Comparative parasitisation of Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) [Lepidoptera: Noctuidae] by Campoletis chlorideae Uchida [Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae] on some chickpea Varieties

Abstract

Chickpea varieties, commonly recommended for cultivation in Rajasthan, were screened for their preference by the pod borer, Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner), under natural infestation and the parasitisation efficacy of the larval parasitoid, Campoletis chlorideae Uchida. The variety Pratap Chana was most preferred by the pod borer, as it harboured the maximum numbers of eggs (15.85), larvae (19.05) and damaged pods (41.44); whereas, variety GNG 1581 was least preferred for egg laying (4.79); GNG 663 had lowest larval population (5.50); and RSG 888 had lowest numbers of damaged pods (4.19). The larval parasitoid, C. chlorideae was active from 15thDecember, 2014 to 26th January, 2015; but, the maximum parasitisation varied on different varieties. The observed abundance of the parasitoid, C. chlorideae was significantly more (10.47 per 4-m row) on chickpea variety Pratap Chana, while observed parasitisation (34.84%) was more on variety GNG 663. The coefficient of correlation between pod borer and its parasitoid was significant (r = +0.83) only for chickpea variety GNG 1581. The prevailing abiotic factors of the environment did not evince any significant effect on the population of pod borer and its larval parasitoid.