Assessment of the Incidence of Pigeon Pea Leaf Webber, Grapholita critica (Meyr.) and Roller, Caloptilia soyella (Van.) in Relation to Weather Variables in the Bundelkhand Region of Uttar Pradesh

Background: Pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan, Mayer) is the member of Asian Cajanus crop and also reffered as Tur and Arhar and commonly grown in Kharif session in Indian subcontinent.). In India, around 250 known species of insect pests have been identified to affect pigeon pea crops at different growth stages. The leaf webber and leaf roller are notable insect pests that pose a significant threat to pigeonpea, particularly during its vegetative stage. The leaf webber and leaf roller, among various insect pests, are notably visible and pose a threat to pigeonpea. These insects target the pigeonpea plant during its vegetative stage. Specifically, the leaf webber, identified as Grapholita (Pammene) critica, Meyrick (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), has been acknowledged as a significant constraint affecting pigeonpea production. The aim of this investigation is to assess the relationship between the incidence of leaf roller and leaf webber and various abiotic factors, including temperature, relative humidity, wind velocity and rainfall. Methods: The research, spanning Kharif 2021-22 and 2022-23, at Entomological Research Block in BUAT, Banda. It aimed to observe leaf roller and leaf webber incidence in pigeon pea alongside weather conditions. ‘IPA-203’ pigeon pea variety was manually sown in 200 m2 plots on July 12, 2021 (first year) and July 18, 2022 (second year). Standard agronomic practices were adhered to and no insecticides were used on the crop. Result: Over the two-year observation period, the larval population of G. critica on pigeon pea plants commenced during the 34th SMW, peaking at 4.90 larvae plant-1 in the 45th SMW. Simultaneously, C. soyella infestation initiated in the 34th SMW, steadily increasing until the 42nd SMW, reaching its peak larval count at 3.03.