Journal of Entomological Research

Amongst pest complex of about eight species of insects-pests at Pantnagar, U.P., the mustard aphid, Lipaphis erysimi Kalt. has been found to occur continuously in a sizeable population causing a noticeable damage from flowering to maturity stage of the crop, while mustard sawfly, Athalia lugens proxima Klug. and flea beetle, Phyllotreta cruciferae Goeze occurred during seedling stage and painted bug, Bagrada cruciferarum damaged the crop during seedling to maturity stage at a low level of population causing negligible damage. Sporadic occurrence with low population of cabbage aphid, Brevicoryne brassicae, green peach aphid, Myzus persicae and mustard leaf miner, Chromatomyia horticola have been found only on B. carinata. Among them, Myzus persicae was found at vegetative stage whereas Brevicoryne brassicae and Chromatomyia horticola were found at flowering stage. Cabbage butterfly, Pieris brassicae and diamond back moth, Plutella xylostella were found in irregular occurrence with low abundance. The status of all eight insect-pests on Brassica species was observed as minor with irregular occurrence while L. erysimi as a regular key pest.