The legume pod borer, Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner), is one of the pervasive and destructive pests of legume crops, causing significant yield losses. In this study, we evaluated the nutritional performance and digestive enzyme activities of H. armigera when fed on ten mung bean varieties, including Baghmalek, India, Veys, Omrani, Parto, Simite1, Simite2, VC6371, VC3960, and VC6368. Additionally, biochemical profiling of these mung bean varieties, assessing starch, protein, anthocyanin, total phenolic and flavonoid content, was conducted to explore potential correlations with the nutritional physiology of H. armigera. The findings indicated that the larvae fed on Parto had lowest approximate digestibility, efficiency of conversion of ingested food, and relative growth rate, while those fed on VC6371 had the highest values. The values of efficiency of conversion of digested food were lower on Baghmalek and Parto and higher on VC6368 and VC6371. The lowest value of larval gain weight was on Parto. The highest proteolytic and amylolytic activities of larvae were observed on Veys and India, respectively; while the lowest enzyme activities were recorded on Parto. Our findings indicate that the low protein content combined with high levels of anthocyanin, total phenolics, and flavonoids may contribute to the potential tolerance of mung bean varieties against H. armigera. Cluster analysis revealed that VC6368 and VC6371 were the most suitablevarieties for H. armigera development, whereas Baghmalek and Parto were nutritionally less suitableand may severe as promising candidates for breeding or cultivation to minimise damage caused by this pest.

A study, conducted in the Instructional Farm of Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya (UBKV) during 2023-24 and 2024-25, unveils valuable insights about the seasonal occurrence pattern of pod borer complex on different red gram cultivars and identifies the most promising cultivar under the Terai agro-climatic situation of West Bengal. The study reported 5 species of pod borers, namely Maruca vitrata (Fabricius) , Exelastis atomosa (Walsingham), Lampides boeticus (Linnaeus), Melanagromyza obtusa (Malloch) and Apion clavipes Gerstäcker, infesting the red gram plants in this region. Of them, the population was lowest for M. vitrata (6.31 larvae/plant) and highest for L. boeticus (10.93 larvae/plant). Among the red gram cultivars screened, Pusa Arhar-16 had faced the highest pod borer incidence with 24.43 larvae/plant, whereas the cultivar Upas-120 faced the least incidence with 16.93 larvae/plant. In both seasons, the sampled pod borer complexes were characterized by less dominance and greater evenness. The seasonal incidence pattern suggested the 48th–49th standard meteorological week (SMW), the 50th–51st SMW and the 4th–6th SMW as the most critical periods of pod borer incidence in early-, mid- and late-maturity cultivars respectively. The incidence was initiated by M. vitrata for all the cultivars, followed by E. atomosa and L. boeticus, while M. obtusa and A. clavipes arrived later in the season. Different weather factors were noted to have significant influences on the seasonal occurrence of these pests. Among the 7 cultivars, Upas-120 was recorded with significantly (p < 0.001) greater yield (85.04 g/m2), whereas yield was lowest for Pusa Arhar-16 (58.22 g/m2), suggesting Upas-120 as the most promising cultivar for this region.

Efficacy of Bio-pesticides against spotted pod borer (Maruca testulalis (Geyer)) on green gram (Vigna radiata L.)

Insect pests, particularly Maruca vitrata, significantly impact cowpea production in West Africa, mainly in Burkina Faso. Although chemical control is commonly used, its drawbacks highlight the need for developing a control strategy that combines alternative methods. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of Neem derivatives (oil and aqueous extract of Neem kernel) on the biology of Liragathis javana, a larval parasitoid of M. vitrata. The study was conducted using Neem oil (TopBio) and Neem seed powder. All treatments were repeated 10 times. Neem oil in the mating medium significantly influence the biology of L. javana adults. Exposure of adults to Neem oil resulted in mortality rates of up to 100%. Similarly, Neem oil on the oviposition substrate significantly reduced the rate of parasitism, emergence and larval survival of M. vitrata. The application of aqueous Neem almond extract also had a significant impact on the biology of L. javana. Parasitism and emergence rates of 0% were obtained when aqueous extract was present in the mating medium and applied directly to adults. Considering these results, in an efficient management strategy against M. vitrata, a combination of the parasitoid L. javana and Neem derivatives should be avoided.

