Jatropha Curcas is acquiring significance commercially as the demand of fossil fuels increases enormously and also Jatropha is an environment-friendly energy plantation. Plantation of this plant is considered to be an outstanding fuel substitute and it is also extremely cost-effective compared to other fuels. Recently, jatropha curcas is dealing with some problem with insects and illness. The insects are classified into two ranges: Pest that affect young plants and Pest that affect developed plants.
Young plant insects: Cutworm, Scarabeid Beetle, Army worm, Grasshopper.
Agrotis ipsilon: It is commonly understood as Cut worm. This bug affects the seedlings and young Jatropha plants. If the plant is impacted by the cutworm, the stem gets cut nearer to the soil surface area and this will shrunk the plant completely.
Control: This pest can be controlled by selecting the larva discovered around the plants or by blending the bran, sawdust with insecticides.
Scarabaeid Beetle: This insect damages the root of the young plant. Initially, the larva takes in the raw materials present in the soil and then comes to the root. The larva attack might eliminate the whole plant.
Control: The plant with good resistance power can conquer the insect. For heavy attack, insecticides with parts carbosulfan and carbofuran can be utilized to kill the bug.
Army worm: Spodoptera litura existence can be determined by biting in the leaves. The serious infection could totally eliminate the plants.
Control: Insecticides are used to manage the pests.
Grasshopper: This prevails pest found in a number of plants. Valanga nigricornis and Locusta migratoria commonly attacks the plant. The bug typically attacks the young plant.
Control: The insecticides used betacyfluthrin, cypermethrin, thiodicarb, MIPC, and fipronil.
Pest observed in fully grown plants:
Pest of Stem: Ostrinia furnacalis, Xyleborus spp.
Ostrinia furnacalis and Xyleborus: This bug harms the Jatropha stem and it is widely seen in Indonesia. The stem attacked by this insect normally drop. The presence can be determined by the larva penetration hole at the stem.
Control: The Insecticide normally utilized to control this bug is carbofuran.
Pest of leaf: The common insects observed are leaf caterpillar, Neetle caterpillar, Leaf hopper, Mite, Ear corn caterpillar.
Leaf Caterpillar: This pest can eat all the leaves of the plant simply put period. The quality and yield of the seeds get lowered due to the heavy attack.
Control: This can be controlled by choosing the old larvae around the surface area and discarding the attacked leaves.
Needle Caterpillar: This caterpillar is covered with spinal columns and produces a burning feeling when enabled to contact with skin as it produces certain chemical substance. Initially the pest crowded in the leaf and after that spread all over the plant when it gets older.
Control: Manually, the bug can be eliminated just by soaking it in water or kerosene. The heavy attack can be managed by spraying organophosphate insecticides.
Leaf Hopper: This pest is discovered mainly in tropical and subtropical areas. The pest targets the leaf and draws all the nutrients of the leaf and gets curls at the tip. Later, the entire leaf dry and pass away.
Control: The heavy attack can be managed by utilizing insecticides like imidachloprid, beta cyfluthrin or carbosulfan.
Mite: Mite likewise attacks the leaf and makes the whole plant weak. The bug presence can be recognized when the leaf become yellow-colored, diminishes, turns red and drop. The bug can likewise be spread through fallen leaves.
Control: Some preventive steps can be done like appropriate sanitation and burning the fallen leaves. Heavy attack can be dealt with by spraying insecticides.
Some terrible pest which attacks flower and fruit are, Stink bug (Nezara viridula)
Chrysocoris javanus, Tip borer caterpillar.
Stink Bug: Sting bug is a severe insect which assaults the plant during blossom period so the crop yield completely falls down. This insect is seen around the tropical area.
The harmful enzyme in the plant diminishes the whole plant.
Control: Insecticides advised for this insect is chlorfluazuron, diflubenzuron, alfamethrin, and lamda cyhalothrin.
Tip borer caterpillar: The insects frequently occurs attacks the plant in flowering season and this bug is seen commonly in tropical areas. The female pest laid the eggs on the tender part of the plant and the young larvae feed the young fruits and plant tips.
Control: Manually, the assaulted seeds are suggested to burn. The insecticides like monocrotophos and bensultap are sprayed at the blooming season.