SEASONAL ABUNDANCE OF PHYLLOCNISTIS CITRELLA (LEPIDOPTERA: GRACILLARIIDAE) ON MANDARIN (SPINDALES: RUTACEAE) GROVES IN PAKISTAN

Abstract

Citrus crop is attacked by one of the major insect pests known as citrus leaf miner (CLM), Phyllocnistis citrella stainton that caused extensive damage in both nurseries and orchards in Pakistan. Population density of P. citrella was monitored in Citrus reticulata (Blanco orchards for 2 years by scouting weekly for larval-induced mines on the leaf surface. Current study was conducted at Department of Entomology, University of Sargodha during 2014 and 2015 to check seasonal abudance of Phyllocnistis citrella (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae) on mandarin (Spindales: Rutaceae) Groves in Pakistan. The results showed that there was no significant difference of P. Citrella incidence in different tehsils of Sargodha. The significantly higher population of P. citrella was observed in September during both study years. While in January to March the P. Citrella populations were observed minimum. The overall, density of P. citrella was greater during 2015 (65%) compared to 2014 (61%). The abiotic factors such as temperature showed significantly positive correlation with an infestation of P. citrella, however, humidity did not show any significant effect on P. citrella infestation during both years. As seen from the results, the P. citrella infestation was more pronounced in September during both years.