Life table and economic threshold concept for ecologically sustainable management of Diacrisia casignetum Kollar (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae) on Jute

Abstract

Life table and economic threshold (ET) level of Diacrisia casignetum Kollar on jute was calculated in West Bengal condition during 2016-2018 for environmentally benign management and better production of jute. The demographic data of D. casignetum always construct type-III survivorship curve like most of the insects. Potential fecundity (Pf) and total fertility rate (Fx) were 384.667±5.487 and 30893.60±1063.586, respectively. The average intrinsic rate of natural increase (rm) and the daily finite rate of increase (ë) were 0.106±0.001 and 1.111±0.003 respectively with the generation time (Tc) of 41.520±0.069 and doubling time (DT) of 6.563±0.021 days. Their mean population momentum factor of increase (PMF) was 19.676±0.605 including vital index (VI) and trend index (TI) of 0.522±0.003 and 92.359±2.648, respectively with different levels of significance. The economic injury level (EIL) and ET based on percent yield loss of jute were 7.119±2.166 and 6.385±1.969 pests per plant, respectively. At single pest observation per plant, the possible time taken to reach EIL (Ti) and ET (Tt) were 6.377±3.292 and 5.377±3.292 days, respectively which will be useful for better cultivation of jute and other subsequent crops.