a. Key Pest

Most serious and consistently damaging pests. Always present and frequently cause economic damage.

GEP well above DB & EIL

Cotton bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera), DBM (Plutella xylostella), gram pod borer

b. Major Pest

Cause economic loss occasionally; damage avoided by timely control.

GEP close to EIL

Sucking pests of cotton and rice (aphids, jassids)

c. Minor Pest

Usually remain below EIL; cause little damage unless conditions favor outbreak.

GEP below EIL & DB

Thrips, mites, sugarcane mealybug

d. Regular Pest

Attack specific seasonal crops every year; several generations during crop season.

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Rice stem borer (Scirpophaga incertulas), cotton bollworm

e. Sporadic Pest

Appear irregularly in epidemic form under favorable conditions.

GEP usually low; may rise suddenly.

White grub, hairy caterpillar, cutworm, grasshopper

f. Potential Pest

Not currently causing damage, but could become pests if ecosystem balance is disturbed (e.g., due to pesticide misuse).

GEP below DB, doesn’t cross EIL under normal conditions

Spodoptera litura on cotton/soybean, armyworm on wheat

a. Crop rotation

Break pest life cycles; effective for pests with narrow host range.

Rotate cotton → sorghum or legumes.

b. Deep ploughing

Exposes and destroys resting stages (pupae, eggs) of soil insects and pathogens.

Summer deep ploughing for white grubs, termites.

c. Clean cultivation

Remove weeds, volunteer plants, and crop residues harboring pests.

Destroy crop stubble and alternate hosts.

d. Trap crops

Grown around main crop to attract pests; then destroy pests via sprays or traps.

Okra in cotton (bollworms), castor in soybean (Spodoptera), mustard in cabbage (DBM).

e. Pruning & Thinning

Remove infested plant parts; improve aeration and plant vigor.

Prune infested shoots of brinjal, citrus, etc.

f. Growing resistant varieties

Most economical and eco-friendly method.

Rice: CoRH-1 (resistant to BPH & gall midge), Suraksha (gall midge resistant).

2. Mechanical Control

Physical destruction or removal of pests.

Handpicking egg masses, light traps, sticky traps, tillage.

3. Physical Control

Using temperature, light, or moisture extremes.

Hot-water seed treatment, solarization.

4. Biological Control

Use of natural enemies—predators, parasitoids, pathogens.

Trichogramma chilonis for bollworms; Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt).

5. Chemical Control

Judicious use of insecticides only when ETL is crossed.

Avoid indiscriminate spraying to prevent pest resurgence/resistance.

6. Legal Control

Government laws to prevent pest introduction/spread.

Destructive Insect Pest Act (DIPA), 1914.

7. Genetic Control

Altering pest genes or using sterile insect technique.

Sterile male technique for fruit fly (Bactrocera spp.).

8. Behavioral Control

Using pheromones, attractants, repellents, or traps.

Pheromone traps for Helicoverpa armigera.