Light trap studies of Heliothis virescens (Fabricius) and Etiella zinckenella (Treitschke) in pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan Millsp.) fields

Abstract

Light trap studies on population abundance of Heliothis virescens and Etiella zinckenella on different stages (bloom and pod formation) of pigeon pea were conducted during the growing seasons of 1984, 1985 and 1986. Cultivars Kaki and 2B-Bushy were used. Heliothis virescens was more abundant than E. zinckenella. Both species were detected at the bloom stage, but H. virescens predominated at the bloom and pod formation stage, indicating an early infestation. At the dry pod stage, adults of E. zinckenella were noticeable when the pods approached maturity (full pod stage) reaching a peak number during the dry pod stage. Both pod borers were more abundant at the harvest period (green pods). It is suggested that overlapping generations of both species and their life cycles are synchronous with the phenology of the crop.