Singh, Amit KumarRaina, Shallu2018-07-112018-07-112016No. of references 80http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810058944The present experiment on seasonal incidence of major insect pests of cowpea, Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. with special reference to management of mite pest was conducted at Chatha farm, SKUAST- Jammu from February 2016 till the harvest of crop (June, 2016). The study revealed that bean mite (Tetranychus ludeni), thrips (Megaulothrips spp) and blue butterfly (Lampides boeticus L.) are the major insect pest of cowpea. Infestation of T. ludeni was first observed nearly a month after seed sowing i.e., The seasonal incidence of bean mite observed at experimental sites indicated that bean mite, T. ludeni was found damaging and remain active on the bean crop and attained two peaks i.e., in 20th standard week (52.0 mean number of mites per leaf) and in in 22th SW (58.3 mean number of mites population/leaf), respectively. The seasonal incidence of tetranychid mites varies with the species, climate and the host plant. It is evident from the data that mite population is significantly influence by maximum temperature and relative humidity. The increase in temperature coupled with decrease in relative humidity from 3rd week of March 2016 to 4th week of May 2016 favoured the increase of T. ludeni Zacher. The seasonal incidence of thrips observed at experimental sites indicated that the initial mean number of thrips population (0.33 per plant) was recorded in the 11th SW and peak population was observed in 4th week of April to 1st week of May with gradually fluctuated with the aberration in environmental condition and reached the maximum mean population in 21st SW (17.00 per plant). Thereafter, the thrips population was declining due to increase in temperature. The seasonal incidence of blue butterfly was observed at experimental sites indicated that the initial mean number of larval population (0.33 per plant) was recorded in the 10th SW and peak population was observed in April to June with gradually increasing and reached the maximum mean population in 23rd SW(17.67 per m2). Thereafter, the larval population was declining due to maturity of crop. The weather parameters i.e temperature (Maximum and Minimum), relative humidity(Morning and Evening) and rainfall, plays an important role in reproduction, development and survival of the insect pests. Weather parameters had greater influence on fluctuation of mite population. The correlation studies showed that the highly significant and positively correlated with maximum temperature had existed with bean mite whereas, negatively correlated with relative humidity (highly significant with morning R.H and significant with evening R. H) and negatively correlated and significant with rainfall. The correlation studies showed that the broad mite populations was highly significant and positively correlated with maximum and minimum temperature whereas, It was negatively correlated with relative humidity morning and evening with correlation values of -0.772 and -0.685, respectively. However, a negative and non-significant correlation was established with rainfall. The overall impact of weather factors on population build-up of mite was 69.70 per cent which reflects that there were some another environmental factors i.e. solar radiation, sunshine, rainy days and wind velocity who governed the 30.30 per cent role in population build-up of bean mites on cowpea. A significant positive correlation existed between weekly temperature (highly significant with maximum temperature and significant with minimum temperature) and thrips and blue butterfly population on Cowpea whereas, pest population build up was found to be significant and negatively correlated with relative humidity (highly significant with morning R.H and significant with evening R.H) and negatively correlated and significant with rainfall. The corresponding correlation co-efficient of multiple determination (R2) values worked out to be 0.931 and 0.961 for thrips and blue butterfly, respectively. A single unit increase in temperature (maximum and minimum), relative humidity (morning and evening) increases the blue butterfly larval population. Among the weather factor, temperature is a most important factor affecting insect growth, development rate, and survival of Megaulothrips spp. Results from this study indicated that the mean number of Megaulothrips spp. declined with increasing temperature. After fourteen days of first spray, the best effect was given by abamectin1.8 EC which reduced the bean mite population by 70.32 per cent. This was followed by the treatment of spiromesifen in different plots, causing a reduction of 60.43 per cent. On the other hand application of fenpyroximate resulted in 58.68 per cent reduction. The biopesticide (pongamia oil) gave 49.58 per cent reduction in mite population at 7 days after second spray. Overall, abamectin is the most effective treatment after two sprays up to 14th days in reducing the mites population and found to be significantly different from spiromesifen and fenpyroximate at 5 per cent level of significance. After fourteen days of both sprays, the best effect was given by chlorfenapyr 10 EC which reduced the thrips population by 58.24 to 60.88 per cent, respectively. This was followed by the treatment of imidacloprid in different plots, causing a reduction of 48.04 per cent in first spray however 49.58 per cent in second spray. The present investigation shall be useful in monitoring the mite pest population by encouraging the predatory mites and devising the sustainable Integrated Pest Management strategies against emerging mite pests of summer vegetable crops.ennullThesis