Vol. 11, Issue 11 (2022)

The investigation on seasonal incidence and biology of thrips on pomegranate was conducted at the Department of Entomology, College of Horticulture, Bagalkot, Karnataka during the year 2015-2016. Studies on incidence of thrips on pomegranate under Ambe bahar treatment revealed two peaks with major peak from January to April coinciding with flowering and fruit development and another peak from August to middle of October during resting period. Thrips population was noticed on all plant parts with relative high density on tender shoot (9.46/shoot), flower bud (4.02/flower bud), flowers (3.11/flower) and tender fruit (3.03/fruit). Studies on biology of Scirtothrips dosalis Hood on pomegranate var. Bhagwa revealed total life cycle period of 14.50 to 20.25 days from egg to adult death. Developmental duration of life cycle included egg, two active feeding larval instars, prepupal, pupal and adult stages viz., 2.24 ± 0.26, 2.52 ± 0.39, 4.5 ± 0.41, 0.86 ± 0.13, 1.92 ± 0.22 and 5.29 ± 0.37 days, respectively. Adults and nymphs found feeding on the lower surface of leaves. Females have a saw-like ovipositor with which they inset eggs partially into tissue and young larva cause damage to tender leaves, flower buds and young fruits that resulted in scarring of fruit rind which in turn decreased marketability of fruits.