Studies on Insect-pests Complex of Rapeseed Mustard and their Natural Species in Roorkee Region, Uttarakhand, India

Author: Pradeep Kumar Verma, Avinash Varma and Gaurav Aggarwal

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Abstract

A field experiment was carried out to study the insect pests associated with rapeseed mustard in Roorkee region of Uttarakhand's Haridwar district during 2021 and 2022 rabi season. In this region, rapeseed mustard was linked to a pest complex of roughly eight different insects-pests species. The Mustard aphid, Lipaphis erysimi has been found consistently expand in population and causing economic damage to mustard crop. It occurred from flowering to till maturity stage of the crop, while mustard sawfly, Athalia lugens proxima and flea beetle, Phyllotreta cruciferae occurred during seedling stage and painted bug, Bagrada cruciferarum damaged the crop during seedling to maturity stage as a minor pest. At the vegetative stage, the cabbage aphid Brevicoryne brassicae, the cabbage butterfly Pieris brassicae, and the rose aphid Macrosiphum rosae were all seen in sporadic, low-population occurrences. Only the mustard aphid, a regular important pest/major pest, does the most harm to mustard crops out of the eight insect pests that were identified. The other seven pests were all categorised as minor. In the experimental crop, four natural enemies of several insect pests of rapeseed mustard were identified: dragonflies, ladybird beetles, green lacewings and braconid wasps. Insect pests complex cause major crop losses in agriculture worldwide. Therefore, to identify a key pest of a particular crop and their damaging stages on crop is crucial to effectively control the economic crop yield losses and also to reduce cost benefit ratio of insecticide applications and by also identifying their natural enemies we can reduce the application of chemical insecticides.

Keywords

Pests, rapeseed-mustard, brassica species, natural enemies and pest complex

Conclusion

This study identified numerous insect species that are associated with rapeseed mustard, portending a potential threat to rapeseed mustard production. Rapeseed mustard also contains species of natural enemies, including as parasitoids and carnivores. It is known that every reported predator and parasitoid has a direct relationship to their prey population. It is suggested that important biological control agents can be exploited in the management of the major insect pests of rapeseed mustard.

References

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How to cite this article

Pradeep Kumar Verma, Avinash Varma and Gaurav Aggarwal (2023). Studies on Insect-pests Complex of Rapeseed Mustard and their Natural Species in Roorkee Region, Uttarakhand, India. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 15(5): 529-533.