Incidence of castor capsule borer, Dichocrocis punctiferalis guenee

Higher activity of the pest was observed from first week of November to second week of January, with a peak level (20.04) on third week of November. The per cent capsule damage showed highly significant positive association with bright sunshine hours (r = 0.393**), whereas evaporation (r = -0.433**), rainfall (r = -0.358**), wind speed (r = -0.635**), temperature [minimum (r = 0.414**) and mean (r = -0.360**)] and vapour pressure [morning (r = -0.421**), evening (r = -0.374**) and mean (r = -0.400**)] exhibited highly significant negative correlation with D. punctiferalis incidence on castor.