Jatropha jatropha curcas is getting importance commercially as the demand of fossil fuels increases greatly and likewise Jatropha is an eco-friendly energy plantation. Plantation of this plant is thought about to be an excellent fuel replacement and it is also extremely cost-effective compared to other fuels. Recently, Jatropha is dealing with some difficulty with pests and diseases. The bugs are classified into two ranges: Pest that impact young plants and Pest that affect matured plants.
Young plant insects: Cutworm, Scarabeid Beetle, Army worm, Grasshopper.
Agrotis ipsilon: It is frequently referred to as Cut worm. This bug impacts the seedlings and young jatropha curcas plants. If the plant is affected by the cutworm, the stem gets cut nearer to the soil surface and this will shrunk the plant completely.
Control: This bug can be controlled by choosing the larva found around the plants or by mixing the bran, sawdust with insecticides.
Scarabaeid Beetle: This insect destroys the root of the young plant. Initially, the larva takes in the natural matters present in the soil and after that comes to the root. The larva attack may kill the entire plant.
Control: The plant with great resistance power can overcome the insect. For heavy attack, insecticides with components carbosulfan and carbofuran can be used to kill the pest.
Army worm: Spodoptera litura existence can be identified by biting in the leaves. The severe infection might totally kill the plants.
Control: Insecticides are utilized to control the bugs.
Grasshopper: This is typical insect found in several plants. Valanga nigricornis and Locusta migratoria commonly assaults the plant. The insect frequently attacks the young plant.
Control: The insecticides used betacyfluthrin, cypermethrin, thiodicarb, MIPC, and fipronil.
Pest observed in fully grown plants:
Pest of Stem: Ostrinia furnacalis, Xyleborus spp.
Ostrinia furnacalis and Xyleborus: This insect damages the Jatropha stem and it is commonly seen in Indonesia. The stem assaulted by this bug usually drop. The presence can be recognized by the larva penetration hole at the stem.
Control: The Insecticide generally used to control this pest is carbofuran.
Pest of leaf: The common insects observed are leaf caterpillar, Neetle caterpillar, Leaf hopper, Mite, Ear corn caterpillar.
Leaf Caterpillar: This insect can eat all the leaves of the plant in brief duration. The quality and yield of the seeds get minimized due to the heavy attack.
Control: This can be controlled by choosing the old larvae around the surface and tossing away the attacked leaves.
Needle Caterpillar: This caterpillar is covered with spinal columns and produces a burning experience when permitted to exposure to skin as it produces specific chemical substance. Initially the insect crowded in the leaf and then spread out all over the plant when it ages.
Control: Manually, the bug can be killed just by soaking it in water or kerosene. The heavy attack can be managed by spraying organophosphate insecticides.
Leaf Hopper: This pest is discovered primarily in tropical and subtropical areas. The insect targets the leaf and draws all the nutrients of the leaf and gets curls at the suggestion. Later, the entire leaf dry and pass away.
Control: The heavy attack can be controlled by utilizing insecticides like imidachloprid, beta cyfluthrin or carbosulfan.
Mite: Mite also assaults the leaf and makes the entire plant weak. The bug existence can be identified when the leaf ended up being yellow-colored, shrinks, reddens and fall down. The bug can likewise be spread out through fallen leaves.
Control: Some preventive steps can be simulated correct sanitation and burning the fallen leaves. Heavy attack can be dealt with by spraying insecticides.
Some terrible insect which assaults flower and fruit are, Stink bug (Nezara viridula)
Chrysocoris javanus, Tip borer caterpillar.
Stink Bug: Sting bug is a major pest which attacks the plant throughout blossom duration so the crop yield totally drops. This bug is seen around the tropical region.
The hazardous enzyme in the plant diminishes the entire plant.
Control: Insecticides suggested for this insect is chlorfluazuron, diflubenzuron, alfamethrin, and lamda cyhalothrin.
Tip borer caterpillar: The insects typically happens attacks the plant in blooming season and this insect is seen commonly in tropical areas. The female bug laid the eggs on the tender part of the plant and the young larvae feed the young fruits and plant tips.
Control: Manually, the attacked seeds are suggested to burn. The insecticides like monocrotophos and bensultap are sprayed at the flowering season.