Common Ginger Pests and the Latest Control Methods

Ginger is one of the indispensable seasonings in our daily lives, and it is also a very common traditional Chinese medicinal herb. Ginger has the effects of benefiting the spleen and stomach, removing dampness, relieving cough and phlegm, and can also sterilize and detoxify. But even though it has a sterilizing effect, during the growing process it cannot avoid being attacked by pests. The common pests of ginger are the ginger stem borer and the ginger maggot, both of which can cause great losses to ginger. Below, Qinnong Network will introduce to everyone the control methods for ginger pests.

I. The Growing Environment of Ginger

Ginger originated in the tropical regions of Southeast Asia, and influenced by climate, its growth habits match those of tropical crops. Ginger prefers a warm and humid climate, and is neither cold-tolerant nor drought-tolerant. Its most suitable growing temperature is 25°C to 28°C. If it encounters frost, the plant will wither, and the rhizome and leaves will no longer have the ability to sprout. Therefore, ginger cultivation must be carried out within a frost-free period.

II. Common Ginger Pests and Their Control

As mentioned above, the common pests of ginger are the ginger stem borer and the ginger maggot. Both of these pests mainly target ginger. They are introduced separately below.

1. Ginger stem borer:

Farmers call it the heart-boring worm. This pest's larvae bore into and feed on ginger seedlings, causing their leaves to turn yellow and wither, and in severe cases can cause the death of the entire plant. Control methods: eliminate adult ginger stem borers as early as possible, remove the larvae by hand, or apply pesticide to kill them during the first and second instar larval stages. The larvae of this pest can be seen causing damage from early May, with the peak period in July and August, when ginger seedlings are branching vigorously.

Control methods:

Control is more effective when pesticide is applied during the early larval stage. For killing during the larval stage, 50g of pyrethroid pesticide can be diluted in 300-400kg of water and sprayed, or 50g of Supersect can be diluted in 400kg of water and sprayed on the heart leaves of ginger seedlings in the evening. Once the solution flows to the stem, it can kill the ginger stem borer larvae.

2. Ginger maggot: It is the main pest during ginger storage. The larvae are commonly known as ginger maggots, and they also harm seed ginger in the field, affecting ginger yield and quality to a certain extent. Ginger maggot larvae are moisture-seeking and concealed in habit. Newly hatched larvae bore into the underside of ginger and feed. Those feeding at the “round head” part of the ginger cover themselves with a silk web mixed with insect droppings and debris, and the larvae hide within it. The larvae are active, and at the damaged parts of the ginger only the epidermis, coarse fibers and granular insect droppings remain. They can also cause ginger to rot. Ginger maggots are not strict about environmental conditions and can occur year-round. Especially when temperatures rise around Qingming Festival, the damage intensifies. Field surveys show that the rate of ginger damage reaches 20-25%.

Control methods:

Carefully select seed ginger, and immediately discard any damaged seed ginger, or soak the seed ginger in a 1000-fold dilution of 1.80% Abamectin emulsifiable concentrate for 5-10 minutes to prevent pests from spreading from the ginger cellar to the field. Before storing ginger in the cellar, thoroughly clean the ginger cellar and spray the cellar with a 1000-fold dilution of 80% dichlorvos. Alternatively, when placing the ginger, place several small open bottles containing undiluted dichlorvos in the ginger pile. Another option is to heat undiluted dichlorvos for fumigation after the ginger is placed. In the field, pay attention to carefully selecting seed ginger and discarding damaged seed ginger. Soaking seed ginger in a 1000-fold dilution of 80% dichlorvos for 5-10 minutes before sowing can kill the pests inside the ginger.

The above is the introduction and control of ginger pests brought to you by Qinnong Network. Ginger is a plant that is not suitable for continuous cropping, and is usually rotated with rice and leguminous plants. Continuous cropping will cause the above two pests to worsen year by year, and will also cause diseases such as ginger blast and root-knot nematodes, and the yield will decrease year by year or even result in total crop failure.