STUDIES ON SUCCESSION AND POPULATION DYNAMICS OF MAJOR INSECT PESTS OF SESAME Chetan M. Bondre 1* , A.K. Pandey 2 and Moni Thomas 2 1 Department of Entomology, Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Gwalior 474002 2 Department of Entomology, Jawaharlal Nehru Agricultural University, Jabalpur. 482004 E-mail : cmbnewlife@gmail.com ABSTRACT The present investigation entitled, “studies on succession and population dynamics of major Insect Pests of sesame” was carried out in the experimental field of all India Coordinated Research project on Sesame and Niger at Breeder seed production of Groundnut field, Jawaharlal Neharu Krishi Vishwa vidyalaya, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh during kharif season Variety Variety TKG 22 was sown in an area of 200 m 2 with normal agronomical practices during kharif – rabi seasons. Weekly observations on different insect pests were recorded on 10 randomly selected plants starting from germination till their availability or maturity of the crop. No insecticides were applied on the crop. Leaf roller and capsule borer (Antigastra catalaunalis Duponchel), Bihar hairy caterpillar (Spilarctia obliqua Walker), jassids (Orosius albicinctus Distance), til hawk moth (Acherontia styx Westwood), whitefly (Bemisia tabaci Genadius), Gall fly (Asphondylia sesami Felt.) were recorded to be infesting the sesame crop. The peak activity of leaf roller and capsule borer was recorded during 3rd week of October, and peak activity of jassid was recorded during 1st week of October, and the peak activity of til hawk moth and whitefly were recorded during 2nd week of October, Bihar hairy caterpillar and gall fly were recorded during 2nd week of November. Mean population of larvae of leaf roller and capsule borer (2.65), mean population of larvae of Bihar hairy caterpillar (3.21) and mean population of nymph and adult of jassid (1.80) were recorded at higher level and considered as key pests of sesame. Correlation of meteorological parameters i.e maximum and minimum temperature, relative humidity, vapour pressure, evaporation etc. with the population of insect pests viz. whitefly, jassid, gall gly, til leaf roller and til hawk moth were found significant. Correlation between meteorological parameters with Bihar hairy caterpillars population was found non-significant. Key words : Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.), succession and population dynamics Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) is an important oil seed kharif season crop under rain-fed situation. The productivity of sesame in India is very low (421 kg/ha) and fluctuating. The yield fluctuations are very wide. One of the major constraints in the production of sesame is the colossal damage caused by various insect pests. Earlier, twenty nine insect species were reported to damage the crop but recently the scenario has greatly changed and new pest problems have emerged. When all the components are placed into the production system monitoring is required to obtain information on the status of the plant growth, pests and the current and potential damage along with natural enemies. Therefore, present investigation was planned with the objective to study the succession and population dynamics of major insect pests of sesame. MATERIALS AND METHODS The present investigation entitled, “studies on succession and population dynamics of major Insect Pests of sesame” was carried out in the experimental field of all India Coordinated Research project on Sesame and Niger at Breeder seed production of Groundnut field, Jawaharlal Neharu Krishi Vishwa vidyalaya, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh during kharif season Variety Variety TKG 22 was sown in an area of 200 m 2 with normal agronomical practices during kharif – rabi seasons. Weekly observations on different insect pests were recorded on 10 randomly selected plants starting from germination till their availability or maturity of the crop. No insecticides were applied on the crop. For whitefly and jassid - observations were recorded by counting number of whitefly and jassid with the help of insect cage. The insect cage was developed in such a way that measures length 23cm, breadth 23cm and height 1m. The insect cage was placed over 10 randomly selected plants individually and the population of pests on glass were counted. For Til leaf roller and capsule borer, Til hawk moth, Bihar hairy caterpillar - number of larvae were recorded by counting of larvae/plant on ten randomly selected plants. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Leaf roller and capsule borer (Antigastra catalaunalis Duponchel), Bihar hairy caterpillar (Spilarctia obliqua Walker), jassids (Orosius albicinctus Distance), til hawk moth (Acherontia styx Westwood), whitefly (Bemisia tabaci Genadius), Gall fly (Asphondylia sesami Felt.) were recorded to be infesting the sesame crop. The peak activity of leaf roller and capsule borer was recorded during 3rd week of September and remained till the maturity of the crop peaked larval population (2.3 larvae/ plant) was recorded during 3rd week of October when the Progressive Research – An International Journal Society for Scientific Development Print ISSN : 0973-6417, Online ISSN : 2454-6003 in Agriculture and Technology Volume 11 (Special-VIII) : 5249-5251 (2016) Meerut (U.P.) INDIA