ALTERNATE HOST PLANT OF PINK BOLLWORM: LADY FINGER (Hibiscus esculentus L.) A POTENTIAL HOST PLANT FOR CARRY-OVER OF PINK BOLLWORM Pectinophora gossypiella (SAUNDERS) (GELECHIIDAE: LEPIDOPTERA)

Background: Pink bollworm is one of the major threats among the insect pest complex of cotton crop in Pakistan. But due to this pest cotton crop is going to be eliminated in coming years because of heavy infestation of pink bollworm. The pink bollworm (PBW) has been considered as monophagous pest. There were some unusual observations recorded from field which deserved the attention, PBW was observed on lady finger (Hibiscus esculentus) and further studies pointed out that it can be a potential source for carryover of this notorious pest. Cultivated okra has prime importance in Pakistan as vegetable. In current experiment the okra field which was kept for seed production were selected and plucked the one hundred mature pods. The pods were brought to hot and cool chamber and cut longitudinally. Results of study revealed that zero percent rosette flowers were found throughout cropping season. Similarly no larval population was recorded from immature lady finger pods. From matured pods 0.92 larvae per fruit were recorded. In seed bulk, 2.04 numbers of doubled seed per kg with live larvae was noted. Conclusion: So the presence of PBW in mature pods and in seed bulk of lady finger is an extra ordinary observation that authors thought, these information should be shared while framing any IPM strategy in view for successful results otherwise, the efforts may go waste for this important loop hole in the carryover of this notorious pest. The occurrence of PBW on any other potential host is possibly first to be reported from Pakistan.