AGRICULTURAL NEWS - When climatic conditions are favourable, the night-flying moths emerge and start laying eggs. On hatching, the larvae initially feed on the young leaves, then graduate to the pods, where they make holes, rendering the beans unmarketable.
Because of the pest’s sporadic nature, it can catch you off guard. To avoid this, place a few pheromone traps on the edges of the land to catch the males; if you do, it is a sign that egg-laying is about to begin.
The sooner you become aware of the problem, the better; newly hatched larvae are easier and cheaper to control than the larger caterpillars.
Avoid spraying regularly for bollworm; it is a waste of money and effort; spray only when necessary.
