Population dynamics of thrips, whiteflies and their natural enemies on mustard (Brassica campestris L.) Crop in different localities of Sindh, Pakistan
Tajwar Sultana Syed, Muhmmad Siddique Khanzada, Shagufta Rani Khanzada, Ghulam Husssain Abro, Muhammad Salman, Muhammad Sarwar, Sajjad Hassan Dayo, Sajjad Anwar, Wang Su
Present studies were conducted on population dynamics of sucking insect pests; thrips, Thrips tabaci and whitefly Bemesia tabaci, and their predator, Geocoris spp., on Mustard crop Brassica compestris L. Results showed that weekly mean population per leaf of thrips, whitefly and their predator, Geocoris varied with different dates and phenology of mustard localities. Initially, population of thrips and whitefly were very low (3.69±0.45, 1.00+0.25) in 3rd week of December 2010, and highest recorded (100.62+0.51, 24.77+0.89) in 3rd week of March, respectively. Correspondingly, predator Geocoris remained maximum (15.33+0.31) in 3rd week of February and minimum (4.50+0.25) in 1st week of January at Tando Allahyar. The present results demonstrated that mean population of thrips and whitefly at Tandojam fields was maximum (129.46±0.84, 40.85+0.90) in 3rd week of March and minimum (4.92+0.55, 2.69+0.21) in 3rd week of December, respectively. Predator’s Geocoris population was minimum (5.00+0.32) in 3rd week of December at initial stages and reached at peak (10.50+0.31) in 3rd week of March. Temperature and humidity varied during different dates and time, and played an important role in increasing thrips, whitefly and Geocoris population.
Tajwar Sultana Syed, Muhmmad Siddique Khanzada, Shagufta Rani Khanzada, Ghulam Husssain Abro, Muhammad Salman, Muhammad Sarwar, Sajjad Hassan Dayo, Sajjad Anwar, Wang Su. Population dynamics of thrips, whiteflies and their natural enemies on mustard (Brassica campestris L.) Crop in different localities of Sindh, Pakistan. J Entomol Zool Stud 2016;4(1):07-16.