Eggplant fruit and shoot borer (EFSB),Leucinodes orbonalis, is the most damaging pestof eggplant in South and Southeast Asia. Its lar-vae feed inside eggplant fruit, making the fruitunmarketable and unfit for human consumption(Fig. 1). At times, entire crops can be lost.

Farmers are currently using too many pesticidesand applying them too frequently to controlEFSB. This excessive pesticide usage threatensthe health of farmers and consumers, pollutesthe environment, besides making eggplant fruitcostly to consumers. At the same time, frequentuse of pesticides has made this insect tolerantto the chemicals, making it more difficult to con-trol.

This guide will teach you a simple, safe, andeconomical method of controlling EFSB. Thismethod has been successfully tested on farm-ers’ fields in Bangladesh and India.

Fig. 1. Actual viewand close-up oflarva emerging fromdamaged fruit

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Introduction

EFSB goes through four different forms in onelifetime (Fig. 2). Moths lay tiny white eggs, mainlyon leaves. After 4–5 days, eggs turn into tinytranslucent larvae. These larvae tunnel inside atender shoot or fruit. It is the larvae feeding in-side eggplant fruit that are responsible fordamage.

After 15–20 days of feeding, a larva is full-grown,measuring 10–15 mm. It makes a small hole inthe fruit or shoot and escapes to the soil at night.It forms a sturdy cocoon around itself near thesoil surface, and rests as a pupa. The pupa lookslike dried plant debris and is hard to recognize.

After a week, the pupa changes into an adultmoth, which comes out only at night. The mothis small, white with a pink and bluish tinge, andhas a few brown spots on its wings. Moths donot feed on eggplant; rather, they survive on plantexudate or dew drops. During the day, mothshide under eggplant leaves. During the night, themoths come out in the open and mate in theeggplant field. Soon after mating, female mothslay eggs and the life cycle continues.

Fig. 2. Life cycle of EFSB

How does EFSBlook like and live?

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eggs

adult

pupa

larva

EFSB feeds almost exclusively on eggplant. Itcan infest crops in four ways (Fig. 3):

First, in a newly-planted eggplant crop, EFSBmoths can fly in from neighboring eggplant fieldsthat have already been damaged. This is themost common source of infestation. Since mothscan fly from one field to another, it is impor-tant that all farmers in a community work to-gether to keep EFSB under control.

Second, eggplant seedlings used for transplant-ing can sometimes be carrying eggs or tiny lar-vae. This is especially true if one uses slightly

Where does EFSB come from?

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Fig. 3. Sources of EFSB infestation into a new crop

egg-infestedtransplants

pupae fromprevious crop

nearby infestedcrop

heap of driedeggplant stubble

When and how doesEFSB cause damage?

Infestations usually begin when the eggplantplants start to flower. No control is needed be-fore this time. The first visible symptoms of pestactivity are freshly wilted shoot tips (Fig. 4a). In-secticides used before symptoms appear arewasteful and will kill predators, which are impor-tant natural enemies of EFSB.

In crops that have not yet set fruit, all larvae goto the tender shoots and feed inside these plantparts. Later when plants start bearing fruits, most

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Fig. 4a,b. Feeding of larvae inside shoot and fruit

older seedlings that are raised near an EFSB-damaged older crop or heaps of dried eggplantstubble.

Third, if the previous crop grown in the field wasalso eggplant, the EFSB pupae from the previ-ous crop resting within the soil will become adultsand infest the new eggplant crop.

Fourth, if old, uprooted eggplant plants are storednearby, the pupae from underneath such plantdebris can develop into adults and infest the egg-plant crop.

How do farmerscontrol EFSB now?

Most farmers spray their eggplant crop withchemical insecticides to protect it from damagecaused by EFSB and other insect pests (Fig. 6).Farmers use these chemicals indiscriminately,often using wrong chemicals and at wrong dos-ages. Many farmers spray their crop two or moretimes a week.

Such pesticide use is expensive and damagingto human health and the environment. Indiscrimi-nate pesticide use allows the borer to becometolerant to these chemicals. As a result, it makesit impossible to control this pest again economi-cally with the same chemicals.

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larvae prefer to feed on the tender fruits (Fig. 4b).Larvae also feed on flowers, thereby reducingfruit set and yields.

