|
|
AVRDC Crop Protection Guides |
|
Eggplant
Insect Pests Thrips
|
|
 Damage symptoms |
|
|
Insect characteristics |
|
|
Where to look |
|
|
Technical information |
|
|
Control |
|
Damage symptoms Damage is most obvious on the underside of the lower leaves, where areas appear brownish and dried up. In severe cases, the entire leaf dries up. Similar damage is seen along the mid-vein on the upper leaf surface. |
 |
|
|
|
|
Insect characteristics Modified piercing-sucking mouthparts. These insects are silver-shaped and very small, about the size of a flea, and just visible to the naked eye. The young are either yellow or white. Adults are darker with two brownish strips down their backs. |
 |
|
|
|
|
Where to look First look at the upper surface of the lower leaves. Along the mid-vein notice the damage on either side. This is where you should see these tiny insects. Turn the leaf over and carefully look at the sections with healthy tissue that border areas of brown or damage tissue. If you focus well, you will notice the tiny insects moving. |
|
Technical information Adults lay their eggs within leaf tissues and the young hatch after several days. Adults are excitable and fly off if disturbed. Pupation occurs in the soil usually at the base of the plant. Identification of species should be made by a trained taxonomist. This pest also damages watermelon, muskmelon, bottle gourd, cucumber, chili pepper, tomato, and potato crops. |
|
Control To be added later. |
|
Last updated: July 2000. Information from: Field Guide: Insect Pests of Selected Vegetables in Tropical and Subtropical Asia. 1995. B.L. Parker, N.S. Talekar and M. Skinner. Publication 94-427. Pest control recommendations added. |
|
|