Seasonal incidence and biology of Conogethes punctiferalis Guenee (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) on Guava

Abstract

Studies on seasonal incidenceof castor capsule borer, Conogethes punctiferalis Guenee (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) in guava crop were carried out under field conditions at horticultural research farm,Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar. The results revealed that the pest was found to infest both the rainy as well as winter season guava crop.  During rainy season, peak infestation (16%) of C. punctiferalis on guava was recorded in 3^rd& 5^th week of August in picked fruits while in dropped fruits, peak infestation (11.63%) was recorded in 3^rd week of August. During winter season, peak infestation (8%) of C. punctiferalis on guava was recorded in 2^nd week of December and March in picked fruits while in dropped fruits, peak infestation (11.11%) was recorded in 2^nd week of March. The life cycle of C. punctiferalis was completed in 34-46 days and the pest completed multiple generations in a year.