Seasonal abundance of onion thrips (Thrips tabaci L.) during Rabi and Kharif season of onion under Punjab conditions

Abstract The present investigation entitled “Seasonal incidence of Thrips tabaci Lindeman (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) during Rabi and Kharif season of onion” conducted at Entomological Research Farm, Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana. The incidence of thrips commenced from last week of February and reaches at peak in 13th Standard Meterological Week during rabi season whereas in kharif season, it commenced in early September which gradually increased and reached to peak in 40th Standard Meterological Week. Thrips population gently increased in March and suddenly declined in April during rabi season. During kharif season, thrips population declined and completely disappeared in the 50th Standard Meterological Week. The positive effect of temperature, wind velocity, sunshine hours on thrips population was observed during rabi season whereas negative effect of wind velocity, sunshine hours on thrips population was recorded during kharif season. Relative humidity had shown negative correlation with thrips population.