
Genus: Helicoverpa
Species: Helicoverpa armigera
Habitat:
Highly adaptable pest found in diverse agricultural landscapes, including cotton fields, corn, and
vegetable crops.
Life History:
Complete metamorphosis: egg, larva, pupa, adult.
Larvae are polyphagous, feeding on a wide range of host plants.
High reproductive potential with multiple generations per year.
Host Plants:
Cotton, corn, chickpea, tomato, and many other crops.
Mode of Damage:
Larvae feed on flowers, buds, and bolls of cotton, causing direct yield losses.
Can also attack other parts of the plant, resulting in reduced plant growth and quality.
ETL: Generally, 1 larva or 1 egg per plant.
2. Pink Bollworm (Pectinophora gossypiella)
Taxonomy:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Gelechiidae
Genus: Pectinophora
Species: Pectinophora gossypiella
Habitat:
Primarily associated with cotton fields.
Life History:
Complete metamorphosis: egg, larva, pupa, adult.
Larvae are highly specific to cotton.
Multiple generations per year under favorable conditions.
Host Plants:
Cotton is the primary host.
Mode of Damage:
Larvae bore into cotton bolls, feeding on developing seeds and fibers.
Damaged bolls produce stained and low-quality cotton.
Can lead to significant yield losses and reduced fiber quality.
ETL: Due to its concealed nature within bolls, early detection is crucial. Regular monitoring is
essential, and control measures should be initiated at the first sign of infestation.
3. Spotted Bollworms (Erias insulana, Erias vitella)
Taxonomy:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Noctuidae
Genus: Erias
Species: Erias insulana, Erias vitella
Habitat:
Primarily found in cotton-growing regions.
Life History:
Complete metamorphosis: egg, larva, pupa, adult.
Larvae are polyphagous but primarily damage cotton.
Multiple generations per year under suitable conditions.
Host Plants:
Cotton is the primary host, but they can also feed on other crops.
Mode of Damage:
Larvae feed on young shoots, flowers, and bolls of cotton.
Can cause extensive damage to the crop, resulting in yield losses and reduced fiber quality.
ETL: Similar to American bollworm, typically 1 larva or 1 egg per plant.

4. Army Bollworms (Spodoptera litura)

Taxonomy:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Noctuidae
Genus: Spodoptera
 Species: Spodoptera litura
Habitat:
Polyphagous pest found in various agricultural ecosystems.
Life History:
Complete metamorphosis: egg, larva, pupa, adult.
Larvae are highly polyphagous, feeding on a wide range of crops.
Multiple generations per year.
Host Plants:
Cotton, corn, soybean, tobacco, and many other crops.
Mode of Damage:
Larvae feed on leaves, stems, and flowers, causing defoliation and plant damage.
Can cause significant yield losses in various crops.
Outbreaks can lead to rapid crop destruction.
ETL: Can vary depending on crop stage and value. Generally, it's recommended to monitor leaf
damage and initiate control measures when defoliation reaches an economically damaging level.