Studies on Insect Pest Succession and their Natural Enemies in Brinjal

Abstract

The Present investigation was carried out at College of Agriculture, Vijayapura, Karnataka to study insect - pests succession and their natural enemies on brinjal during 2021-22. Studies revealed that, four species of insect pests and one coccinellid predatorwere observed at different crop growth stages. The first attack on the crop appeared at one week after transplantation and continued up to till crop reached fruiting and maturity stage. Pests that found attacking on the crop were leaf hopper (Amrasca biguttulabiguttula Ishida), aphids (Aphis gossypii Glover), whitefly (Bemisia tabaci Gennadius), shoot and fruit borer (Leucinodes orbonalis Guenee) and coccinellid predator, Cheliomenes sexmaculata (Fabricius). Brinjal shoot and fruit borer (L. orbonalis) was identified as amajor pest among them.From the seedling stage to fruiting and maturity stage, the populations of Jassids, aphids, coccinellids were observed, white flies were observed from vegetative stage to fruiting and maturity stage, while the population of shoot and fruit borer were observed and recorded during the vegetative stage to fruiting and maturity stage of the crop. Leaf hoppers, aphids and whitefly were found to damage the crop moderatelyand extent of damage caused by L. orbonalis was created much economic loss.