Insect Pest Population Fluctuation on Early Season Cauliflower Crop under Haryana Agroclimatic Conditions

In order to evolve and design integrated pest management practices information on pest complex and their population fluctuation is pre-requisite and must. Hence, an attempt was made during 1992 at Hansi (District Hisar, Haryana) to know the actual picture of insect pest complex and their population fluctuation on early season cauliflower crop. A total of 7 insect pest species were found at different stages of crop growth. Of these Plulella xylostella (L.) and Spodoptera litura (Fab.) were found as the major insect pests. Rest insect pests viz. Plusia orichalcea (Fab.), Bagrada cruciferarum (Kirk.), Chromatomyia horticola (Gour.), Crocidolomia binotalis Zeller and Hellula undalis (Fab.) were found in low number. Diamond back moth was found throughout the crop season, however, its incidence was highest on 3rd Sept. (104 caterpillars/10 plants). The maximum population of S. litura was found on 24th Sept. (757 caterpillars/1 Oplants). It was found that the intensive cultivation of cole crops and cauliflower in particular made diamond back moth more serious during the early season crop under Haryana agroclimatic conditions.