Influence of Abiotic Factors on Population Dynamics of Major Insect Pests of Mulberry

During the sampling survey 11 species of sapsuckers, 15 species of leaf defoliators and 2 species each of borers, mites and termites belonging to different families were collected and incidence in different season was recorded. The peak incidence of sapsuckers was reported during the summer (February-May) and winter season (November-February) and some of the sapsuckers were present throughout the year. However, majority of the defoliators were active and causing severe damage during the rainy season (June-October). Highest pest incidence was caused by defoliating pest, Diaphania pulverulentalis (39.43%) during September followed by sap sucking pests such as Maconellicoccus hirsutes (32.12%) and Pseudodendrothrips mori (23.23%) during May. The correlation results revealed that the incidence of defoliating pests were significantly and negatively correlated with maximum temperature and positively correlated with maximum relative humidity. However, the incidence of important sapsuckers were significantly and positively correlated with maximum temperature and negatively correlated with maximum relative humidity.