Incidence of Insect Pests and Its Natural Enemies of Cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata) in Relation to Weather Parameters under Field Conditions

Abstract

The study was carried out in the field at the Horticultural Polyhouse, College of Agriculture, Rajendranagar, during the rabi season of 2022–2023. In the field, aphid infestation peaked in the last week of November (48th SMW), while lepidopteran pests (tobacco caterpillar, DBM, and leaf webber) peaked in January (3rd, 2nd, and 1st SMW, respectively). Coccinellids, syrphids, and spiders had average populations of 0.80, 0.21, and 0.03 correspondingly. Aphids were shown to have a non-significant link with weather factors, showing negative correlations with maximum temperature, sunshine, wind, and rainfall and positive correlations with minimum temperature and RH I & II. While leaf webber and DBM showed a non-significant negative connection with sunshine and wind speed, they displayed a non-significant positive correlation with maximum temperature, RH I & II, and rainfall. Additionally, they showed a strong inverse relationship with evaporation. The maximum and minimum temperatures were shown to have a non-significantly positive connection with tobacco caterpillar and semilooper.