When a larva becomes mature, it tunnels out ofthe fruit at night and descends to the soil for pu-pation. Exit holes are clearly visible in fruits (Fig.5a), but may not be obvious in shoots becauseof the hairiness of shoots (Fig. 5b). Once insectinfestation begins, it can continue until the finalharvest.

Fig. 5a,b. Exit holes of EFSB larvae in damagedfruit and shoot

What’s the best wayto control EFSB ?

Since EFSB moths lay eggs on and its larvaefeed almost exclusively on eggplant, denyingaccess of moths to the eggplant crop will easilyconfuse and kill the moth and stop EFSB epi-demics. This can be achieved by thorough de-struction of crop debris before planting, removalof infested shoots and fruits during production,using pheromone lures to trap male moths, andreducing the use of insecticides in order to per-mit the natural enemies of EFSB to proliferate.

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Fig. 6. Farmer spraying his eggplant crop

Many farmers store dried eggplant stubble fromthe previous season’s crop for use as fuel forcooking. Such stubble is heaped around the fieldor nearby dwellings (Fig. 7). EFSB pupae cansurvive in this stubble for several weeks. Thenwhen the new eggplant crop is planted, the mothsfrom these pupae fly and lay eggs on the crop,starting a pest epidemic. This stubble should bedestroyed, either burned or buried, after harvest.

1 Destroy eggplantstubble

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Most farmers grow eggplant seedlings in theopen field, often near abandoned eggplant cropsor heaps of dried eggplant stubble from the pre-vious season. Adults from these old plants fly andlay eggs on seedlings. These eggs are very hardto see. The use of such contaminated seedlingsspreads the pest into the production fields.

To avoid this, eggplant seedlings should be raisedaway from sources of infestation (please reviewFig. 3). Also, growing seedlings under nylon net-ting prevents EFSB moths from laying eggs onthe plants (Fig. 8).

Fig. 7. Eggplant stubble near eggplant seedlings

Fig. 8. Eggplant seedlings grown under netting

2 Use healthy,pest-free seedlings

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Before plants start fruiting, EFSB larvae feed in-side tender shoots. These damaged shoots arereadily visible as dried tips of branches (Fig. 9a).Cut and destroy these larvae-infested shoots im-mediately to prevent the larvae from developingand reproducing (Fig. 9b). The cutting and de-struction of damaged shoots before fruiting willreduce the pest population drastically—espe-cially if all farmers in a community do it—and thiswill signficantly reduce pest populations anddamage to eggplant fruit.

3 Remove and destroyinfested shoots

Fig. 9a,b. Larvae-infested, freshly wilted shootsshould be identified, removed and destroyed

Do not drop the cut shoots in the field. They mustbe destroyed, preferably by burning. Bury themat least 20 cm deep in soil, or shred them intotiny pieces so that larvae are killed or deprivedof food. Unless destroyed, the larvae in theshoots can pupate in the soil, become moths,and infest new plants.

These pruning activities are especially importantin the early season. Once fruiting begins, mostlarvae will prefer to enter in fruits rather thanshoots. Unlike damaged shoots, newly infestedfruits are difficult to detect and the insect popula-

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tion can multiply and spread the infestation be-fore one sees the damaged fruits at harvest.

Continue cutting shoots at least once a week untilthe final harvest. This cutting will not harm theplant. Any infested fruits found during harvestshould also be culled and destroyed immediately.

After the final harvest, the old plants should beuprooted and destroyed promptly because theymay harbor EFSB larvae, which could become asource of future pest infestation.

Sex pheromone is a natural chemical producedby female moths to attract males of the samespecies to mate. The pheromone of EFSB is nowcommercially available in India and Bangladesh.It consists of a mixture of (E)-11-hexadecenyl ac-etate and (E)-11-hexadecen-1-ol, in a mixture of100:1. A 2–3 mg pheromone sample coated ona rubber septum, then baited in a suitable trapand placed in the field, can attract male mothscontinuously for up to 6 weeks.

Various traps are available in the market or canbe prepared locally. Delta, winged, and plasticfunnel traps (Fig. 10) are most suitable for trap-ping EFSB males. The pheromone lure is at-tached underneath the top of the trap, one lureper trap, which protects the lure from sun andrain.

