Seasonal incidence of thrips in chilli crop and correlation to abiotic parameters

Chilli is considered as one of the commercial spice crops. Three thrips species Thrips parvispinus Karny, Thrips florum Schmutz and Thrips hawaiiensis Morgan were found and identified from chilli crop from IGKV, Raipur during the study period. Among the most damaging pests and number of thrips infested crops increased gradually up to 12.4 thrips/three leaves/plant during the 3rd SMW (3rd week of January), which was the peak activity period. The average of two years the thrips population density in chilli crop. The maximum temperature minimum temperature bright sunshine hours had significant negative correlation.