Plant parts affected

Leaves, Stem

Initial diagnosis:

Scraping the chlorophyll on the surface of leaves. Freshly hatched larvae feed gregariously in leaves.

Symptoms:

Sometimes the feeding is so heavy that only petioles and branches are left behind.

Damage type:

The larvae of second and third instar enter castor pods by making a hole near calyx and feed on castor seed. The affected pods drop off or develop white colour on drying.