Seasonal Abundance of Major Insect Pests and Natural Enemies of Coriander and Their Relationship to Biotic and Abiotic Factors

The experiment on seasonal abundance of Major Insect Pests and natural enemies of Coriander and their relationship with biotic and abiotic factors was conducted at Agronomy Farm, S.K.N. College of Agriculture, Jobner during Rabi, 2021-22 and 2022-23. The aphid, Hyadaphis coriandri and seed midge, Systole albipennis have been recorded as major insect pests of coriander crops. The infestation of H. coriandri and S. albipennis commenced in the second and the last week of January, during both years, respectively. The population of H. coriandri and S. albipennis peaked in the fourth week of February and the third week of March, during both years, respectively. The H. coriandri population had a significant positive correlation (r=0.65) with maximum temperature during Rabi, 2022-23, whereas non- significant correlation with minimum temperature, average relative humidity and the total rainfall during both the years. Seed damaged by S. albipennis showed a significant correlation with maximum temperature (r= 0.99 & r= 0.71) and minimum temperature (r= 0.98 & r= 0.95), whereas non-significant correlation with total rainfall during Rabi, 2021-22 and 2022-23, respectively. The population of C. septempunctata and M. sexmaculatus had showed a significant positive correlation with coriander aphid, H. coriandri and non-significant correlation with S. albipennis during both the years.