AGRES – An International e-Journal , (2016) Vol. 5, Issue 4: 443-445 ISSN 2277-9663

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POPULATION FLUCTUATION OF SLUG CATERPILLAR, . lepida ON DIFFERENT VARIETIES OF

CHAUDHARY, N. J.; PATEL, B. C. AND PATEL, R. K.

DEPARTMENT OF ENTOMOLOGY C. P. COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE SARDARKRUSHINAGAR DANTIWADA AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY SARDARKRUSHINAGAR – 385 506 (GUJARAT),

*EMAIL: [email protected] ______

ABSTRACT An experiment was carried out to study the population fluctuation of slug caterpillar on different varieties of mango and it aws found that the larval population of P. lepida recorded higher in Rajapuri and Kesar varieties of mango during the month of August and September, respectively. While, moderate larval population was recorded in Dasheri and Langda varieties in the month of October and November, respectively. While, the lowest larval population was recorded in Amrapali and Alphanso varieties during the month of August. Moreover, the Rajapuri variety of mango was more preferred by slug caterpillar than Alphanso variety of mango. KEY WORDS: slug caterpillar, Mangifera indica,

INTRODUCTION caterpillar (P. lepida) was found Mango (Mangifera indica L.) increasing in north Gujarat region day is considered as a national fruit of by day. The young larvae feed on the India and cultivated for about 4,000 lower epidermis of the leaf and in years in our country and its production heavy infestation, the larvae defoliate and consumption is gradually whole mango plant. The leaves of increased (Baddi et al., 2015). Among younger plant damaged up to 52.6 the total world production, India rank percent in mango as reported by first by producing 54 per cent of total Kapoor et al., (1985). The back of the world production. It is a commercial caterpillars are furnished with stinging fruit crop occupies an area of hairs, which have an irritant effect on 25,16,000 ha. with an annual the skin of human being when came production of 1,84,31,000 million into contact (Viqar et al., 2008). tonnes in India (Anonymous, 2015a) MATERIAL AND METHODS while, cultivation is about 1.42 lakh To study the population ha. and total production is about 11.25 fluctuation of slug caterpillar, an lakh tonnes in Gujarat (Anonymous, experiment was carried out during 2015b). About, 150 species of January 2015 to December 2015 at pests have been reported by Butani, Horticultural Instructional Farm, (1974) and David and Ramamurthy, S.D.A.U., Sardarkrushinagar on (2012) attacking on mango. Amongst different varieties of mango viz., the different insect pests attacking Rajapuri, Kesar, Langda, Dasheri, mango, the population of slug Amrapali, Alphanso. Five trees of www.arkgroup.co.in Page 443 AGRES – An International e-Journal , (2016) Vol. 5, Issue 4: 443-445 ISSN 2277-9663

______each variety of mango were randomly India. pp. 2-4. (www. selected and from each tree, ten twigs nhb.gov.in) (50 cm length) from all the directions Anonymous, (2015b).Area and were selected and total number of production of fruit crops. larvae/twig were counted at week National Horticultural interval. Board, Ministry of RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Agriculture, Government of The study on population India at a glance. pp. 91-99. fluctuation of slug caterpillarcarried (www. nhb.gov.in) out on different varieties of mango Baddi, J.; Vijayalakshmi, D.; during January to December, 2015 Durgannavar, N. A. and and the data are presented in Table 1 Chandru, A. (2015). Mango and depicted in Figure 1. The data peel: A potential source of showed that the population of slug natural bioactive phyto- caterpillar was started from 4th week nutrients in functional of May and remained active up to food.Asian Journal of Dairy December on all the varieties of Food Research.34(1): 75- mango. The highest (9.02 larvae/twig) 77. larval population of P. lepida Butani, D.K. (1974). Insect pests of recorded in the variety Rajapuri Fruit crops and their control during the month of August and the (Mango). Pesticides. 8(3): lowest (2.02 larvae/twig) was 37-41. recorded in the variety Alphanso David, B.V. and Ramamurthy, V.V. during the month of September. The (2012). Pests of fruit trees. varieties Kesar, Langda, Dasheri, ad In: Elements of Economic Amprpali recorded 7.91, 6.21, 4.95 entomology. Seventh and 3.58 larvae/twig, respectively. Edition. Namrutha The higher infestation of slug Publications. Chennai. pp. caterpillar in Rajapuri variety might 153-154. be due to shape and colour of leaves Kapoor, K.N.; Deobhakta, S.R. and of variety.. The leaf shape of Dhamdhere, S.V. (1985). Rajapuri is oblong having grooves Bionomics of the slug and ridges surface with dark green caterpillar, Latoia lepida colour and lanceolate waxy magins (Cramer) (: with more chlorophyll. Hence, the ) on mango. ovipositional preference of slug Journal of Entomological caterpillar of slug caterpillar found Research.9(2): 235-236. more on Rajapuri variety. In Viqar. S.; Kamaluddin, A.A.; Isma, Y Alphanso variety, the shape of leaves and Waqar-Ul-Haq. (2008). is flat ovate and colour and colour Tea pest Parasa of leaves were were light green , lepida(Moore) (Lepidoptera: which may not preferred by female Limacodidae) from for oviposition. Bangladesh with reference REFERENCES to its description and control Anonymous, (2015a). Area and strategy. International production of fruit crops. Journal of Biology and National Horticultural Biotechnology.5 (1-2): 41- Board, Ministry of 45. Agriculture, Government of www.arkgroup.co.in Page 444 AGRES – An International e-Journal , (2016) Vol. 5, Issue 4: 443-445 ISSN 2277-9663

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Table 1. Larval Population of P. lepida on mango

Sr No Name of the variety Av. larval population/twig

1 Rajapuri 9.02

2 Kesar 7.91

3 Langda 6.21

4 Dasheri 4.95

5 Amrapali 3.58

6 Alphanso 2.20

[MS received: December 16, 2016] [MS accepted: December 28, 2016]

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