Spinach Pests

Pests of National Significance

Insect and mite pests

• Leaf miner: Liriomyza trifolii Burgess (Diptera: Agromyzidae)
• Spinach crown mite: Rhizoglyphus sp (Sarcoptiformes: Acaridae)
• Beet armyworm: Spodoptera exigua Hubner (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)
• Tobacco caterpillar: Spodoptera litura Fab. (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)
• Leaf eating caterpillar/gram pod borer: Helicoverpa armigera Hubner (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)
• Cutworm: Agrotis ipsilon Hufnagel (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)
• Amaranthus weevil: Hymenia recurvalis Fab. syn. Spoladea recurvalis Fab. ( Lepidoptera: Crambidae)
• Aphid: Aphis gossypii Glover (Hemiptera: Aphididae)

Diseases

• Downy mildew: Peronospora farinose  f.sp. spinaceae Fr.
• Anthracnose: Colletotrichum dematium (Pers.) Grove
• Cladosporium leaf spot: Cladosporium variabile (Cooke) de Vries
• Stemphylium leaf spot: Stemphylium botryosum Wallr
• Damping off and root rot: Pythium sp. And Rhizoctonia sp.

Weeds

Broad leaf

• Dock’s: Rumex dentatus L. (Polygonacae)
• Sweet clover: Melilotus alba Medik. , M. indicus (L.) All. (Fabaceae)
• Wild pea: Lathyrus aphaca L. (Fabaceae)
• Pig weed: Amaranthus viridis L. (Amaranthaceae)

Grasses

• Burmuda grass: Cynodon dactylon L. (Poaceae)
• Darnel: Lolium temulantum L. (Poaceae)
• Polypogon: Polypogon monspeliensis (L.)Desf. (Poaceae)

Sedges

• Nut grass: Cyperus rotundus L., (Cyperaceae)

IPM for Spinach

To know the IPM practices for Spinach, click here.

Source: NIPHM,  and Directorate of Plant Protection, Quarantine & Storage