Vol. 12, Issue 6 (2023)

Author(s):
Jharna Chaturvedani, Jayalaxmi Ganguli and Mamta Bhagat

Abstract:
A field experiment on succession of okra sucking pests along with their defenders was conducted at PNB training centre, Pirda Road, Jora during the rabi of 2021–2022. Results revealed that the population of sucking was recorded during the vegetative stage except, mealy bug which was recorded during the reproductive stage of crop and the defenders such as spiders and coccinellids were present throughout the crop season. Infestation of aphid, jassid and white fly commenced during the month of February and attained their maximum peak activity period in the month of March whereas, population of mealy bug was initiated in the month of March and reached its peak population in the month of April. Two predatory spiders, namely, Neoscona theisi and Telamonia dimidiate and four species of lady bird beetles viz., Menochilus sexmaculata, Coccinella septumpunctata, Micraspis spp. and Brumus spp. were recorded as major bio-agents. The population of defenders synchronized with the population of sucking pests in okra crop. Correlation studied depicted that the mean population of aphid (r = 0.975 and r = 0.849), jassid (r = 0.747 and r = 0.890) and whitefly (r = 0.719 and r = 0.824) exhibited a significant positive association with the population of spiders and coccinellid beetles whereas, population of mealy bug also showed positive relation but non-significant with both the predators.