Fruit borer

8. Fruit borer (Helicoverpa spp., spodoptera spp.)

Moths of fruit borers feed mostly on plant flowers and fruits, while African bollworm feeds heavily on leaves. Moths usually feed at dusk and night.

Fruit borer in fruit

Fruit worm in fruit

Symptoms and damage

• Caterpillars bore holes on fruit promoting fruit rot • Attacked flower buds fall off prematurely

Management

• Plough/weed the field to expose the pupae to predators and desiccation • Destroy damaged fruits, caterpillars and eggs • Natural control: introduce parasitic wasps, bugs and ants • Spray pesticides with indoxacarb, lambda cyhalothrin or spinosad.