Studies on Pulse Beetle Activity in Association with Weather Parameters on Arhar at Annamalainagar, Cuddalore District, South India

Abstract

The most serious and devastating insect pest the pulse beetle, Callosobruchus maculatus, causes huge damage to stored legume grains both in field and storage. Weekly samples of pigeon pea pods during December 2017 to March 2018 at Annamalainagar, Cuddalore, showed the emergence of pulse beetle (Callosobruchus maculatus)  during eight weeks from mid January to mid March. This incidence period coincided with maximum and minimum temperature ranges of 30.1⁰C - 35.6⁰C and 18.5⁰C -23.0⁰C respectively, besides forenoon relative humidity range of 79-88%. More extensive sampling studies to establish a weather-linked prediction model are suggested.