Population dynamics of red pumpkin beetle, Aulacophora foveicollis Lucas on ash gourd at Chhattisgarh

Abstract

Ash gourd ( Benincasa hispida Thunb.) belongs to the family Cucurbitaceae attacked by a wide range of cucurbitacious and non- cucurbitacious insect-pests including red pumpkin beetle, striped cucurbit beetle, twelve spotted cucumber beetles, fruit fly, spider mites, melon aphids, squash borer, squash bug and leaf minors etc. Population build-up of red pumpkin beetle, Aulacophora foveicollis Lucas on ash-gourd were studied at Horticultural Research cum Instructional Farm, Department of Horticulture, Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Raipur (C.G.). During the studies, the per cent plant infestation was observed to be 10.00 with corresponding infestation index of 0.041 during 36th SMW. The number of plants infested increased gradually with increased of total population of red pumpkin beetle. The total population and per cent plant infestation varied from 0.2 to 4.5 insects per plant and 10 to 80 per cent, respectively. Infestation index varied between 0.009 and 0.568 and highest infestation index coinciding with the peak total population of red pumpkin beetle and highest per cent plant infestation.