J. Bioi. Control, 9(2): 116 ~ 118, 1995 RESEARCH NOTE

Incidence of epijarbas Moore (: ) and its parasitoids on in Jammu region

1. N. THAKUR, O. p, VERMA, 1. P. SINGH and A. D. PAWARI Central Integrated Pest ?l,1anagement Centre . Abhinandan Bhavan, P. H. Road, Saproon, Solan - 173001, H. P., India

ABSTRACT: Studies conducted during 1993 on incidence of pomegranate fruit borer and its natural enemies in Jammu region of 1 ammu & Kashmir state revealed that only Delldorix epijarbas Moore is infesting pomegranate in this region. Mean fruit infestation was 25.33%, however, infestation was lower at Kud which is located at higher altitude in comparison to Chenani and Dhrumtal. Two species of paras ito ids i.e. Anastatus sp. nr. kashmirensis Mathur and Telenomus (?) cyrus Nixon were recorded parasitizing on an average 56.43 % eggs. Inundative releases of Trici1agramma chi/anis Ishii did not result in its establishment.

KEY \VORDS: Biological control, Deudorix epijarhas, natural enemies, parasitoilis, pome~ granate butterfly, Tric/lOgramma chilollis

Fruit borer, Deudorix epijarbas Moore 1760 m above mean sea level, respectively. During (LepidoptBra : Lycaenidae) has been reported as a each visit, ten pomegranate trecs were selected serious pest of Pomegranate, Punica granatum randomly at each place. From each tn:l:, 15 fruits Linnaeus in Himachal Pradesh (Butani, 1976; Prasad were examincd randomly for the presence of holes eral., 1987) and Kashmir (Zaka-Ur-Rab, 1980). The tuade by larvae for calculation of per cent fruit first instar larvae of the pest bore into fruits, feed infestation. Also, thl: eggs, larvae and pupae of the upon pulp and seeds causing either immature fruit pest collected were brought to laboratory for furthl:r drop or make fruits unfit for consumption. Chemical examination. Eggs pasted on paper strips were control of the pest is often ineffective, expensive and examined for emergence of parasitoids. Larval: were hazardous to operators as well as to beneficial reared singly on pomegranate seeds in petri:dishes organisms due to long residual toxicity. Bagging of to avoid cannibalism. Larval food was replaced daily fru5ts in the initial stage also proved laborious and to avoid fermentation or fungal infection. not feasible in big orchards. Successful control of Observations were made on emergence of larval this pest through introduced and native paras ito ids in parasitoids, Pupae placed in plastic jars wac ohserved Kullu Valley (H.P.) has been reported earlier (Thakur for emergence of pupal parasitoids. Laboratory rca red et ai., 1991; 1993). T. chilonis, an egg parasitoid, was released in each visit at the rate of 1,50,OOO/ha. In !olal about 9lakh Keeping in view the above facts, the present wasps were released in August and September, 1993 investigations were carried om in Jammu region of synchronising with the egg laying. Recovery tests Jammu & Kashmir to know the species present, its were conducted by either collecting butterfly eggs status, natural enemy complex and feasibility of using from release sites an

116 THAKUR 1'1 (// significantly lower in first season at Kud which is at recorded in the present investigat~on. Brachymeria higher altitude as compared to Chenani and Dhrumtal. sp. has been reported attacking fresh pupae of In Himachal Pradesh, fruit infestation ranged between pomegranate butterf1y, Virachola livia Klug in Egypt 12 - 94 % (Prasad el al., 1987). From field collected (Awadallah el al., 1970). eggs, two species of eggs parasitoids i.e. AllaSlalllS sp. nr. kasllmirellsis Mathur and Teiellollllls (?) cyrus Recovery tests conducted following the releases Nixon were obtained. The combined parasitism by of T. chilollis did not show its establishment during these parasitoids ranged between 22.22 - 81.01 % and the present study. Contrary to this, T. chi/Ollis has averaged to 56.43 % (Table I). These parasitoids are successfully established againstD. epijarhas in Kullu reported for the !"irst time on eggs of D. epijarlJas in Valley and Solan (H. P. ) (Thakur et af., 1991;) ( Rawat this region. However, these parasitoids have already and Pawar, 1991). The reasons behind the failure to been reported on eggs of this pest in H. P. (Thakur el recover the released egg parasitoids, T. chilOllis in al., IlJ88). No larval and pupal parasitoids were the present study needs further investigation.

Tahle I. Incidence of DCIl£iorix cpijarlJas and its parasitoids

Date Place Fruit Egg infestation (%) parasitism (%)

5.8.93 Dhrumtal 33.66a 64.70 Chenani 20.66b 69.56 Kud 19.33b 36.58 13.8.93 Dhrumtal 33.66a 57.69 Chen ani 34.663 22.22 Kud 17.33h 59.18 20.8.93 DhrUllllal 32.00a 46.15 Chenani 28.66£1 38.46 Kud 17.33b 69.23 26.8.93 Dhrumtal· 21.33£1 49.93 Chenani 28.66a 60.71 Kud 18.00b 64.00 9.9.93 Dhrumtal 26.00a 47.25 Chenani 25.33a 81.08 Kud 26.66a 66.66 17.9.93 Dhmmtal Chenani 60.00 Kud 65.21

Mean 25.33 56.43

* Figures bearing the same letters of same date are not statl' .stl'cally (11','t'''I'''!lt'- '- 'mm. one another (J> = 0.05)

117 Incidence of D. epijarbas and irs parasilOids

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS RAW AT, U. S. and PAWAR, A. D. 1991. Field recovery of TridlOgrallll11d rhilonis Ishii The authors are thankful to the Plant Protection (Hymenoptera : Trichogrammatidae) from Adviser to the Govermnent of India, Department of Deudorix epijarbas Moore (Lepidoptera : Plant Protection, Quarantine and Storage, Faridabad Lycaenidae) in Himachal Pradesh, India. for providing facilities. Sincere thanks to the Entomon, 16:49-52. orchardists for their cooperation during the study. We are grateful to Drs. Z. Boucek and A. Polaszek THAKUR, J. N.; RAWAT, U. S. and PAWAR, A. D. 1988. Survey for natural enemies of ofInternational Institute of Entomology, London for pomegranate butterny, Deudorix epijarbas identification of . Moore in Himachal Pradesh. J. Bioi. COlllrol, 2:1-2. REFERENCES THAKUR, 1. N., RAWAT, U. S. and PAWAR, A. AWADALLAH, A. M., AZAB, A. K. and EL­ D. 1991. Successful introduction of NAHAL, A. K. M. 1970. Studies on the Tricilogramma chilollis Ishii, an egg parasitoid pomegranate buttertly, Viraclwla livia Klug of anar-buttert1y, Deudorix: epijarbas Moore in (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae). Bull. Soc. Ent011l01. Kulu Valley. J. Sci., 4: 163-164. Egypte, 54:545-567. THAKUR,J. N.,PAWAR, A. D. andRAWAT, U. BUTANI, D. K. 1976. Insect pests of fruit crops S. 1993. Observations on the post release impact of Trici10gramma chilonis Ishii (Hymenoptera: and their control-21. Pomegranate. Pesticides, Trichogrammatidae), an egg parasiloid of

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