Seasonal incidence and effect of abiotic factors of sapota fruit borer, phycita erythrolophia hampson on sapota dhs-2 hybrid

Studies on seasonal incidence of sapota fruit borer, Phycita erythrolophia Hampson (Pyralidae: Lepidoptera) infesting sapota Manilkara achras (Mill.) Forsberg were carried out at sapota orchard of DHS-2 hybrid, KVK, Saidapur farm, Dharwad, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, Karnataka, India during 2013–2014. The fruit borer was active throughout the year with a varying degree of infestation. It was recorded from a minimum of 3.83 per cent (second fortnight of October) to maximum of 15.49 per cent (second fortnight of March). Pest incidence was more during dry period i.e. from November to April and less during rainy season (July to October). A study on correlation of fruit borer with weather parameters indicated that there was a significant and positive correlation between fruit borer damage and maximum temperature in DHS-2 hybrid. Rest of the weather factors viz., minimum temperature, relative humidity and rain fall had no influence on pest population during the period of study.