The legume pod borer, Maruca vitrata (F.) poses a significant threat to leguminous crops, necessitating sustainable management approaches to mitigate damage and maintain productivity. This study evaluated sunn hemp, Crotalaria juncea (L.) (Fabaceae), as a potential dead-end trap crop for managing M. vitrata infestations in cowpea, Vigna unguiculata subsp. sesquipedalis (L.) (Fabaceae), and lablab bean, Lablab purpureus (L.) (Fabaceae). Laboratory oviposition assays indicated that sunn hemp was significantly less preferred than cowpea in dual-choice conditions, whereas no significant preference was detected relative to lablab bean. Interestingly, sunn hemp received more eggs than cowpea under no-choice conditions but fewer than lablab bean. Larvae feeding on sunn hemp suffered complete mortality, failing to develop beyond the fourth instar. In contrast, cowpea and lablab beans equally supported complete larval and pupal development without significant differences in developmental parameters, pupal weight, or sex ratio. Field experiments demonstrated that sunn hemp effectively reduced pest infestation relative to untreated controls, showing comparable efficacy to chemical treatments. Marketable yield proportions differed significantly between the crops, with lablab bean consistently achieving higher marketable yields than cowpea. Sunn hemp significantly enhanced the marketable yield of lablab beans, reinforcing its value as a tool for ecological pest management. Overall, sunn hemp effectively disrupted M. vitrata populations, reduced pest pressure, and improved yield quality, thus highlighting its potential as a sustainable and ecologically beneficial component in integrated pest management programs for leguminous crops.

Seasonal incidence of pod borer complex and biorational management of spotted pod borer (Maruca vitrata Geyer) on black gram

Whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) and soybean pod borer (Etiella zinckenella) are key pest and notorious on edamame soybean. The investation of the two insects pest can cause up to 80% production of productivity of edamame soybean. The chemical pesticides use is the main tactic to control the pests which have negative impact to infarment and develop insect resistance and resurgence. Identification of natural enemy such as Hymenoptera parasitoids are important effort to promote biological control strategy has alternative infarmentfriendly to control the pests. The results show there is one parasitoid Hymenoptera in soybean pod borer and 5 family of Hymenoptera parasitoid and one family of Diptera parasitoid in whitefly

Background: Green gram also known as mung bean (Vigna radiata L.) which is a versatile and drought resistant pulse crop widely grown for its high nutritional value and play an vital role in crop rotation. It can be cultivated in the diverse climates and soil types which makes it important cash crop for farmers. Methods: The experiment was conducted during the summer 2021 and 2022 at the Crop Research Centre of S.V.P. University of Agriculture and Technology to investigate the presence of M. vitrata on the various promising varieties and genotypes mungbean. Samples were collected from the immature plants. The experiment was conducted to estimate the biochemical constitutes viz. total soluble sugar, phenols, proteins and reduced sugar. Result: Among all genotypes, Phenol content varied between 6.38 to 8.94. The maximum protein content was recorded in IPM-2-K-14-9(8.94 mg/g). Studies on the correlation between genotype’s phenol content, M. vitrata damage (r=-0.712*) and number of larvae (r=-0.809*) had a significant negative correlation. The amount of protein content ranged between 11.09 to 18.95. KM-2328 (11.09 mg/g) had less amount of protein. The protein content with the number of larvae (r=0.581*) had a significant positive correlation. The percentage of pod damage was connected with protein content (r=0.550*) followed a similar pattern and had the significantly positive correlation. Sugar content of various genotypes varied between 10.52 to 19.76 mg/g. The maximum sugar content was recorded in SML-668 (19.76 mg/g) followed by the KM-2241 (19.47 mg/g), IPM-302-2 (19.01 mg/g), T-44 (18.42 mg/g) and K-851 (17.66 mg/g). The estimation range of reducing sugar content was 6.76 to 14.39 mg/g. The maximum reduced sugar was estimated in KM-2241(14.39 mg/g) and MH 421 (6.76 mg/g) had less amount of reducing sugar. The sugar was positively correlated with number of larvae and damage percentage done by M. vitrata.

Exploring spotted pod borer resilience in interspecific derivatives of pigeonpea: unlocking the crucial role of plant morphological traits

Eri silkworm eggs as a superior factitious host for mass rearing Trichogramma leucaniae, the key natural enemy of soybean pod borer

Bean pod borer moth (Maruca vitrata Fabricius, 1787) belongs to the subfamily Pyraustinae, family Crambidae, super family Pyraloidea, and order Lepidoptera. Species morphological characteristics by wingspan range between 13 to 25 mm with a dark brown body, while females are typically heavier than males. Species predominantly feed on different leguminous crops such as pigeon pea, cowpea, mung bean and soybean. This species has been previously reported in different state and regions of India including Sikkim, Goa, Tamil Nadu, Meghalaya, Maharashtra, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, West Bengal, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Tripura, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Assam, Gujarat, Mizoram, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Delhi, Kerala, Chhattisgarh and Chandigarh. However, present observation provides first photographic record and evidence of the species present in Rajasthan State, India.

