Biodiversity of insect pest complex of Muskdana, Abelmoschus moschatus (L.) in Northern tracts of West Bengal

Author: Swapna Rani K., Suprakash Pal, Shivakumara K.T., Dosa Rajeshwari and Dhanapati Gokul Krishna

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Abstract

Muskdana, Abelmoschus moschatus (L.) is a medicinal cum minor vegetable crop in India. The knowledge of insect pests infesting the crop is especially important for its sustainable management. But the information on the pest complex of this crop is very scanty, particularly from the Northern part of West Bengal. Therefore, field experiments were explored to document the biodiversity of insect pest complexes of muskdana in Pundibari, West Bengal for two seasons in the year 2021 and 2022 respectively to document the pest situations throughout the crop growth period. The present study reports nearly twelve species of insect pests that occurred on muskdana. The leaf beetle Monolepta sp. occurred during the seedling stage to the early vegetative stage. The foliage feeders like leaf folder, Helcystogramma hibisci, and leaf roller, Sylepta derogata caused noticeable damage to the foliage by occurring in large populations from the early vegetative to maturity stage of the crop, while cotton semi looper, Anomis flava was observed sporadically with a moderate population. The activity of leaf blotch miner, Trachys sp. was observed from the mid- vegetative stage to the maturity stage. Red cotton bug, Dysdercus cingulatus, and mealy bug, Phenococcus solenopsis were recorded as minor pests occurring from flowering to pod maturity stage. Aphid Aphis gossypii, hopper Amrasca biguttula, and one mite species Tetranychus urticae were observed as minor pests but occurred persistently throughout the cropping period. Besides, pests like cutworms, Spodoptera litura, and transverse moth, Xanthodes transversa were found for a short period during the rainy season in a low population causing negligible damage to the crop. The present comprehensive pest information would help in formulating the management practices effectively.

Keywords

Muskdana, Abelmoschus moschatus, pest complex, Kharif seasons, percent incidence

Conclusion

The present study documented twelve pest species including insects and mites associated with A. moschatus in the northern tracts of West Bengal. The bio-ecology, nature of the damage and sequence of occurrence on crop has been represented in detail which provides a wholesome knowledge on various pests associated with muskdana under Northern tracts of West Bengal.

References

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How to cite this article

Swapna Rani K., Suprakash Pal, Shivakumara K.T., Dosa Rajeshwari and Dhanapati Gokul Krishna (2022). Biodiversity of insect pest complex of Muskdana, Abelmoschus moschatus (L.) in Northern tracts of West Bengal. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 14(4): 326-330.