Beat the Bollworm Quiz Quiz

Challenge your knowledge of cotton pest management, including pest identification, control methods, and key agricultural practices to protect crops and boost yields.

1. Identifying the Cotton Bollworm

   Which pest is most commonly known for causing damage to cotton bolls by boring holes and feeding on developing seeds?

   1. Spodoptera litura
   2. Red cotton bug
   3. Aphididae
   4. Helicoverpa armigera

   Explanation: Helicoverpa armigera, also called the cotton bollworm, is notorious for damaging cotton bolls by feeding on developing seeds. Aphididae refers to aphids which sap plant fluids but do not bore into bolls. Spodoptera litura is an armyworm that feeds on foliage rather than bolls. The Red cotton bug targets open bolls, causing lint discoloration but does not bore into them.

2. Monitoring Techniques

   Which technique is commonly used to monitor adult moth populations of bollworm pests in cotton fields?

   1. Manual handpicking
   2. Pheromone traps
   3. Crop rotation
   4. Irrigation scheduling

   Explanation: Pheromone traps are effective for tracking adult moth arrivals, supporting timely pest management actions. Irrigation scheduling manages water, not pests. Manual handpicking targets visible larvae, not flying adult moths. Crop rotation helps break pest cycles but does not monitor insect populations.

3. Cultural Control Practices

   Which cultural practice can reduce bollworm infestation in cotton fields?

   1. Late sowing of seeds
   2. Timely removal of crop residues
   3. Increased nitrogen fertilizer application
   4. Continuous monoculture of cotton

   Explanation: Timely removal of crop residues minimizes overwintering sites for bollworm larvae. Increased nitrogen can sometimes promote plant growth but may attract more pests. Continuous monoculture encourages buildup of pests, while late sowing may expose crops to peak pest populations.

4. Biological Pest Management

   Which biological agent is commonly released to help control cotton bollworm larvae?

   1. Pyrethrum extract
   2. Rotenone dust
   3. Trichogramma wasps
   4. Neem oil sprays

   Explanation: Trichogramma wasps parasitize bollworm eggs, limiting hatch and larval damage. Neem oil sprays, rotenone, and pyrethrum extract are botanical or natural insecticides, not living biological agents. Only Trichogramma involves augmentative organism release.

5. Chemical Control Considerations

   Why is it important to follow economic threshold levels before applying insecticides for bollworm control in cotton?

   1. To hasten pest reproduction
   2. To increase weeding costs
   3. To prevent resistance development
   4. To reduce crop yield

   Explanation: Applying insecticides only when pest levels exceed economic thresholds reduces unnecessary use, helping to delay resistance development. Hastening reproduction and reducing yields are not goals of threshold-based spraying. Increased weeding costs are unrelated to bollworm insecticide applications.