Green worm is known as Helicoverpa armigera and is frequently found in regions with tropical climates. The larvae of this worm feed on crops such as cotton, potatoes, beans, tobacco, and sunflowers. Among greenhouse crops, the vegetable most affected is tomatoes.
Green worm larvae feed on soft leaves, creating small holes. These larvae enter through the holes, causing the leaves to dry out and decay. The damage caused by this species may require some crops to be replanted. The butterflies start appearing in spring, and they begin flying around late April or early May.
Green Worm Damage
The green worm is the larval stage of a butterfly belonging to the Noctuidae family. These larvae feed by gnawing on plants. This worm species lays its eggs on leaves. The damage begins with the decay starting on the leaves. It particularly causes losses in agricultural areas, which may necessitate replanting.
These butterflies, which usually fly at night, are seen around late April or early May. This worm species moves from fruit to fruit, causing damage to many crops. It mainly causes damage to crops like potatoes, corn, cotton, peppers, and soybeans. The crop most damaged by this worm is tomatoes.
The damages caused by this worm species can be listed as follows:
Leaf Damage:
- This species feeds on the leaves of plants, reducing the plant’s photosynthesis capacity and hindering leaf growth. Leaves under attack in this way dry up and die.
Fruit and Vegetable Damage:
- Larvae enter fruits and vegetables, creating holes and damaging the inside of these products. Green worm damage reduces the quality of the products and causes economic losses.
General Plant Health:
- It causes wounds on plants, making them vulnerable to diseases. Plants that suffer severe damage cannot show normal growth and development.
What Are the Economic Damages Caused by the Green Worm?
The economic damages caused by this pest species are as follows:
Yield Loss:
- Damaged plants produce fewer fruits and vegetables, significantly reducing production yield.
Increase in Production Costs:
- Severely damaged plants may need to be replanted. Additionally, the methods used to combat this pest species increase production costs.
Market Value and Sales Loss:
- Due to the loss of quality, product prices drop. This particularly causes significant losses in the export market.
Long-Term Economic Losses:
- The inability to control this pest species can reduce the productivity of agricultural lands in the long term. Green worm damage decreases the income of our farmers who make a living from agriculture, leading to economic difficulties.
When this pest enters fruits and vegetables, the fight is over. Therefore, taking precautions before the larvae enter the products will be beneficial.
Green Worm Trap
Many methods are used to combat this pest species. The green worm trap is one of the frequently used methods in fighting this species. Trap methods can be listed as follows:
- Using substances that mimic the scent released by female green worms, male worms are lured into traps. Male worms attracted to the traps stick to adhesive plates and are eliminated.
Usage areas include gardens, greenhouses, and fields. Pests are eliminated without the use of chemicals, and the population is controlled.
- Used especially to catch worms in the young larva stage. The aim is for insects to come into contact with the sticky surface. They are low-cost.
Other control methods can be listed as chemical, biological, and cultural methods.
Cultural Measures:
Early control of this pest species is of great importance. By taking preventive measures, the pest population is controlled. Some of these measures include:
- Crop rotation
- Cleaning and hygiene
- Selection of resistant plant species
Using chemical, biological, and cultural methods together is effective in controlling the population. Correct use of these methods protects plant health and minimizes environmental impacts.
For more information on green worm damage and measures that can be taken against this species, you can contact Kapar Organik.
