Seasonal incidence of striped mealybug (Ferrisia virgata), bud borer (Helicoverpa armigera) and red spider mite (Tetranychus urticae) in tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa L.) Var. Arka Prajwal

Abstract

A number of insect pests are known to infest flowers of tuberose in India. Pest complex in tuberose is a major production constraint to tuberose farmers. Tuberose is attacked by a number of pests viz., spider mites, Tetranychus utricae; thrips, Thrips flavus, mealybugs, Ferrisia virgata, bud borer, Helicoverpa armigera and weevil, Myllocerus sp. However, the experiment was conducted on seasonal incidence of mealybugs, bud borer, red spider mites on tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa) Var. ARKA PRAJWAL at the College of Horticulture, Venkataramannagudem-West Godavari during Rabi, 2022-2023. Studies on seasonal incidence of pest revealed that incidence of mealybug, started in 2nd SMW (Standard Meteorological Week) (2.33 mealybug/plant) and the highest population was observed in 16th SMW (164.12 mealybug/plant). Mealybug population was significantly and positively correlated with maximum temperature (0.657*) and minimum temperature (0.342). The incidence of bud borer has commenced in the 9th SMW (1.17 larvae/plant) and reached to its peak in the 16th SMW (5.21 larvae/plant). The correlation studies revealed that the larval population had non-significant positive correlation (0.836*) with the temperature and non-significant negative correlation (-0.134) with the relative humidity. Incidence of red spider mites, started in 3rd SMW with 0.81 mites/cm2 and the highest population was observed in 24th SMW (14.52 mites/cm2). Mite population was significantly and positively correlated with maximum temperature (0.545 **) and minimum temperature (0.583**).