Seasonal Activity ofCampoletis chlorideae in Chickpea Ecosystem of Northern Orissa

The seasonal activity of Campoletis chlorideae Uchida was studied at Keonjhar, Orissa during 1989–90. The density dependence of the parasitoid was assesed through the model K = a N^b. On an average, 1.0 to 21.0% larvae oiHelicoverpa armigera Hb. were parasitized, and the fourth-instar larvae were most frequently killed by this parasitoid. Irrespective of the host larval density, activity of C. chlorideae peaked during the 5th standard week (January 29-Febuarary 04). Correlations between the weather parameters and parasitoid abundance indicated that C. chlorideae was active in warm (27.5°C-29.6°C) and dry (56.0–62.9% RH) periods in February. Relationship between larval density of//, armigera and K-value (killing power of the parasitoid) revealed that the parasitization was not density dependent.