Abstract: Litchi (
Litchi chinensis S.)
, a major fruit crop in India, faces severe threats from the bark-eating caterpillar (
Indarbela quadrinotata and
Indarbela tetraonis), which can cause significant damage to trees and reduce fruit yield. Traditional control methods, such as manual removal or chemical injection using a syringe, are often labour-intensive and inefficient. This study aimed to develop and evaluate a manual hand-injector tool for effective caterpillar control in litchi orchards. The hand-injector, designed at ICAR-CIAE, Bhopal, features a flexible wire and extended nozzle that enables precise application of insecticides directly into caterpillar boreholes, minimizing operator exposure and improving safety. Field testing in litchi orchards at ICAR- National Research Centre on Litchi, Muzaffarpur, Bihar, demonstrated the tool’s effectiveness in significantly reducing caterpillar infestation across multiple litchi varieties within seven days of application. The tool proved to be highly efficient, safe, and time-saving, offering substantial drudgery reduction for farmers. This innovation represents an important advancement in mechanized pest management for litchi cultivation, providing a practical and sustainable solution to improve orchard productivity and protect crops.
