Millets are indigenous to many parts of the world.The most widely grown millet is pearl millet, which is an important crop in India and parts of Africa.Finger millet, proso millet, and foxtail millet are also important crop species
In India, various alcoholic beverages are produced from millets.[31] Millet is also the base ingredient for the distilled liquor
Pest Affecting the Millets
Shoot fly Antomyiidae: Diptera
Sorghum Shoot fly – Atherigona varia soccata
Cumbu Shoot fly – Atherigona approximate
Tenai Shoot fly – Atherigona destructor
Maize Shoot fly – Atherigona orientalis
- It is a serious pest in early stage of the crop. Infestation is higher in July – August and October – November. They cause 30 to 80 % damage.
- Dead heart, Chaffy thin panicles, Production of secondary and tertiary tillers and Rosette appearance of the plant are the symptoms of damage.
- Whitish grey small fly, Maggot dirty white
- After hatching maggot bores the stem near the soil level.
- Pupates at the base of the stem or in soil
Stem borers
Sorghum borer – Chilo partellus – Crambidae, Lepidoptera
Pink borer – Sesamia inferens – Noctuidae, Lepidoptera
White borer– Saluria inficita – Phycitidae, Lepidoptera
Chilo partellus
- Infests after one month of sowing
- Young caterpillar mine the midrib, cause shot holes on leaves
- Dead heart & bore holes on stem are the symptoms of damage
- Adults medium sized moth, Lay flat and oval eggs in batches, Larva Yellow with brown head, Pupates in stem
Sesamia inferens
- Pink larva with dark head
- Adult – Stout, straw coloured moth with white hind wings, Pupates in stem
Saluria inficita
- Specific pest on Ragi in south India
- Larva – white with yellow head,
- Adult – Fore wings dark brown with pale white band along the margin, Hind wing white
Root feeders
White grub Holotrichia consanguinea Melolonthidae: Coleoptera
Root aphid Tetraneura nigriabdominalis Aphididae: Hemiptera
- Root aphid is an occasional pest on Ragi and cumbu. Severe in irrigated crop
- Plants turn pale yellow and become stunted
- Aphids – pink in colour
- Ants attend them for honey dew
Ear head feeders
Gram caterpillar– Helicoverpa armigera Noctuidae, Lepidoptera
Ear head caterpillar –Sitotroga cerealella Gelechiidae, Lepidoptera
Web worm– Cryptoblabes gnidiella Pyraustidae, Lepidoptera
Semilooper– Antoba silicula Noctuidae, Lepidoptera
Gall midge– Contarinia sorghicola Cecidimyiidae: Diptera
Ear head bug– Calocoris angustatus Miridae: Hemiptera
Ear head beetle– Cylindrothorax teunicollis Meloidae: Coleoptera
- Gall midge is more common in hybrids. Adults are bright orange, Lay Eggs in the florets, Maggot feeds on the developing grains and pupates inside. Pupal case attaches to tip of the floret, Under go larval diapause in soil debris, Three to seven days old ear heads are susceptible
- Ear head bug is a potential pest on irrigated sorghum, cumbu, tenai, maize. Severe damage caused during April – June. Suck the sap from grains and make them chaffy. Adults green, Lay blue eggs in the florets
Leaf feeders
Red hairy caterpillar Amsacta albistriga, A.moorei Arctiidae:Lepidoptera
Black hairy caterpillar Estigmene lactinea Arctiidae: Lepidoptera
Cutworm Spodoptera exigua Noctuidae: Lepidoptera
Ash weevils Myllocerus maculosus,M. discolor Curculionidae: Coleoptera
Flea beetle Chaetocnema pusaensis Alticidae: Coleoptera
Leaf beetle Monolepta signata Galerucidae: Coleoptera
Leaf roller Marasmia trapezalis Pyraustidae:Lepidoptera
Slug caterpillar Thosea apeirens Cochlidiidae: Lepidoptera
Chafer beetle Oxycetonia versicolor Cetonidae: Coleoptera
Surface grasshopper Chrotogonus sp. Acrididae: Orthoptera
Deccan grasshopper Colemania sphenarioides Acrididae: Orthoptera Wingless grasshopper Neoorthacris simulans Acrididae: Orthoptera
Sap feeders
Aphids Rhopalosiphum maidis Aphididae: Hemiptera
Whitefly Neomaskellia bergii Aleurodidae: Hemiptera
Mealy bug Heterococcus rehi Pseudococcidae: Hemiptera
Plant bugs Nezara viridula, Dolycoris indicus Pentatomidae: Hemiptera
Pyrilla Pyrilla perpusilla Lophopidae: Hemiptera
Fly like bug Proutista moesta Derbiidae: Hemiptera
Shoot bug Perigrinus maidis Delphacidae: Hemiptera
- Infestation starts one month after sowing. Hopper like bugs live within the leaf whorl; yellowish brown.Suck the sap from leaves. Yellowing, stunted growth, twisting of the top leaf are the symptoms. Honey dew secretion favours sooty mould growth. Brachypterous and macropterous forms are present.
Non insect pest
Mite– Oligonychus indicus Tetranychidae: Acarina
- Suck the sap from leaves and cause reddish patches.
- Entire leaf turns into red
- Improper ear heads
- Nymphs and adults spin fine webs and Live in colonies
