FRUIT & SHOOT BORER (FSB)
Eggplant fruit and shoot borer (Leucinodes orbonalis Guenee) EFSB is a lepidopteran pest that infests mainly eggplant all year round. Considered as the most damaging pest of eggplant.
What are the symptoms
The larva penetrates on various plant parts and feeds on soft tissues. Larva also feeds on shoots and flowers.
Impact to the crop
Yield loss ranges from 20-90% due to both direct and indirect feeding damage on fruits. Infestation may result in wilting or breaking and eventually drying up of affected shoots.
Reduced fruit quality due to damage of larvae on fruits.
Damage of larvae on fruits provides entry of secondary pests & diseases.
How to control
√ Field sanitation by removal and destruction of damaged plant parts has a significant impact in controlling pest population in the field
√ Use of promising biological control agents such as Trichogramma sp. and Euborelia annulata are recommended
√ Use of resistant varieties (moderately resistant varieties are commercially available)
√ Application of effective and registered insecticides
Source: Dela Cueva, et al., 2015
