BioVoice News October 2017 Issue 5 Volume 2 | Page 15

PINK BOLLWORM ON THE PROWL! The pink bollworm is a larvae that burrows into cotton bolls to feed on the cotton seeds and in the process it destroys the cotton lint. This feeding damage allows other insects and fungi to enter the boll and cause additional damage. When the larva exits the cotton boll it leaves a perfectly round and clean cut exit hole which is diagnostic of pink bollworm damage. insects and parasites that devour pink boll worms and destroying of crop residue and trash in the field. Explaining the importance of IPM, Mr N M Sharma, managing director of Gujarat Cotton Cooperative Federation, says that the pupa of PBW which is a monophagous pest that feeds only on Cotton, has a tendency, where its pupa intelligently hides underground during winters and then emerge out to attack Cotton crop with vengeance. The resurgent pink bollworm has led to the expression of serious BIOVOICENEWS.COM 15