Population Dynamics of Lepidopteran Pests and Natural Enemies in Black Gram (Vigna mungo L.) during the Kharif Season in the Gird Region

Population dynamics of lepidopteran insect pests and natural enemies in blackgram (Vigna mungo L.) was studied during the Kharif seasons of 2023 and 2024 at the Research Farm, College of Agriculture, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh. The experiment followed a randomized block design using the variety PU-31. The lepidopteran pests Maruca vitrata (Geyer) and Lampides boeticus L. were monitored by counting larvae on ten randomly selected plants. The population dynamics of these insect pests were analyzed in relation to biotic and abiotic factors, and a regression model was developed. The peak population of L. boeticus was observed in the 38th Standard Meteorological Week (SMW), while M. vitrata reached their maximum abundance in the 39th SMW. Correlation analysis revealed a significant negative relationship between the populations of L. boeticus and M. vitrata with minimum temperature. Additionally, L. boeticus populations exhibited a significantly positive correlation with coccinellid populations. These findings provide insights into the seasonal fluctuations of insect pests and their natural enemies, which can aid in the development of integrated pest management strategies for black gram cultivation.