Prevalence of Major Insect Pests and Predators of Pigeon Pea (Cajanus cajanL.) in Middle Gujarat

A survey was conducted on pigeon pea crop in Panchmahals district of Gujarat. A total of 3 talukas were surveyed to record major pigeon pea pests namely Spiny brown bug, Clavigralla gibbosa Spinola, Tur pod bug, Riptortus pedestris Fb., Green stink bug, Nezara viridula Linn., Aphids, Aphis craccivora Koch, Aphis fabae Scopoli, Cow bugs, Otinotus oneratus W., Oxyrachis tarandus F., Scale insect, Ceroplastodes cajani Maskell, Icerya purchasi Maskell, Mealybugs, Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley, Paracoccus marginatus W.& G., Coccidohystrix insolita Green, Leaf hoppers, Empoasca kerri Pruthi, Plume moth, Exelastis atomosa Walshingham, Pod borer, Helicoverpa armigera Hubner, Spotted pod borer, Maruca testulalis Geyer, Hairy caterpillars, Spilosoma obliqua Walker, Leaf webbers/folders, Grapholita critica Meyr., Blue butterfly, Lampides boeticus Linn., Blister beetles, Mylabris pustulata Thumberg, Ash/Grey weevil, Myllocerus undecimpustulatus Faust, Thrips, Megalurothrips usitatus Bagnall, Eriyophid mite, Aceria cajani Channa., Pod fly, Melanogromyza obtusa Malloch, and Termite, Odontotermes spp., Out of these pests, 9 insect species each were observed as regular and sporadic pests whereas other 2 as major and 5 as minor pests respectively. Total number of 25 insect pests species and 8 species of predators were recorded on pigeon pea crop during the period of study. The predators recorded mainly belonged to orders Coleoptera, Hymenoptera, Dictyoptera, Araneida and Neuroptera.