Globally, approximately 1.8 million species have been documented to date, with animal species comprising around one million of them, yet countless species remain undiscovered. India is home to an impressive 81,000 animal species, representing about 6.4% of the world’s animal biodiversity, placing it sixth globally. Among these, insects dominate India’s fauna, with around 57,000 species. Telangana, a relatively new state in India, boasts rich biodiversity thanks to its natural features like rivers, streams, ponds, lakes, deciduous forests, red and black soil types, and semi-arid climate. Several insect species found in Telangana are not exclusive to the region but also occur globally. During my field exploration, I identified 12 lesser-known insect species, which are detailed in this presentation. These species include: Phyllomimus elliptifolius, Papilio demoleus, Spirama retorta, Brochymena arborea, Geonemini epicaerus, Glyphodes caesalis, Maruca vitrata, Myrmeleon tenuipennis, Daphnis nerii, Acraea violae, Hippotion rosetta, and Palpares libelluloides. Taxonomically, they fall under various orders: two belong to Neuroptera, seven to Lepidoptera, one to Orthoptera, one to Coleoptera, and one to Hemiptera. These species were primarily observed during the monsoon season, typically from June to September.

A field experiment was conducted during the Kharif season of 2024 at the Organic Research Farm, Bundelkhand University, Jhansi, to study the seasonal incidence of insect pests on cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) and evaluate the efficacy of various biopesticides against the spotted pod borer Maruca vitrata. The experiment followed a randomized block design with nine treatments and three replications, two sprays including Neem oil, Bacillus thuringiensis, Beauveria bassiana, Metarhizium anisopliae, NSKE, and others. Observations revealed that aphids, jassids, whiteflies, thrips, and M. vitrata were the major pests affecting cowpea, with M. vitrata showing peak activity during mid-October. Neem oil proved to be the most effective biopesticide, achieving a 78.8% reduction in pod damage after the second spray, followed closely by B. bassiana and B. thuringiensis. The incidence of M. vitrata was significantly influenced by environmental factors, especially evening relative humidity. These findings emphasize the potential of eco-friendly biopesticides in managing insect pests and reducing reliance on synthetic chemicals in organic cowpea production.

Dynamics of cytosolic and organellar gene transcripts in wild and cultivated genotypes of pigeon pea due to simulated herbivory.

The excessive use of conventional insecticides has led to resistance, resurgence, and environmental pollution. Therefore, eco-friendly approaches such as biorational insecticides are now being explored for sustainable pest management. The present study aimed to assesses Seasonal incidence of major pod borers, Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) and Maruca testulalis in Mungbean (Vigna radiata L.) in organic cultivation. The present investigation was conducted during Kharif 2024 aimed to assess the population dynamics of major pod borer species and their correlation with prevailing meteorological parameters. mungbean variety PDM-139 (Samrat) was sown in early July, 2024 under organic cultivation practices. Observations on pest incidence were recorded weekly from sowing to harvest without pesticide application. The presence of two major pod borer species, Helicoverpa armigera and Maruca testulalis, with peak incidences observed during the 36th Standard Meteorological Week (SMW). H. armigera population was peaked at 7.40 larvae/5 plants, showing a significant negative correlation with rainfall (r = -0.493), while M. testulalis peaked at 9.46 larvae/5 plants and exhibited a positive significant correlation with temperature and humidity. These findings indicate that dry, warm, and humid conditions favor pod borer proliferation. The present study revealed that the population of Helicoverpa armigera and Maruca testulalis peaked during the mid-crop growth stage under favourable climatic conditions, particularly high temperature and humidity. Understanding their seasonal incidence can aid in timely pest management strategies. The study underscores the importance of pest-weather interactions in forecasting pest outbreaks and advocates for the inclusion of biorational insecticides and weather-based surveillance in integrated pest management (IPM) strategies.

Pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan L.), a vital protein-rich pulse crop, suffers significant yield losses due to insect pests, particularly Helicoverpa armigera and Maruca vitrata. A field study was conducted at the Agronomy Farm, Rajasthan College of Agriculture, Udaipur, during Kharif 2024 to investigate the seasonal incidence and population dynamics of these pests on the pigeon pea variety Tuar Dharti 80, and their correlation with weather parameters. Weekly observations from tagged plants revealed that H. armigera and M. vitrata appeared from the 41st and 40th Standard Meteorological Weeks (SMW), respectively, peaking in late November. Pest populations were negatively correlated with maximum and minimum temperatures, morning and evening relative humidity, and rainfall, with most correlations being statistically significant. These findings highlight the influence of abiotic factors on pest dynamics and emphasize the importance of weather-based pest forecasting for effective integrated pest management (IPM).

