Seasonal Incidence of Major Insect Pests of Sesame

Abstract

This study explores the seasonal incidence of major insect pests of sesame at the Entomology Research Farm of the College of Agriculture, RVSKVV, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh during kharif, 2019. The results revealed that- among the sucking pests, the incidence of leafhopper Orosius albicinctus exhibited a positive and significant correlation with evening relative humidity (RH) and rainfall; and with evaporation it was significantly negative. The whitefly Bemisia tabaci did not show any significant correlation with weather factors. Of the other major pests, incidence of horned caterpillar Acherontia styx was observed to be significantly positively correlated with rainfall, evening RH and minimum temperature whereas it was a significant negative one with evaporation. With leafroller and capsule borer Antigastra catalaunalis it was a significant positive correlation with morning/ evening RH and rainfall, and a significant negative one with evaporation. Pod damage by A. catalaunalis was significantly negatively correlated with maximum and minimum temperature. The mirid Nesidiocoris tenuis showed a positive correlation with morning RH, and a significantly negative one with maximum temperature and evaporation. The incidence of gall fly Asphondylia sesami revealed a significant positive correlation with morning RH, while it was a significant negative one with evaporation and maximum temperature.