Influence of Weather Parameters on Population Dynamics of Citrus Butterfly and Citrus Leaf Miner
Yougendra Singh
*
Department of Entomology, College of Horticulture, Mandsaur (R.V.S.K.V.V., Gwalior), India.
S. B. Singh
Department of Entomology, College of Horticulture, Mandsaur (R.V.S.K.V.V., Gwalior), India.
Suman Suman
Department of Entomology, SKN College of Agriculture, SKNAU, Jobner, India.
Mahendra Choudhary
Department of Entomology, College of Horticulture, Mandsaur (R.V.S.K.V.V., Gwalior), India.
Ashish Yadav
Department of Entomology, College of Horticulture, Mandsaur (R.V.S.K.V.V., Gwalior), India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The present study was conducted to examine the seasonal occurrence of citrus butterfly and citrus leaf miner in relation to selected weather parameters under orchard conditions. Observations were recorded from December 2022 to April 2023 in an eight-year-old citrus orchard at the College of Horticulture, Mandsaur. Four plants from each of four orchard locations were selected for weekly observations. The citrus butterfly larval population was recorded from a 0.5 m² area in four directions of each plant and averaged. Leaf miner infestation was estimated from the total number of observed leaves and the number of infested leaves within the same sampling area. Weekly meteorological data, including maximum temperature, minimum temperature, relative humidity, rainfall and rainy days, were used for correlation and regression analysis. Citrus butterfly larvae first appeared during the 2nd Standard Meteorological Week, with a population of 0.10 larvae per site, and reached a peak of 2.75 larvae per site during the 13th Standard Meteorological Week. Maximum and minimum temperatures showed positive and highly significant correlations with butterfly larval population, while relative humidity showed a negative and highly significant association. Rainy days showed a positive significant relationship, whereas rainfall had a negative non-significant relationship. Leaf miner infestation was observed from the 50th Standard Meteorological Week, with 5.37% infestation, and reached its maximum level of 36.96% during the 11th Standard Meteorological Week. Maximum and minimum temperatures were positively and highly significantly correlated with leaf miner infestation, while relative humidity showed a negative and highly significant relationship. Rainfall and rainy days showed positive but non-significant associations with leaf miner infestation. The findings indicate that temperature and relative humidity were important weather factors associated with the seasonal abundance of both pests during the study period.
Keywords: Citrus, butterfly, leaf miner, seasonal incidence, meteorological parameters