KEY MORTALITY FACTORS OF HELICOVERPA PELTIGERA (DENIS AND SCHIFFERMULLER) INFESTING SAFFLOWER IN MARATHWADA REGION OF MAHARASHTRA, INDIAR.P. Palkar and V.K. BhamareAbstract The key mortality factors of Helicoverpa peltigera revealed that the mortality in the early instar 13.89 and 3.33 % and; 7.16 and 23.07% owing to unknown reasons and parasitisation of C. chlorideae during first and second generations, respectively. However, 6.24 % also died due to infection of NPV. Mortality in the late instar larvae was 17.65 and 30.00 % due to NPV during first and second generations, respectively. Mortality in the pupal stage was found to be 34.77 and 57.14 % due to unknown reasons during first and second generations, respectively. Generation survival (SG) was worked out and it was 0 and 0.21 during first and second generations, respectively. Value of trend index (I) was calculated to the tune 0.38 and 0.42 during first and second generations, respectively. |