Studies on insect pest diversity in sesame crop at Karbi Anglong districts of Assam

Abstract

A field experiment was carried out at AAU-Zonal Research Station, Diphu, during Kharif season 2023-24 to explore the insect pest complex and their natural-enemies diversity in sesame. The results revealed 14 species of arthropods were identified as pest and 12 species as natural enemies. Among the different insect pests recorded, highest number of species was obtained in Heteroptera followed by Homoptera, Coleoptera Lepidoptera, and Orthoptera. Out of 14 species recorded, leaf webber, Antigastra catalaunalis and two spotted sesame bug, Eysarcoris guttiger were found to be the major pests. The two spotted bug, Eysarcoris guttiger population was recorded for the first time which needs further investigation as this pest could be of a regional significance.