Seasonal incidence of sucking pests of bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.)

Abstract

The seasonal incidence of sucking pests of bitter gourd was studied during kharif 2019. Result revealed that the major sucking pests were thrips (Thrips palmi Karny), whitefly (Bemisia tabaci Gennadius), aphids (Aphis gossypii Glover), jassids (Amrasca biguttula biguttula Ishida). The maximum population of T. palmi (11.37 thrips/leaf), B. tabaci (11.43 whitefly/leaf), A. gossypii (12.90 aphids/leaf), A. biguttula biguttula (11.19 jassids/leaf) was observed during 40th SMW, 39th SMW, 40th SMW and 41st SMW, respectively. The incidence of sucking pests of bitter gourd was not significantly correlated with weather parameter. The incidence of thrips, whitefly, aphids and jassids showed non-significant positive correlation with maximum temperature and non-significant negative correlation with minimum temperature. Sunshine hours played a major role with non-significant positive influence on the population build up of sucking pests viz., thrips, whitefly and jassids.