Field Crops> Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)> Insect Pests

Wheat is attacked by anumber of insect-pests and rodents both in the field and in storage. Some of the most important and common ones are given below:

Termites

Termites damage the crop soon after sowing and sometimes near maturity. The damaged plants dry up completely and are easily pulled out. The plants damaged at later stages give rise ot white ears. Infestation is heavy under unirrigated conditions and in the fields where undecomposed farm yard manure is applied before sowing. For the control of this insect use Aldrin 5% dust or BHC 10% dust at the rate of 20-25 kg per hectare and mix it well in the soil at the time of last ploughing before sowing.

Gujhja Weevil

It attacks germinating seedlings. As a result of heavy infestation plants die out. Control measure for this insect is same as for termites.

Army Worms

Caterpillars of this insect feed on plants particularly tender parts during the night and hide during the day time. They damage leaves and ear-head also. They may be controlled by dusting of 10% BHC dust at the rate of 25 kg per hectare. A spray of Carbaryl (sevin 50 WP) at the rate of 2.5 kg per hectare in 800 liters of water per hectare will also control this insect.

Brown Wheat Mite, Aphids and Jassids

These leaf sucking insects also damage the wheat crop rusulting in discolouration of leaves. To control these pests apply 0.5 litre Folithion or Thiodan or one litre Ekalux 25 EC in 800 litres of water per hectare.

Rodents

Field Rates: They cause heavy loss to wheat crop and do considerable damage to the harvested crops lying in stacks in te field. For the control of field rates close all burrows in te evening and fumigate the reopened burrows of rats in the morning time with aluminium phosphide at the rate of 1 tablet of 0.5 g per small burrow and 3.0 g per large burrow. In case or re-appearance in the same field, bait with cumarin (ratafin) at the rate of 1 kg of prepared bait (1 part cumarin:19 part wheat or maize flour, 1 part molasses and 1 part mustard oil).