ESTABLISHMENT OF STRATEGY FOR MANGO HOPPER IDIOSCOPUS CLYPEALIS(LETHIERRY) MANAGEMENT AND IMPACT OF WEATHER FACTORS ON ITS POPULATION IN SOUTH PUNJAB PAKISTAN

Mango is an important, exportable fruit crop of Pakistan. Pakistan is occupying 6th position on the basis of mango production in almost 90 mango producing countries of the world. The mango hopper Idioscopusclypealis is a most destructive insect pest of mangoes in Pakistan. This pest may cause the economic loss to the mangoes due to due to its abundance and high population in dense traditionally managed mango orchards. Keeping in view the importance of the pest, a study was designed with an objective to determine comparative efficacy of four different insecticidal spray modules for effective control of mango hopper on cultivar SufaidChaunsa in the research orchards of Mango Research Institute, Multan during 2019-2021. Another objective was to determine the population dynamics of mango hopper and the effect of weather factors on the population of mango hopper. The infestation of the pest was examined by observing nymphs and adults in a single panicle/inflorescence (10-inch long) from each cardinal directions of the selected trees visually counted during the flowering season on weekly basis.  In module 1, Thiamethoxam (Actara 25 WG) was sprayed after the fruit harvest. In module 2, the insecticide Thiamethoxam (Actara 25WG) was sprayed after the fruit harvest, followed by second spray of Clothianidin (Trunk 20SC) only on tree trunks in the month of December. In module 3, first spray of thiamethoxam was done after fruit harvest, second spray of Clothianidin (Trunk 20SC) only on tree trunks in the month of December and a subsequent third spray of Spinetoram (Delegate 25 WG) was done on mango trees before flowering season in the month of January. The population of mango hopper was significantly lowest in module 3 and higher population of hopper was recorded in control.  Population dynamics studies revealed that mango hopper population reached at its peak in 2nd week of April during 2020 and 3rd week of March in 2021. The population of mango hopper was maximum during mango flowering period, while in the later months the population of mango hopper declined. The effect of weather factors on population abundance of mango hopper revealed that significantly positive correlation and regression was observed with relative humidity and wind while negative correlation was observed with increased temperature and rainfall.