Cockscomb Pests and Control Methods

Pests of Cockscomb: Spodoptera litura

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The Spodoptera litura, also known as the lotus armyworm and the litura night thief, belongs to the Lepidoptera, Noctuidae. The Spodoptera litura occurs throughout the country and is a voracious pest.

It mainly harms the whole plant with larvae, and when they are young, they gather in groups and eat the back of the leaves. After the third instar, the larvae disperse and damage leaves and tender stems, and the old larvae can eat fruits.

Prevention and treatment methods

For biological control, bacterial insecticides can be used, such as domestic Bt emulsion or Broiler's fungus liquid No. 6, usually at a dilution concentration of 500 to 800 times.

For physiological control, 500-1000 times dilution of 20% or 25% suspension of carbendazim No. 1 or carbendazim No. 3. However, this type of agent acts slowly and usually kills pests only when the insect age changes. It should be sprayed early. For this reason, this type of agent often adopts the dosage form of suspension, which is resistant to rain erosion after spraying and the efficacy can be maintained for more than half a month.

For chemical control, you can choose 1000 times diluted solution of 50% cypermethrin emulsifiable concentrate, 2000-3000 times diluted solution of 20% cypermethrin emulsifiable concentrate, 3000 times diluted solution of 2.5% cypermethrin emulsifiable concentrate, 500 times diluted solution of 2.5% kung fu emulsifiable concentrate, 1000 times diluted solution of 10% Uranus emulsifiable concentrate, or 4000 times diluted solution of 21% methamphetamine emulsifiable concentrate.

Cockscomb pests: aphids

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Aphids will suck the sap from leaves and branches, and dead spots will form on the affected parts. The growth rate of cockscomb will be reduced, and the leaves will gradually shrink, turn yellow, and curl after dead spots form, until finally the leaves fall off. In severe cases, the entire plant will die.

The aphids' ingestion of the sap causes the plant to lack vitality, and the aphids' saliva is also toxic to the plant.

Prevention and treatment methods

In the initial stage, spray 800-1000 times diluted 50‰ DDT or 1500-2000 times diluted 40% Dimethoate.

If you find plants that are severely infested by aphids, you should remove them and destroy them immediately.

Cockscomb pests: Red spider mites

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Red spider mites are very small and difficult to detect. Once they are discovered causing damage, the cockscomb is often already severely damaged.

Red spiders use their mouthparts to pierce into the leaves and suck juice, which destroys the chlorophyll. The leaves appear gray-yellow spots or patches, turn orange-yellow, fall off, or even fall off completely.

Prevention and treatment methods

You should pay attention to observation at ordinary times. When you find abnormal color of leaves, you should carefully check the back of the leaves. If individual leaves are damaged, you can remove the insect leaves. When it occurs on many leaves, you should spray pesticides as soon as possible. Commonly used pesticides include cypermethrin, trichloronate, dimethoate, cypermethrin, and cypermethrin.

When growing cockscombs at home, you can prepare a flower sprayer. In 400 ml of water, you can drop 4 drops of cypermethrin, cypermethrin or chlorpyrifos (equivalent to 2000 times the solution), and 8 drops of dicofol or dimethoate (equivalent to 1000 times the solution). After adding the medicine, shake well and spray immediately. The spraying should be even and thorough, and special attention should be paid to spraying the back of the leaves.