In the case of delta and winged traps (Fig. 10a,b), the bottom surface is coated with a sticky ma-terial in which the male moths attracted to thelure are trapped and killed (Fig. 11). For the deltatrap, opening a 2-cm-wide slit on either side willcatch more moths. Delta and winged traps canbe used in the field for 3–4 weeks depending

4 Use pheromone luresto trap male moths

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upon the weather. Traps can be damaged duringrains or heavy winds and need to be replaced.Also during dry weather and strong winds, thesticky bottom surface can get soiled, which re-duces stickiness and efficiency of insect catch.

A plastic funnel trap, developed for trapping to-mato fruitworm or cotton bollworm (Helicoverpaarmigera) will also trap EFSB moths (Fig. 10c).This trap is commercially available in some coun-tries. It is made from a sturdy and inexpensiveplastic material and does not have sticky surfaces.The lure is attached underneath the top coverjust above the mouth of the funnel. The adultsattracted to the pheromone lure slip through thesmooth surface of the funnel into a long plasticbag, which is tied to the lower end of the funnel.This trap can last throughout the season and caneven be used in subsequent seasons.

Fig. 11. Male moths caught in a winged trap

Fig. 10a,b,c. Delta, winged, and plastic funnel traps

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The indiscriminate use of toxic, broad-spectruminsecticides is not giving satisfactory control ofEFSB. This is because within hours of hatchingfrom eggs, EFSB larvae enter fruit or shoot. Onceinside these plant parts, insecticides cannot reachlarvae and kill them. Also, because of the fre-quent use of insecticides, EFSB has become tol-erant and cannot be killed easily with thesechemicals. At the same time, these pesticidesare killing farmer-friendly pest predators such asspiders, mantids, earwigs, ladybird beetles,wasps, ants and others that are naturally foundin the field (Fig. 12). These predators feed onpests and reduce damage to the eggplant crop.In fact, a long time ago these predators were giv-ing adequate control of EFSB before farmersstarted using pesticides. Now, however, chancesare that the more a farmer uses pesticides, themore he creates EFSB and other pest problems.

For this reason, the use of pesticides, especiallythe broad-spectrum ones, has to come down ifwe are to control EFSB successfully and producesafer eggplant fruit. If selective, preferably bio-logical insecticides, such as Neem are used,parasitoids will survive and be able to help killEFSB larvae. Natural enemies of pests are im-portant assets of vegetable farmers and shouldbe protected by reducing or, if feasible, eliminat-ing broad-spectrum chemical pesticide use.

5 Protect EFSB enemiesby reduced spraying

Pheromone chemicals seep slowly and uniformlyfrom this lure. Traps should be erected in the fieldstarting 3–4 weeks after transplanting until thelast harvest. A distance of 10–15 m should bemaintained between traps in the field. The trapsare hung in such a way that the lure is just abovethe plant canopy. This will require that the trapsbe moved higher as plants grow taller.

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Fig. 12. Natural enemies of EFSB

Ladybird beetle larva and adult

If one must apply insecticides to combat EFSBor other pests, it is important that only the locallyrecommended and still effective insecticides,preferably biological products, be used.

It is very important that all five steps listedabove are adhered to, which will assure sus-tainable control of EFSB season after season.

Trathalaflavo-orbitalis

Spider

Earwig

Mantid

Predatory bug

AVRDCThe World Vegetable Center

P.O. Box 42, Shanhua, Taiwan 741Tel: ++886-6-583-7801Fax: ++886-6-583-0009Website: www.avrdc.org

For more information on how to control EFSB,contact Dr. N.S. Talekar, Entomologist, AVRDC.E-mail: talekar@avrdc.org.

Related publications are listed below. Numerousother publications are available at the AVRDCweb site. Go to <www.avrdc.org>

Development of an Integrated PestManagement Strategy for Eggplant Fruit andShoot Borer in South AsiaA Farmer’s Guide to Harmful and HelpfulInsects in Eggplant FieldsHow to Use Sex Pheromone of Eggplant Fruitand Shoot BorerSocio-economic Parameters of Eggplant PestControl in Jessore District of Bangladesh

More information

Department forInternational DevelopmentDFID

The production of this publication was fundedby the UK Department for International Devel-opment (DFID). However, the views expressedare not necessarily those of DFID.

Acknowledgement

2003

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