M. PAZHANISAMY*, S. SATHYA, V. SATHYASEELAN, M. SENTHILKUMAR AND K. ARCHUNAN
Department of Entomology, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar-608 002 (Tamil Nadu), India
*(e-mail : mpsamy2911@gmail.com; Mobile : 9750488284)
(Received : September 30, 2019; Accepted : November 20, 2019)
ABSTRACT
Field experiment was carried out in farmers field at Vadagurpettai, Anamalai Nagar, Chidambaram during kharif and rabi 2017. The results of experiments revealed that trap catches of Spodoptera litura reached
peak on 9th MSW (Meteorological Standard Week) in rabi season and 43rd MSW in kharif season. The correlation matrix between the weather factors and trap catches of S. litura during rabi 2017 revealed that a positive correlation exerted with minimum temperature (r = 0.792), relative humidity (r = 0.186), wind speed (r = 0.092) and rainfall (r = 0.710), whereas negative correlation was recorded with maximum temperature (r= – 0.136). Minimum temperature (r = 0.687), wind speed (r = 0.028) and rainfall (r=0.012) were positively correlated with trap catches during kharif 2017, while maximum temperature (r= -0.128) and relative humidity (r= – 0.815) exerted negative influence on trap catches. This could help in devising effective strategies against S. litura and prevent the infestation of blackgram or related economically important agriculture.
Key words : Trap catches, S. litura, weather parameters, correlation, regression analysis