Study on the pest complex of bottle gourd in the gangetic plains of West Bengal

Abstract

Bottle gourd, Lagenaria siceraria (Malina) Standl. is a popular vegetable in India and some other Asian countries. But its productivity constraints limit the potential yield and several insect pests have been reported to cause considerable damage in different parts of the world. The present study was carried out to find out the situation in New Alluvial Zone of West Bengal. Red pumpkin beetle (Aulacophora foveicollis) and epilachna beetle (Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata) were found to be the major pests and it appeared from early to mid crop growth stage (6.2 – 35.6% damage) and from mid to late crop growth stage (16.3 – 45.6% damage). The green semilooper (Trichoplusia ni) attacked the crop during prime vegetative growth stage and caused about 7.5 – 19.2% foliage damage). Study also revealed that some of the meteorological parameters exerted significant influences on the growth and development of the pest populations and hence their resultant damages.