Seasonal incidence of major insect pests of okra in relation to weather parameters

The investigations were carried out to study seasonal incidence of major insect pests of okra and their correlation with weather parameters. Incidence of aphids, Aphis gossypii, jassids, Amarasca biguttula biguttula, whiteflies, Bemisia tabaci, mites, Tetranychus urticae and mealy bugs, Phenacoccus solenopsis were ranged from 4.1 to 56.2, 0.8 to 36.25, 1.6 to 6.6, 0.15 to 1.25, 0.1 to 0.45 per three leaves per week, respectively. The larval population of fruit borer Helicoverpa armigera, semilooper Xanthodes graellsii and shoot and fruit borer Earias vittella were to the extent of 0.05 to 1.85, 0.05 to 0.65 and 0.25 to 2.25 larvae per plant per week respectively. Shoot damage and fruit damage was ranged between 0.1 to 9.8 and 6.9 to 14.9% respectively. The weather parameters such as maximum temperature, minimum temperature, morning RH, evening RH, rainfall, bright sun shine, wind speed, evaporation played important role in abundance of above pests. The natural enemies’ ladybird beetle, Green lacewing, predatory spider and syrphid fly were commonly observed in throughout season when there was more incidence of sucking pests.