Vol. 12, Issue 2 (2023)

Author(s):
GT Shannkar, MK Singh and BM Abhishek

Abstract:
The bottle gourd [Lagenaria siceraria] is a widespread commercial vegetable cultivated as major crop India. Insect pests are responsible for significant reduction in bottle gourd production causing major economic damage. Various insect pest complex were recorded throughout the cropping period viz., Red pumpkin beetle (Aulacophora foveicollis Lucas), Thrips (Thrips tabaci Lindquist), Pumpkin caterpillar (Diaphania indica Saunders), Aphids (Aphis gossypii Glover), Serpentine leaf miner (Liriomyza brassicae Burgess), Mealy bugs (Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley), Semilooper (Achaea janata Linnaeus) and Fruit fly (Bactrocera cucurbitae Coquillet). Among the insect pests, red pumpkin beetle, Aulacophora foveicollis Lucas, is the widely distributed polyphagous pest of cucurbit crops which attacks the crop from early stage and persists till last harvesting. Initially, red pumpkin beetle incidence was recorded from 16 days young plant (6^th standard meteorological week (SMW)) with mean population of 2.65 beetles per 5 plants. Incidence was gradually increased with crop maturity and attains peak level at 14^th MSW with mean population of 39.35 beetles per 5 plants. Dynamics of pumpkin beetle with respect to weather parameter revealed the significant positive correlation with maximum temperature (r = 0.910), minimum temperature (r = 0.697), evaporation (r = 0.910) and sunshine hour (r = 0.798); negative correlation with morning and evening relative humidity (r = -0.824 & -0.885) and rainfall (r = 0.122). Lady bird beetle, Coccinella sp., Reduviid bug, Rhynocoris fuscipes and Lynx spider, Oxyopes javanus were the natural enemies observed in bottle gourd under polyhouse with peak activity at 11^th to 14^th MSW.