Cabbage Butterfly, Pieris brassicae L.- An Upcoming Menace for Brassica Oilseed Crops in Northern India

摘要

The cabbage butterfly, Pieris brassicae L. (Lepidoptera: Pietidae) is so far known as serious pest of cabbage, cauliflower, knol-khol and other cruciferous plants, is now emerging as serious pest of Brassica oilseeds in eastern Utter Pradesh and otherparts of India. This has threatened the cultivation of these crops as this pest caused severe damage to the crop during rabi 2001-02. The occurrence of'this insect was observed in quite large area causing severe damage to Brassica campestris var. yellowsarson in the month of February 2002. Later on this insect shifted to late maturing B. carinata in the month of March 2002. In case of severe damage, plants got completely defoliated by caterpillars and became devoid of siliquae giving plants "bamboo-broom" look. Thus the occurrence of cabbage butterfly in Brassica oilseed crops has emerged as serious threat and hence deserves concerted research efforts.