Article HistoryThe date palm, Phoenix dactylifera is one of the main cash crops of Sindh particularly of upper Sindh, district Khairpur. It is main source of nutrients such as; carbohydrates, vitamins etc. It is cultivated on 100,000 acres only in district Khairpur with total production of 293,000 tons, this production is much less as compared to other countries main cause of this low yield is the attack of date palm weevil. About, 3 species of insect pests have been recorded in Pakistan. The feeding behavior of RPW on three verities of date palm, Aseel, Fasly and Karbalian showed that Aseel was most susceptible, weekly observation showed that the given stem piece of Aseel was completely eaten from inside by RPW, while the stem piece of two other varieties partially damaged. Present study revealed that (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus) weevils fed voraciously on Aseel in comparison to two other varieties those have eaten 7.58 mean % of given stem of Aseel while 6.54 of Fasly and 7.06 of Karbalian. Thus, the present study indicated that feeding behavior takes an important role towards control strategy due to lack knowledge of feeding behavior it is imperative to manage this pest.Contribution/Originality: This study uses new estimation methodology of biological parameters b/c this study is one of very few studies which have been investigated from the region, Khairpur, Sindh -Pakistan on this vigorous pest of date palm orchards which would be helpful to manage the pest.
Article HistoryThe field study was conducted on at the experimental field of SALU -Khairpur during, 2016. Two hundred eggs were kept for each replication on cotton plants grown in large pots. When eggs hatched, the life table parameters such as; apparent mortality, survival fraction, mortality survivor ratio, indispensable mortality and k-value were studied. Natural enemies such as; Chrysoperla carneae, lady bird beetles, Spiders and Anasius bambawallae were found active on the potted and surrounding cotton plants in the field conditions. The total mortality in egg stage went to 19.00%. The mortality percentages of 1 st instars due to natural enemies recorded was (18.73%) while, in 2 nd instars (13.13%) mortality was recorded. The total combined mortality in 1 st and 2 nd instars was recorded (26.34%) and (15.64%), respectively. However, the mortality of 3 rd instars and pupae due to parasitoids were recorded (7.28%) with the total mortality (10.26%) and the total mortality (54.83%) in cotton potted plants was recorded. Consequently, (45.17%) of adults survived with male and female ratio as ♂1:6.52♀, respectively. The highest apparent mortality was (26.34%), indispensable mortality (96.89) and k-value (0.13) recorded in 1 st instar. The maximum survival fraction was recorded (0.90) in third instars/pupae with the total k-value generations (0.35). The study revealed that the predators and parasitoids should be encouraged in cotton field when mealybugs appear, because predators are highly voracious feeder of 1 st and 2 nd instars whereas; the parasitoid, A. bambawallae is known as main controlling natural enemy of cotton mealybug.Contribution/ Originality: This study documents over the biological parameters of cotton mealybug to check its, egg laying, mortality, survivor ratio, total life span, fecundity, fertility, different life stages, predators activity and aboitic factors with the different equations about this vigorous pest under cotton field conditions.
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