International Journal of Chemical Studies 2018; 6(1): 1162-1163

P-ISSN: 2349–8528 E-ISSN: 2321–4902 IJCS 2018; 6(1): 1162-1163 Population dynamics of red pumpkin , © 2018 IJCS Received: 04-11-2017 Aulacophora foveicollis Lucas on ash gourd at Accepted: 05-12-2017 Chhattisgarh Manmohan Singh Bisen Department of Entomology, Indira Gandhi Krishi Manmohan Singh Bisen, Vikas Singh, Yogesh Kumar Sidar and Akash Vishvavidyalaya, Raipur (C.G.), Nirmal India

Vikas Singh Abstract Department of Entomology, Ash gourd ( Benincasa hispida Thunb.) belongs to the family attacked by a wide range of Indira Gandhi Krishi cucurbitacious and non- cucurbitacious -pests including red pumpkin beetle, striped cucurbit beetle, Vishvavidyalaya, Raipur (C.G.), twelve spotted , fruit fly, spider mites, melon aphids, squash borer, squash bug and leaf India minors etc. Population build-up of red pumpkin beetle, Aulacophora foveicollis Lucas on ash-gourd were studied at Horticultural Research cum Instructional Farm, Department of Horticulture, Indira Gandhi Yogesh Kumar Sidar Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Raipur (C.G.). During the studies, the per cent plant infestation was observed to Department of Entomology, be 10.00 with corresponding infestation index of 0.041 during 36th SMW. The number of plants infested Indira Gandhi Krishi increased gradually with increased of total population of red pumpkin beetle. The total population and Vishvavidyalaya, Raipur (C.G.), India per cent plant infestation varied from 0.2 to 4.5 per plant and 10 to 80 per cent, respectively. Infestation index varied between 0.009 and 0.568 and highest infestation index coinciding with the peak Akash Nirmal total population of red pumpkin beetle and highest per cent plant infestation. Department of Entomology, Indira Gandhi Krishi Keywords: Ash gourd, Red pumpkin beetle, Population dynamics, Infestation index Vishvavidyalaya, Raipur (C.G.), India Introduction Cucurbits are vegetable crops belonging to family Cucurbitaceae, which are consumed as food

worldwide. Fruits of these crops are rich in iron, vitamins (A, B, C), proteins, minerals and have medicinal properties. Ash gourd (Benincasa hispida Thunb.) belongs to the family Cucurbitaceae attacked by a wide range of cucurbitacious and non- cucurbitacious insect-pests including red pumpkin beetle, striped cucurbit beetle, twelve spotted cucumber beetles, fruit fly, spider mites, melon aphids, squash borer, squash bug and leaf minors etc. (Dhillon 1993) [3] . Red pumpkin beetle, Aulacophora foveicollis (Lucas) is a widely distributed polyphagous pest of cucurbit crops in India. The beetle resumes its activity in March and remains in the field till October. The peak period of activity is from April to June while the population starts declining from September onwards (Butani and Jotwani 1984) [2].

Material and Methods Population build-up of red pumpkin beetle, Aulacophora foveicollis Lucas on ash-gourd were studied at Horticultural Research cum Instructional Farm, Department of Horticulture, Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Raipur (C.G.) with the recommended package of practices except insecticidal application.

Beetle density The weekly observation was recorded as randomly selected crop on the number of adult beetles per plant infestation during the growing season of the crop after appearance of the red pumpkin beetle.

Per cent plant infestation Correspondence For this purpose, observation was made on ten randomly selected plants and the number of Manmohan Singh Bisen plants having infestation of red pumpkin beetle was counted. The percentage of infested plants Department of Entomology, was worked out as: Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, Raipur (C.G.), India ~ 1162 ~ International Journal of Chemical Studies

No. of plants infested Infestation index Per cent plant infestation = X 100 These observations were utilized to work out the infestation Total no. of plants index by following the formula suggested by Bhalla and Verma (1991) [1] and Koul (1998) [4] as:

Result and Discussion of Himachal Pradesh. Final Report, ICAR Research Perusal of data (Table-1) revealed that the first incidence of Sheme. Department of Entomology Dr YS Parmar adult of red pumpkin beetle, Aulacophora foveicollis Lucas University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni (HP), on ash guard was observed during 1st week of July (36th India. 1991, 32. SMW), when an average population level of 1.0 beetles/plant 2. Butani DK, Jotwani MG. Insects in vegetables. Periodical was recorded, which increased gradually afterwards to reach Expert Book Agency. Vivek-Vihar, Delhi (India), 1984, the level of 4.5 beetles/plant in the second week of October 69-79. (41th SMW). Thereafter, the population showed declining 3. Dhillon NPS. The lack of a relationship between bitternes trend during third week of October (42 SMW) when 3.1 and resistance of cucurbits to red pumpkin beetle, beetles were recorded. However, after attaining peak, the Aulacophora foveicollis. Plant Breeding. 1993; 110(1):73 beetle population reduced and minimum level of 0.2 beetles -76. per plant was recorded by the first week of December (49th 4. Koul VK. Insect pest management on cauliflower SMW). During the studies, the per cent plant infestation was (Brassica oleracea L. var. botrytis L.). Ph.D Thesis,. observed to be 10.00 with corresponding infestation index of Department of Entomology, CSK Himachal Pradesh 0.041 during 36th SMW. The number of plants infested Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, Palampur, India. 1998, 45. increased gradually with increased of total population of red 5. Rajak DC. Studies on the population fluctuation of red pumpkin beetle. The total population and per cent plant pumpkin beetle on muskmelon (Cucumus melo L.). infestation varied from 0.2 to 4.5 insects per plant and 10 to Agric. Sci. Digest. 2000; 20(1):54-55. 80 per cent, respectively. Infestation index varied between 6. Saljoqi AUR, Khan Shahbaz. Relative abundance of the 0.009 and 0.568 and highest infestation index coinciding with red Pumpkin beetle, Aulacophora foveicollis (Lucas), on the peak total population of red pumpkin beetle and highest different Cucurbitaceous Vegetables. Sarhad J Agric. per cent plant infestation. These results are similar to findings 2007; 23(1):109-114. of the Rajak (2000) [5], who observed the over wintering red pumpkin beetles become active during (7th SMW) February. The maximum per cent of flower damage (58.21%) and leaf damage (26.47%) observed in third week of February and first week of February, respectively. Saljoqi and Khan (2007) [6] also reported cucumber (Cucumis sativus) to be susceptible to the attack of the red pumpkin beetle having 8.20 to 8.48 mean number of the pest/plant.

Table 1: Population build up of red pumpkin beetle Aulacophora foveicollis Lucas on ash gourd during Kharif 2014-15

Total Per cent Month Infestation SMW population plant /Date index of beetle/ plant infestation Sep 03-09 36 1.0 10.00 0.041 10-16 37 2.2 10.00 0.086 17-23 38 2.5 10.00 0.097 24-30 39 3.5 20.00 0.230 Oct 01-07 40 3.9 40.00 0.408 08-14 41 4.5 60.00 0.568 15-21 42 3.1 80.00 0.542 22-28 43 2.8 70.00 0.471 29-04 44 2.1 50.00 0.312 Nov 05-11 45 1.5 30.00 0.161 12-18 46 0.9 20.00 0.072 19-25 47 0.5 10.00 0.021 26-2 48 0.3 10.00 0.013 Dec 3-9 49 0.2 10.00 0.009

Reference 1. Bhalla OP, Verma AK. Integrated pest management studies on cauliflower and cabbage in temperate regions ~ 1163 ~