Major Field Crop Pests & Economic Threshold Levels
Entomology questions in competitive tests focus heavily on scientific binomials and actionable ETL benchmarks.
| Crop & Pest | Scientific Name (Order) | Damaging Stage & Symptom | Economic Threshold Level (ETL) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rice Brown Plant Hopper (BPH) | Nilaparvata lugens (Hemiptera) | Nymphs & Adults; Hopper burn | 5 to 10 insects per hill |
| Rice Yellow Stem Borer | Scirpophaga incertulas (Lepidoptera) | Caterpillar; Dead heart & White ear | 1 egg mass/m² or 5% dead hearts |
| Cotton Pink Bollworm | Pectinophora gossypiella (Lepidoptera) | Larva; Rosetted flower & double seeds | 8 moths/trap/night for 3 consecutive days or 10% damaged bolls |
| Chickpea Gram Pod Borer | Helicoverpa armigera (Lepidoptera) | Larva; Defoliation and pod boring | 1 larva per meter row or 5-10% pod damage |
| Mustard Aphid | Lipaphis erysimi (Hemiptera) | Nymphs & Adults; Honey dew & curling | 50-60 aphids per 10 cm terminal shoot |
Critical Insect Vectors of Plant Viruses
Whitefly (Bemisia tabaci): Transmits Yellow Vein Mosaic Virus (YVMV) in okra, Cotton Leaf Curl Virus (CLCuV), and Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl Virus (TYLCV).
Aphids (Aphis gossypii, Myzus persicae): Transmits Banana bunchy top virus (Pentalonia nigronervosa), Papaya ringspot virus, and Citrus tristeza virus (Toxoptera citricida).
RECOMMENDED PRACTICE BUNDLE
AGRI-KATYAYAN
Fundamentals of Agriculture by Arun Katyayan sir – 25+1 Complimentary Set
₹196₹260
26 curated test sets (25 structured practice + 1 complimentary bonus set) with 2,600 MCQs comprehensively covering essential agricultural concepts.
26 CBT Tests60 hours60 days validity
FREE CBT PRACTICE TEST
Attempt Free 104-Question Agriculture CBT Demo Exam
Experience real NTA/ASRB exam conditions: 90-minute live countdown timer, 104-question status palette, and instant answer keys with verified scientific explanations.