Studies on population dynamics of spotted pod borer revealed that the incidence of this pest commenced from the 2nd week of August and remained active up to the first week of October. The pest showed one peak of its population with 3.84 larvae per plant at the 4th week of August. Correlation studies indicated that larval population and per cent pod damage by spotted pod borer exhibited a significant negative correlation (r = −0.5540 and r = −0.5556 respectively) with minimum temperature. There was no effect of other abiotic factors on the pest population and pod damage.
Blackgram, Maruca testulalis (Geyer), Seasonal incidence
