Cryptophlebia peltastica

Systematic position: This pest belongs to the order Lepidoptera and the family Tortricidae. Cryptophlebia peltastica is recognized as a significant threat in various agricultural regions, particularly affecting leguminous plants where it acts as a primary seed borer.

Affected crops: The insect primarily attacks plants within the Fabaceae family. It is particularly notorious for damaging various types of beans, both in agricultural fields and during post-harvest storage, leading to substantial economic losses for farmers and processors.

Biology and life cycle: The life cycle progresses through egg, larva, pupa, and adult stages. Females lay eggs on the surface of developing pods. Upon hatching, the larvae bore directly into the pod to feed on the developing seeds, which makes the pest difficult to control once it has entered the plant tissue.

Damage patterns: The economic impact is mainly caused by the larvae feeding inside the pods.

• Internal feeding resulting in hollowed or destroyed seeds.
• Presence of larval frass inside the pods.
• Reduced seed weight and loss of nutritional value.
• Drastic decline in seed viability for future sowing.

Control measures: Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is essential for controlling this moth. Strategies include crop rotation to break the pest cycle, timely harvesting to remove potential food sources before late-stage infestation, and the use of pheromone traps for population monitoring. Insecticides are effective when applied during the peak egg-laying phase of the adults.