Studies on insect-pests of soybean (Glycine max) with special reference to seasonal incidence of lepidopteran defoliators

Abstract

The field experiment was conducted at BTC College of Agriculture and Research Station, Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, during 2016-17. Study about seasonal incidence of pre-dominant lepidopteran insect-pests in soybean crop the soybean leaf folder (Omiodes indicata Fab.), tobacco caterpillar (Spodoptera litura Fab.), green semilooper (Chrysodexis acuta Walker), leaf webber (Anarsia ephippias Mullar) and pod borer (Helicoverpa armigera Hub.) were major defoliator insect causing damage at various growth stages of the soybean crop. The peak activity of Omiodes indicata Fab. (1.67 larvae/mrl) and Spodoptera litura Fab. (1.47 larvae/mrl) were observed during third week of September. Whereas, Chrysodeixis acuta (1.0 larvae/mrl), Anarsia ephippias (0.6 larvae/mrl) and Helicoverpa armigera (0.67 larvae/mrl) were recorded during first week of September, third week of August and fourth week of August, respectively.