The present investigation was conducted at the research plot of the Department of Entomology at Central Research Farm (CRF), Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture Technology and Sciences, Prayagraj, during the Kharif season of 2024. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design (RBD) with three replications and eight treatments, Spinosad 45% SC (T1), Thiamethoxam 25% WG (T2), Azadirachtin 0.03% EC (T3), Chlorantraniliprole 18.5% SC (T4), Beauveria bassiana 1.15% WP (1x108 spore/lit), (T5) Chlorantraniliprole 8.8% + Thiamethoxam17.5% SC (T6), Emamectin Benzoate 5% SG (T7) and untreated Control (T0) were tested to compare the efficacy against Maruca vitrata and their influences on yield of Green gram. Each biopesticide was applied twice at 15-day intervals. Observations on the larval population were recorded one day before each treatment, three, seven and fourteen days after I and II spray on green gram. The outcomes showed that, in comparison to the control, the larval population greatly decreased in all of the insecticides and bio pesticides Among all the treatments, the plot treated with T6 Chlorantraniliprole 8.8% + Thiamethoxam 17.5% SC (1.06) proved most effective followed by T4 (1.29), T1 (1.73), T2 (2.30), T7 (2.56) and T5 (3.13). Among the treatments applied, the best and most effective treatment was T6 Chlorantraniliprole 8.8% + Thiamethoxam 17.5% SC (1:3.78), followed by T4 (1:3.23), T1 (1:3.20), T2 (1:3.19), T7 (1:2.97), T5 (1:2.95), T3 Azadirachtin 0.03% EC (1:2.75) as compare to control plot T0 (1:1.73).

A field experiment was conducted to assess the efficacy of various bioformulations against the spotted pod borer infesting cowpea at the Main Vegetable Research Station (MVRS), Anand Agricultural University, Anand, during kharif, 2024. The most effective treatment in reducing M. vitrata population was NSKE 5%, followed by Neemastra and Agniastra 4%. Brahmastra 4% and custard apple leaf extract 5% were moderately effective, while Lantana camara leaf extract 5% and cow urine 5% were the least effective. A similar trend was observed in pod damage with NSKE recording the lowest (24.69%), followed by Neemastra (26.37%) and Agniastra 4% (28.88%). NSKE 5% treated plots also recorded the highest green pod yield (69.43 q/ha), followed by Neemastra (65.00 q/ha) and Agniastra 4% (61.39 q/ha). In terms of avoidable losses, Neemastra (6.39%) and Agniastra 4% (11.59%) showed the lowest values, while the untreated control recorded the highest yield loss (30.13%). Among the nine bioformulations evaluated against third instar larvae of M. vitrata under laboratory conditions the highest larval mortality was observed with Agniastra 4% and neem seed kernel extract 5%, which consistently demonstrated superior efficacy and were at par with each other across all time intervals. Brahmastra 4%, Neemastra, Lantana camara leaf extract 5% and custard apple leaf extract 5% showed moderate effectiveness while cow urine 5%, Kalmegh powder 10% and garlic bulb extract 5% recorded the lowest larval mortality.

Spotted pod borer Maruca vitrata is one of the serious insect on the legumes crop, which causes damage to the crop mainly at the reproductive phase. A study conducted for their preference among four pulses crops namely, pigeanpea, green gram, black gram and cowpea. Among the tested crops, cowpea and green gram has highest pod damage of 24.14% and 18.70%, respectively while pigeonpea and black gram has lowest pod damage of 10.06% and 14.30%, respectively. It was observed that highly susceptible crop cowpea has less number of trichomes on leaves (31.99/ 9 mm2) and on pod (35.69/ 9 mm2) while the resistant crop pigeonpea has dense trichomes on leaves (317.14/ 9 mm2) and on pods (332.02/ 9 mm2). Similarly, the highest phenol content recorded in pegionpea (23.72 and 25.91 mg/ g) whereas lowest in cowpea (15.37 and 17.40 mg/ g) in pods and grains, which are considered to be the main factors to confer resistance in plants. Morphological and biochemical traits found in plant parts are crucial in providing host plant resistance to insect pests.

Background: Four different pod borers species viz., Spotted pod borer (Maruca vitrata), Tobacco cutworm (Spodoptera litura), Gram blue butterfly (Euchrysops cnejus) and Banner moth (Eublemma dimidialis) were collected from black gram fields of Tirupati district, Andhra Pradesh. Methods: Molecular characterization of mtCOI sequences of the four black gram pod borer species were deposited in NCBI and accession numbers were allotted, M. vitrata (PP938848), S. litura (PP938758), E. cnejus (PP938841) and E. dimidialis (PP938850) respectively. DNA barcodes were generated and BINs were allotted for four different pod borers and available at BOLD public database. Result: The phylogenetic analysis of all the pod borers together revealed that the pod borer species were distinctly separated at genus level and were grouped into congeneric clusters. The DNA barcode of E. dimidialis (BOLD:AAB6502) was generated for the first time from India and the DNA barcode of E. cnejus (BOLD:AAD0845) was generated for the first time from Andhra Pradesh, India.