Population Dynamics of Major Insect Pests of Brinjal

A field experiment was carried out during the kharif-rabi season 2023-24 to observe the population dynamics of major insect-pests viz., jassid, Amrasca biguttula biguttula Ishida, whitefly, Bemisia tabaci Gennadius; aphid, Aphis gossypii and shoot and fruit borer, Leucinodes orbonalis Guenee from 39th to 3rd Standard meteorological weeks (SMW). The maximum population of A. biguttula and B. tabaci were recorded in 47th SMW while for A. gossypii was during 48th SMW whereas the highest shoot and fruit infestation was during the 45th and 51st SMWs, respectively. Correlation analysis revealed highly significant negative correlations of A. biguttula and B. tabaci populations with rainfall and evening vapour pressure. While morning relative humidity had a highly significant negative corelations and morning vapour pressure had a significant negative correlation with A. biguttula whereas B. tabaci had a highly significant with morning vapour pressure and relative humidity had a significant negative correlation. A. gossypii populations showed a highly significant positive correlation with rainfall and a significant positive corelations with wind speed whereas bright sunshine hours had a significant negative correlation. Shoot infestation had highly significant negative correlations with rainfall, evening relative humidity and vapour pressure and with morning relative humidity showed significant negative corelations. In contrast with bright sunshine hours and maximum temperature had a significant positive correlation. Both maximum and minimum temperatures had highly significant negative correlations with fruit infestation.