Identification symptoms

  • Grub feeds on the growing tip, tender stem, leaf petiole, spikes and berry. 
  • Tunnelling of tender stem causes drying up of the shoot.
  • The portions of the spikes tunnelled by grubs turn black and lead to dropping of spikes due to the subsequent rotting.
  • Grubs bore into the berries and feed on entire internal contents.
  • Exit holes could be seen on dry berries.
  • As a result of grub boring, the berries dry up and turn dark in colour.
  • They are hollow and crumble when pressed.
  • Such hollow berries are called ‘Pollu’ berries.