- Type of Infestation: Pest
- Common Name: Tobacco Caterpillar
- Causal Organism: Spodoptera litura
- Affected Parts Of the plant: Leaves, Stem, Flower and Seeds
- Eggs: Golden brown, laid in clusters on the underside of leaves.
- Larvae: Young caterpillars are light green with black heads or black spots. As they mature, they become grayish or dark brown with a white V-shaped marking on their heads. They can grow up to 1.5 inches long.
- Adults: Brownish moths with wavy white markings on the forewings and white hindwings with brown margins.
- Temperature: Tobacco caterpillars prefer warm temperatures, typically between 20-30°C (68-86°F). These temperatures accelerate their development and increase their feeding activity.
- Humidity: Moderate to high humidity levels (around 60-80%) favor the survival and development of tobacco caterpillars. Dry conditions can be detrimental to their eggs and young larvae.
- Holes: Initially, young caterpillars will leave small, irregular holes in the leaves as they scrape the leaf surface for feeding.
- Skeletonized leaves: As the caterpillars mature and become more voracious, they may consume most of the leaf tissue, leaving only the veins and petiole, creating a "skeletonized" appearance.
- Chewed edges: Caterpillars may also chew along the edges of leaves, creating uneven and ragged margins.
- Defoliation: Heavy caterpillar feeding can lead to significant loss of leaves, impacting the plant's ability to photosynthesize and ultimately affecting yield.
- Stunted growth: Due to reduced food production, infested plants may show stunted growth, appearing shorter and thinner than healthy plants.
- Wilting: Severe damage can cause wilting or drooping of leaves and stems due to a lack of water and nutrients.
| Products | Technical Names | Dosages |
| EMA5 | Emamectin benzoate 5 % SG | 80-100 grams per Acre |
| K-Indox | INDOXACARB 14.5% SC | 200 ml per Acre |
| Fantastic | Chlorantranliprole 0.4% w/w GR | 4-7.5 Kg/acre |
| Spino-45 | Spinosad 45 % sc | 60-90 ml per Acre |
