Surveillance for potato tuber moth, Phthorimaea operculella Zeller (Lepidoptera: Gelichiidae) in Kolar and Chikkaballapur district of Karnataka

Abstract

Potato tuber moth (PTM), Phthorimaea operculella Zeller has become one of the most serious insect pests of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) around the world, including in India. Field studies were conducted against PTM in Rabi seasons during 2019-20 in four and two taluks of Kolar and Chikkaballapur districts of Karnataka, respectively to understand the extent of foliage damage and leaf mines. Mean per cent infestation of PTM and number of mined leaves per plant during Rabi season of survey were highest with 4.47% and 8.31 mined leaves in Kolar district and it was least in Chikkaballpur district (2.51% and 2.95), respectively. Number of mines per plant was observed lowest (5.09) in Kolar district compared to Chikkaballapur district with 5.24 mines per plant. The above damage parameters like per cent PTM infestation and number of mined leaves per plant were not differed significantly whereas number of mines per plant was significantly different in Chikkaballapur district. On the other hand, all the damage parameters were significantly differed in Kolar districts during the survey in Rabi season 2019-20. In recent years, the temperature has been steadily rising due to climate change, and it is predicted that the occurrence of the PTM will continue to increase in the future. Therefore, the development of control technologies and intensive monitoring will be necessary for stable potato production as well as potato post-harvest.