Introduction:

Carrot (Daucus carota) is a root vegetable.There are many pests damaging the crop.Integrated pest management is essential to prevent the crops from pest damage and to get good quality of carrot.

Pests of Carrot :

Carrot Weevil :

Scientific name: Listronotus oregonensis

Damage :

Insect chews around top of carrot, create deeper wounds through tunneling.Adults overwinter in and around fields.

Yield losses – Sporadic problem.If infestation is heavy yield loss upto 50%.

Management:

Chemical method: Spray pesticides Cyfluthrin Baythroid 2 and Esfenvalerate Asana.

Cultural method : Crops rotation,Row covers, Ploughing of field, Sanitation tilllage.

Carrrot rust fly:

Scientific name : Psila rosae Fabricius

Damage :

Larva feed on the carrot root.

Rust coloured grass deposite in superficial feeding tunnels on the carrot.

Management:

Cultural method:

Delay planting

Crop rotation

Use Sticky traps.

Avoid crop residues.

Biology method :Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki can be sprayed on the plants to kill them.

Chemical method:Use Diazinon and zeta cypermethrin.

Cutworms:

Scientific name : Agrotis segetum

Damage:

Large larvae may destroy several plants.The larvae pull the stem of the severed plant into the subterranean burrow.

Management:

Deep ploughing.

Stirring of soil.

Flooding of fields.

Handpicking the caterpillar and destroy.

Soil application of chlorpyriphos @ 0.1 per cent.

Poison baits spread on the ground to attract and kill larvae.

Parsleyworm / Black Swallowtail Butterfly:

Scientific name: Papilio polyxenes Stoll

Damage :

They feed on foliages.Even at low densities,they are often conspicuous because of striking appearance.

Management:

Handpicking the caterpillar and destroy.

Use Bacillus thuringeinsis and Beauveria bassiana.

 

Apply neem oil or neem seed kernel extract.

Field Sanitation.

Other pests :

Aphids ,Leafhoppers ,flea beetle,Turnip moth.

Conclusion

Integrated pest management methods like cultural, biological and chemical method is used to control the pests in carrot.Effective control of pest increase the yield and quality of carrot.

FAQs

What are the common pests in Carrot ?

How to control the Carrot rust fly ?

What is the best way to manage the pest without using chemicals?

What is the damaging symptom of Carrot Weevil?