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Epilachna pavonia

Madagascan ladybug

 

General

  • The Madagascan ladybird can often be confused with its "predatory" cousins. However, this phytophagous species causes a lot of damage mainly on nightshades and can be found on cucurbits.
  • Observed in the open field as well as under shelters.

 

  • Sensitive botanical family (s)
Cucurbits Solanaceaes

 

  • Affected production areas :
Mayotte

 

  • Organs attacked
Leaves

      


Symptoms, damage

  • Symptoms
    • Leaves eaten by adults and larvae that feed on the blade.
    • Formation of more or less large holes on the affected leaves.
  • Signs : Presence of adult insects and larvae on plants and in the crop.
  • Possible confusion : E. pavonia maybe mistaken for a predatory ladybird. The damage s can be likened to those of beetles or beetles 

Biology

  • Development cycle :
    • Ladybug eggs are clustered under the leaf blades and yellow-orange in color
    • 4 aerial larval stages on the crop's foliage
    • The duration of the larva ==> adult cycle is on average 4 weeks
    • Adults and larvae feeding on the foliage of nightshades and cucurbits. The adult can reach a size of 10mm. Ladybug of slightly ashy red color. The larva is blackish and very thorny (Figure 3). 

Protection

  • Weed the crop and its surroundings.
  • Avoid proximity of the crop to other wild nightshades that may harbor the pest (morel, wild eggplant, etc.)
  • Alternating botanical families in the rotation scheme breaks the pest cycle
  • Produce the plants in an nursery insect-proof (instead of sowing in the open field) and check their sanitary quality before and during their introduction into the crop or shelter.
  • Check the sanitary quality of the plants before and during their introduction into the crop or shelter.
  • Install  canvases  insect-proof in the nursery, and at the openings of shelters when weather conditions allow.
  • Reason the  chemical protection * which is possible for this use. Remember to respect the conditions of use of phytosanitary products.

 

(*) Ladybugs are very sensitive to phytosanitary practices. Positioning a chemical control treatment can therefore have a significant impact on populations of predatory ladybirds useful for the biological regulation of crops. This solution should only be considered as a last resort, prioritizing the means of prevention and prophylaxis for the management of the pest.

Last change : 11/16/21
Epilachna pavonia4
Figure 1
Epilachna pavonia6
Figure 2
Epilachna pavonia1
Figure 3
Epilachna pavonia5
Figure 4
Epilachna pavonia2
Figure 5
Epilachna pavonia3
Figure 6
epilachna-dégâts
Figure 7
epilachna-adulte morelle
Figure 8