"Incidence and Characterization of Insect Pest Damage on the Tropical Fruit Plant Ziziphus jujuba Mill. In Maharashtra, India

An extensive field survey was conducted to assess the seasonal incidence and ecological relationship of insect pests associated with Ber (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.) plantations in the Solapur district of Maharashtra. The survey covered all 11 tehsils of the district, with four distinct Ber plantation sites selected in each tehsil. The study was carried out over a period of three years, from January 2022 to December 2024. Observations were primarily recorded during the rainy and winter seasons, which coincide with the fruiting phase of the crop. A total of 23 insect pest species were documented as being associated with Ber in the study area. Among these, six species were identified as major pests due to their significant impact on the crop, while the remaining 17 were categorized as minor pests. The present investigation highlights the diversity of insect pests infesting Ziziphus jujuba in the Solapur region and provides detailed insights into the nature and extent of damage caused by these pests.