1College of PG Studies in Agricultural Sciences, CAU (Imphal), Umiam793103, Meghalaya, India
2Department of Entomology, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat785013, Assam, India
3KVK, Andro, Imphal East, Central Agricultural University (Imphal), Manipur795149, India
College of Horticulture, CAU (Imphal), Thenzawl796186, Mizoram, India
*Email: rojeetthangjam@gmail.com (corresponding author)
A field experiment was carried out at the Horticultural Orchard, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat during rabi (2014-15 and 2015-16) to investigate on arthropod diversity of king chilli. Altogether 110 species were found to be associated, of which 19 species were identified as pests, 63 as natural enemies and 27 species as casual visitors. Among the insect pests recorded, Aphis gossypii, Myzus persicae, Bemisia tabaci, Bactrocera latifrons, Scirtothrips dorsalis and Polyphagotarsonemus latus were major pests and B. latifrons being reported for the first time causing fruit rot. The relative abundance of pests was higher (54.84%) in 2015-16 compared to 45.16% during 2014-15. Among the natural enemies, 50 species were predators and 13 species were parasitoids, with most of them being reported for the first time in king chilli. The relative abundance of predators was maximum during 2015-16 (56.41%) compared to 2014-15 (43.59%) and among the parasitoids, hymenopterans exhibited maximum relative abundance (88.89% each). During the study, 27 species of insects were observed as causal visitors and their relative abundance was 46.67 and 53.33% during 2014-15 and 2015-16, respectively.
King chilli, Assam, Diversity, Arthropod, Pests, Natural enemies, Rabi, Hymenoptera, Diptera, Relative abundance, Species diversity, Parasitoids, Predators, New records
