Beat the Chilli Borer Challenge Quiz

Explore essential strategies and facts about managing pests in chilli cultivation, with a special focus on the chilli fruit borer. Test your knowledge on effective identification methods, integrated pest management, and control measures.

1. Identifying Borer Infestation

   Which visible sign most reliably indicates the presence of chilli fruit borer larvae in a chilli crop?

   1. Holes with frass exuding from chilli fruits
   2. Black spots on lower stems
   3. Leaves curling at the edges
   4. Wilting of the entire plant overnight

   Explanation: Holes with frass are a direct symptom caused by chilli fruit borer larvae feeding inside the fruit. Leaf curling can be due to aphids or thrips, not borers. Black stem spots may result from fungal diseases. Sudden whole-plant wilting points to root rot or wilt pathogens, not borers.

2. Cultural Controls

   How can farmers reduce chilli fruit borer populations using a non-chemical, cultural practice?

   1. Planting chillies in shaded areas
   2. Using plastic mulch only
   3. Spraying water daily on chilli plants
   4. Regular collection and destruction of infested fruits

   Explanation: Collecting and destroying infested fruits directly removes larvae and stops the pest's life cycle. Daily watering may not affect pest incidence. Shade planting can impact plant health but not specifically borer control. Plastic mulch is more effective against soil pests and weed control, not borers.

3. Biological Control Option

   What type of biological agent is commonly used to manage chilli fruit borer populations in chilli fields?

   1. Root nematode treatment
   2. Parasitic wasp releases
   3. Bale mulching
   4. Ant powder application

   Explanation: Parasitic wasps, such as Trichogramma species, lay eggs inside borer eggs, stopping development. Ant powders are not targeted controls. Nematode treatments target root pests, not fruit borers. Bale mulching may support moisture but is not a direct borer control strategy.

4. Chemical Control Timing

   When is the most effective stage to apply selective insecticides for chilli fruit borer management?

   1. At the early larval stage before borers enter the fruit
   2. At the late harvesting stage
   3. During the flowering stage only
   4. After fruits show extensive damage

   Explanation: Insecticides are most effective before larvae bore into fruits, as penetration limits chemical exposure. Treating after damage is visible is often too late. The flowering stage may not coincide with peak pest activity. Late application misses the main infestation window.

5. Integrated Pest Management

   Which approach best demonstrates integrated pest management (IPM) for chilli borers?

   1. Applying insecticide weekly regardless of pest levels
   2. Using only neem extract for all infestations
   3. Burning the whole crop at the end of the season
   4. Combining biological, cultural, and chemical methods based on monitoring threshold levels

   Explanation: IPM uses multiple strategies informed by monitoring, minimizing chemical reliance. Regular insecticide use can promote resistance. Relying solely on neem or burning crops is neither robust nor sustainable for pest management.