Question

Given below are two statements:
Statement I: Destructive stage of Aproarema modicella is adult in Groundnut.
Statement II: Destructive stage of Aproarema modicella is larva in Groundnut.
In light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below:

• A. Both Statement I and Statement II are correct
• B. Both Statement I and Statement II are incorrect
• C. Statement I is correct but Statement II is incorrect
• D. Statement I is incorrect but Statement II is correct

Hint:

For nearly all lepidopteran crop pests (moths/butterflies), the larval stage (caterpillar) is the only damaging stage. The adults generally feed on nectar and do not damage crop tissues.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Aproarema modicella is the scientific name for the Groundnut Leaf Miner (GLM), which is a serious lepidopteran pest of groundnut and soybean.
Identifying the damaging stage of a pest is a fundamental aspect of Integrated Pest Management (IPM).

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Lepidopteran pests (moths and butterflies) have complete metamorphosis (holometabolous development) with egg, larva (caterpillar), pupa, and adult stages.
The adult is a tiny, brownish moth that has siphoning mouthparts and does not feed on leaf tissues.
Thus, Statement I is incorrect.
The larvae (caterpillars) are the destructive stage.
They mine into the leaves, feed on the mesophyll tissue, and later fold the leaf margins together to feed from inside.
Thus, Statement II is correct.

Step 3: Final Answer:
Statement I is incorrect, and Statement II is correct. Therefore, the correct choice is (D).