Black Cutworm

📖 Description

Black Cutworm (Agrotis ipsilon) is an important soil-dwelling pest of seedlings across the Indian subcontinent, particularly severe in maize, cotton, vegetables and tobacco nurseries of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. The larva is a classic ‘cutworm’ — it feeds at night, cutting young seedlings at or below soil level and causing characteristic ‘cut stem’ symptoms. A single larva can cut 10-20 seedlings in a night, often moving along a row and leaving a trail of fallen plants. The pest is particularly damaging in seedling nurseries (rice, tobacco, vegetables) where dense planting creates ideal conditions for larval movement and feeding. Outbreaks are favoured by warm moist soil conditions, weedy fields (which attract adults for oviposition) and continuous cropping. The pest is most active during the seedling stage (first 3-4 weeks after sowing) — once plants are established with woody stems, they are much less susceptible. IPM with hand-collection of larvae from soil around cut plants at dawn (the single most effective control measure), light trapping of adults, soil application of biocontrol (Metarhizium, Beauveria) and neem cake, and need-based insecticide use provides effective control. The pest is most severe in weedy fields — maintaining field sanitation and planting early to escape peak larval period are key preventive measures. Deep summer ploughing exposes pupae to sun and predators, reducing initial pest pressure.