Biodiversity of insect pests of safflower and their natural enemies in Maharashtra

In safflower ecosystem, total of 33 species of insects, pests and natural enemies were recorded comprising 2 major, 2 moderate, 8 minor insect pests, 2 non-insect pests, 8 parasitoids, 2 insect predators, 4 microbes and 5 predatory birds. Majority of the insect pests belonged to Hemiptera, Diptera and Lepidoptera whereas Hymenoptera and Diptera comprised most of the parasitoids. Both predators viz., Coccinella spp. and Chrysoperla spp. respectively belonged to order Coleoptera and Neuroptera. Among the insect pests aphid (Uroleucon compositae Theobald), gujhia weevil (Tanymecus indicus Faust) and capsule bore (Heliothis spp.) were predominant. Among natural enemies Coccinella spp., Chrysoperla spp. and Endaphis aphidimyza on Uroleucon compositae and Trichogramma chilonis and Campoletis chloridae on Heliothis armigera were observed.