The pink bollworm (Pectinophora gossypiella) is a pest in the cotton industry. The adult is a little grey moth with fringed wings that is small and slender. The larva is a dull white caterpillar with eight pairs of legs and prominent pink striping running along its back. The larva grows to be about a half-inch long. The female moth lays her eggs in a cotton boll, and the larvae that hatch cause damage to the plant by feeding. They eat the seeds by chewing through the cotton lint. Cotton is utilised for both fibre and seed oil, therefore the harm is doubled. Other insects and fungus can enter the boll through the protective tissue that has been disrupted.
How pink bollworm causes damage in cotton ?
