Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

Vol. 28, Nov Suppl Issue 2022; Page No.(S273-S279)

POPULATION DYNAMICS OF IMPORTANT INSECT PESTS OFBLACK GRAM AND THEIR CORRELATION WITH ABIOTIC FACTORS

Jyotsana Chauhan, Tarun Verma, Anil Jakhar, Rakesh Kumar, Rahul Saini1 and Ritu Bhall

Abstract

Black gram is an important pulse crop, which observes 30-50 % losses in yield due to insect pest damage. Itis crucial to understand the spectrum of pest damaging it in field, and their response to the prevailingenvironmental conditions. Population dynamics of important insect pests and their correlation with abioticfactors was studied at CCS HAU, Hisar during kharif 2020. The study was carried out from July, 2020 i.e.,30th standard meteorological week (SMW) to October 2020 (39th standard meteorological week). Insect pestswhose infestation was recorded during this period includes Bemisiatabaci, Empoascakerri, Clavigrallagibbosa, Riptortuspedestris, Maruca vitrataand Trichoplusiani. No infestation of Helicoverpaarmigera and Spodoptera litura was recorded. Natural enemies like Coccinellaseptumpuctata and spiders were also observed. Out ofthese, whitefly was observed as most important insect pest causing significant damage to crop. Whiteflyincidence commenced in 30th-SMW (19.70 adult/cage) and continued till 39th-SMW (13.35 adult/cage) withits peak population in 31st-SMW (41.75 adult/cage). Rainfall was recorded to be the major factor affectingthe population of whitefly adult as significant and negative correlation was reported between the two (r =-0.682*). Further highly significant and negative correlation was observed between spotted pod borer larvaeand wind speed (r = -0.792**). This study provides basic understanding about the range of pests damagingcrop, and their behavior towards various abiotic factors.