Insect pest complex of Pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan)in agro ecosystem of Tripura, N.E. India

Abstract

The pest complex associated with Pigeon pea crop grown in Tripura, a North Eastern state of India has been recorded for the first time during 2015-16 and 2016-17. A total of 64 insect pests belonging to 7 orders and 32 families were recorded. Among these, 9 species were recorded as major, 30 were recorded as minor and remaining 25 were recorded as negligible pests. A total of eleven species of insect pests constituting the pod borer complex have been recorded, out of which three species viz., Maruca vitrata (Fabricius), Melanagromyza obtusa (Malloch) and Apion clavipes (Gerst.) were found to be the most destructive key pests. 36.4 and 42% pod damage by Apion, 34.8 and 36.5% by pod fly, 5.2 and 6% by Helicoverpa, 1.6 and 3% by Lycaenid larvae, 3.8 and 4.8% by Exelastis atomosa and 2 and 2.2% by Etiella zinckenelia were recorded during two consecutive seasons.