Pink Bollworm
Pectinophora gossypiella
Basic Details
Description
Taxonomy
Features
Translations
Basic Details
NamePink Bollworm
DescriptionPink bollworms are tiny caterpillars that hide inside cotton bolls and blossoms. Identify 'rosetted flowers' to catch this secretive pest before it ruins the lint.
TypeInsect
FamilyGelechiidae
GenusPectinophora
Taxonomy & Features
PhylumArthropoda
SubphylumHexapoda
ClassInsecta
OrderLepidoptera
SubfamilyPexicopiinae
Features
- A major worldwide pest of cotton (Pectinophora gossypiella). Unlike the cotton bollworm, it is highly specific to the cotton plant and its relatives
- Early symptoms include 'rosetted flowers'—flowers that do not open fully and remain twisted as the larvae feed on the reproductive parts inside
- Larvae are distinctive: they start creamy-white and develop bright pink bands across their body segments as they mature (growing to 12 mm)
- They bore directly into the developing bolls and feed on the seeds. This destroys the lint, causes staining, and introduces rot and fungal growth
- Infected bolls often fail to open properly or open prematurely with poor quality, discolored lint. This makes the cotton impossible to harvest efficiently
- A classic sign is the 'double-seed'—two cotton seeds joined together by a silk-lined tunnel in which the mature larva is hiding
- Adult moths are small (15-20 mm wingspan), greyish-brown with dark mottled wings. They are nocturnal and hide in the soil or plant debris during the day
- They can enter a 'diapause' (dormancy) stage as larvae inside seeds or soil, allowing them to survive winters and dry seasons for many months
- Monitor using pheromone traps and by inspecting flowers for the characteristic rosetted appearance. Rake and destroy any dropped bolls
- Control by planting Bt cotton varieties and maintaining a 'close season' where no cotton is grown for several months to break the life cycle
Names in Different Languages
Latin / ScientificPectinophora gossypiella
English (Alternate)Cotton seed borer
Hindiकपास की गुलाबी सुंडी (Kapas ki gulabi sundi)
Tamilஇளம் சிவப்பு காய்ப்புழு (Ilam sivappu kaaippuzhu)
Teluguగులాబీ రంగు పురుగు (Gulabi rangu purugu)
Malayalamപരുത്തി പുഴു (Parutti puzhu)
Kannadaಹತ್ತಿಯ ಕೆಂಪು ಕಾಯಿ ಕೊರಕ (Hattiya kempu kāyi koraka)
Sanskritकार्पास-पाटल-कीट (Kārpāsa-pāṭala-kīṭa)
Bengaliপিঙ্ক বোলওয়ার্ম (Pink bollworm)
Frenchver rose du cotonnier
Russianрозовый коробочный червь (rozovyy korobochnyy cherv')
Spanishgusano rosado
GermanRoter Kapselwurm
