Common crops affected
- Cotton
Why it matters
Pink bollworm larvae bore cotton bolls to feed on seeds and lint, lowering yield and staining fibre.
When it appears
At egg-hatch on bolls and tender growth; before larvae enter the protected boll.
How to identify it
- Small entry holes in bolls, often hard to see, with internal tunnelling and damaged seeds/lint.
- Pink-banded larvae inside bolls; 'rosetted' (failed-to-open) blooms.
- Stained or cut lint and reduced seed set on cutting bolls open.
How to manage it
- Apply Larva Control at egg-hatch;
- combine with timely crop termination and stalk destruction to cut carry-over.
- Monitor early, treat at the right window above, and use cultural measures (sanitation, airflow/drainage or resistance/rotation as relevant).
Recommended Vegalab program
| Role | Product | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Primary control | Spore Control | Apply Larva Control at egg-hatch; |
| Rotation / companion | Spider Mite Control | Rotation or companion product |
Product claims, rates, and availability vary by jurisdiction; always follow the applicable label.

