Seasonal incidence of major insect pests of bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria) in South-western Haryana

Abstract

Bottle gourd is an important vegetable crop that fetches recurrent income from farmers. The present investigation was carried out during the kharif season of 2019 to study the incidence of prevailing four insect pests of bottle gourd in relation to weather. The seasonal incidence of major insect pests such as Aulacophora foveicollis Lucas, Bactrocera cucurbitae Coquillett, Aphis gossypii Glover and Bemicia tabaci Gennadius was studied. The fruit infestation by Bactrocera cucurbitae was initiated in the 34^th SMW, and the maximum infestation was noticed in the 36^th SMW. The fruit fly infestation was significant and positively correlated with evening relative humidity and rainfall. Aulacophora foveicollis incidence in bottle gourd was maximum in the 38^th SMW. The beetle population was significantly and negatively correlated with minimum temperature and evening relative humidity. The maximum infestation of aphids and whitefly was noticed in the later stage of the crop during the 39^th SMW, and the aphid population was significantly correlated with minimum temperature, evening relative humidity and rainfall, whereas the whitefly population was correlated significantly with evening relative humidity and rainfall.