~ 411 ~ Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies 2020; 8(1): 411-413 E-ISSN: 2320-7078 P-ISSN: 2349-6800 JEZS 2020; 8(1): 411-413 © 2020 JEZS Received: 28-11-2019 Accepted: 30-12-2019 Ajay Kumar Yadav M.Sc. (Ag.) Entomology, Department of Entomology, SKN College of Agriculture (Sri Karan Narendra Agriculture University), Jobner, Rajasthan, India Dr. Akhter Hussain Associate Professor, Department of Entomology, SKN College of Agriculture (Sri Karan Narendra Agriculture University), Jobner, Rajasthan, India Dr. SK Khinchi Assistant Professor, Department of Entomology, SKN College of Agriculture (Sri Karan Narendra Agriculture University), Jobner, Rajasthan, India Dr. BL Jat Professor, Department of Entomology, SKN College of Agriculture (Sri Karan Narendra Agriculture University), Jobner, Rajasthan, India Dr. KC Kumawat Professor & Head, Department of Entomology, SKN College of Agriculture (Sri Karan Narendra Agriculture University), Jobner, Rajasthan, India Corresponding Author: Dr. Akhter Hussain Associate Professor, Department of Entomology, SKN College of Agriculture (Sri Karan Narendra Agriculture University), Jobner, Rajasthan, India Seasonal incidence of sesame leaf and capsule borer, Antigastra catalaunalis (dup.) on sesame in relation to weather parameters Ajay Kumar Yadav, Dr. Akhter Hussain, Dr. SK Khinchi, Dr. BL Jat and Dr. KC Kumawat Abstract Investigations on seasonal incidence of sesame leaf and capsule borer, Antigastra catalaunalis (Dup.) on sesame was carried out at Agronomy farm of S.K.N. College of Agriculture, Jobner (Rajasthan). The incidence of leaf and capsule borer population was recorded in the 33 rd standard meteorological week (SMW) and initially, it was 6.40 larvae/ five plants. The population (7.00 larvae/ five plants) gradually increased and reached its peak in 35 th SMW and gradually declined thereafter and again increased (in the 39 th SMW 6.20 larvae/ five plants) and observed in traces thereafter. The population of this pest had significant negative correlation (r= -0.69) with maximum temperature, while, minimum temperature, relative humidity and rainfall had positive significant correlation (r= 0.85, 0.88 and 0.73), respectively. The leaf damage done by leaf and capsule borer was noticed in the 33 rd SMW. Maximum leaf damage of 17.51 per cent and capsule damage of 11.97 per cent by leaf and capsule borer was recorded in 35 th and 39 th SMW, respectively. The total damage caused by this pest was in the range of 7.80 – 17.51 per cent. The total damage (both capsule and leaf damage) caused by leaf and capsule borer had significant negative correlation with maximum temperature(r= -0.70), while, significant positive correlation with minimum temperature (r= 0.73) and relative humidity (r= 0.80). The rainfall showed non-significant correlation (r= 0.65) with the total damage caused by the leaf roller and capsule borer. Keywords: Seasonal incidence, sesame, Antigastra catalaunalis, weather parameters Introduction Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) known as the ‘queen of oil seeds’ is the oldest oilseed crop of world cultivated throughout India. Its seeds contain 52- 57 per cent oil and 25 per cent protein (Smith et al., 2000) [11] . The pests levied heavy toll in seed yield (25 to 90%). As many as 67 insect pests of different category are recorded damaging the sesame crop from germination to maturity. The crop is attacked by 29 species of insect pests in different stages of its plant growth (Biswas et al., 2001) [4] . The sesame leaf and capsule borer, Antigastra catalaunalis (Dup.) is the most important pest because this attacks the crop in all the growth stages after about two weeks of emergence in all sesame growing areas in India (Ahirwar et al., 2009) [1] and (Suliman et al., 2004) [12] . Newly hatched larvae feed the young leaves and shoot tips and at a later stage they roll the leaves together and feed inside. Thereafter feed on flowers, pods and seeds. This insect pest causes 10-70 per cent infestation of leaves, 34-62 per cent of flower buds/ flowers and 10-44 per cent infestation of capsules resulting in upto 72 per cent loss in yield (Ahirwar et al., 2010) [2] . One of the reasons for the low productivity of this crop in India is because of the infestation caused by the sesame leaf and capsule borer, A. catalaunalis which causes a heavy seed yield loss upto 90 per cent (Ahuja and Kalyan, 2002) [3] . Activity of A. catalaunalis is high during August to October. Suitable understanding of the population dynamics of leaf roller and capsule borer is important due to variation in the weather condition and changing pest status. Weather parameters play a vital role in population build up of insect pest. Correlation study helps in providing suitable know how either positive or negative association of pest population with abiotic factors. It gives direct influence of particular parameter on pest population build up as well as its indirect effect through other parameters. In the present study the efforts have been made to study the seasonal incidence, its correlation with weather parameters on population build up of sesame leaf roller and capsule borer. The study would give an idea about their peak period of insect activity which may be helpful in developing insect management strategy against them.