Question

Recently, Maruca vitrata a pest of pigeon pea is found to infest on which oil seed crop?

• A. Groundnut
• B. Mustard
• C. Sesamum
• D. Soybean

Hint:

Always remember that pests of the family Fabaceae (pulses) are highly likely to attack Soybean, as it is a leguminous oilseed crop.
This taxonomic connection helps narrow down the correct option.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Understanding the host range expansion of major agricultural pests is vital for designing effective Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies.
Pests often expand their host range from primary pulse crops to related leguminous oilseed crops due to changes in cropping patterns and monoculture.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
The spotted pod borer, Maruca vitrata (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), is historically recognized as a devastating pest of pigeon pea (red gram) and other pulses.
The caterpillar web together leaves, flowers, and pods, feeding inside the protected webbed mass, which makes chemical control difficult.
In recent years, agricultural entomologists have observed significant host range expansion of this pest to soybean (Glycine max).
Soybean is a unique crop classified both as a pulse (due to its leguminous nature) and a premier oilseed crop.
Because soybean crops have rich vegetative growth, dense canopy, and high protein content, they provide an ideal microclimate and food source for Maruca vitrata.
The larvae web the inflorescence and tender pods of soybean, feeding on the developing seeds inside the pods, which directly reduces both oil yield and seed viability.
Among the given oilseed options, only soybean belongs to the family Fabaceae, making it highly susceptible to host crossover by typical pulse-feeding borers.

Step 3: Final Answer:
Maruca vitrata has been found to infest the oilseed crop Soybean.