POPULATION TRENDS OF APHIS GOSSYPII GLOVER (HOMOPETRA : APHIDIDAE) ON BRINJAL IN RELATION TO CLIMATIC FACTORS AND ACTIVITY OF PREDATORS

摘要

The population trends of Aphis gossypii Glover were studied for two consecutive cropping seasons (2005 & 2006) on brinjal, Solanum melongma L. var, Pusa Purple Long. The study revealed that the infestation of this aphid started from the first week ofMarch and extended up to last week of June in both the cropping seasons. The peak population of the aphid was recorded during May with maximum abundance of 216.45 and 197.46 aphids /sampling unit during 2005 & 2006, respectively. The aphid was associatedwith eight species of aphidophagus predators such as coccinellids, syrphids and occasionally hemerobiids. Increased in aphid density coincided with increases in density and diversity of predators. No parasitoides were found to be associated with this aphid. The co-efficient of correlations in numerical abundance of A gossypii on brinjal were determined with climatic factors and predators.