Archives of Current Research International

The seasonal incidence of major insect pests and their natural enemies in lentil was studied during the 2025-26 Rabi season at the Entomology Research Farm, Rafi Ahmed Kidwai College of Agriculture, Sehore, Madhya Pradesh. Lentil variety L-9-12 was grown without pesticide application, and insect populations were recorded weekly together with meteorological parameters. Aphid, Aphis craccivora, appeared in the 2nd standard meteorological week (SMW) and remained present until the 13th SMW, with a peak population of 8.20 aphids per 10 cm apical twig per plant in the 7th SMW. Pod borer, Etiella zinckenella, was first recorded in the 4th SMW and reached a peak of 0.8 larva per plant in the 10th SMW. Ladybird beetles appeared in the 3rd SMW and reached 1.2 beetles per plant in the 8th SMW, while green lacewing was first recorded in the 4th SMW. Aphid population was significantly negatively correlated with maximum temperature (r = -0.71) and significantly positively correlated with relative humidity (r = 0.58). Pod borer showed significant positive correlations with maximum and minimum temperatures (r = 0.63 and 0.67) and a significant negative correlation with relative humidity (r = -0.69). Green lacewing was significantly negatively correlated with maximum temperature (r = -0.63). Ladybird beetle and green lacewing populations were significantly positively correlated with aphid population (r = 0.59 and 0.80, respectively). These observations describe the seasonal occurrence of the principal pest and natural-enemy populations under the recorded local weather conditions.