Effect of Weather Parameters on Incidence of Bark-eating Caterpillar and Bagworm Moth Infesting Citrus Plants

Aims: To correlate population of bark-eating caterpillar and bagworm with the meteorological parameters, i.e., the maximum & minimum temperature, relative humidity, rainfall and rainy days. Study design: Four plants in each of the four orchard locations were chosen for the weekly recording of the insect pest population. Four directions of pest population were seen in each plant with an area of 0.5 square meters. Place and Duration of Study: Study was conducted at College of Horticulture in Mandsaur, R.V.S.K.V.V., Gwalior (M.P.) from December 2022 to April 2023. Methodology: The observations on population of caterpillars that consume bark was counted and averaged based on the quantity of holes that are actively growing in each selected plant. Citrus bagworm population was measured from a 0.5 square meter area, averaging four directions per plant. Basic correlations were calculated between the mean values of bark-eating caterpillars and bagworms on a periodic basis and several abiotic characteristics. Results: Bark-eating caterpillar appearance started from 51st SMW (1.70/plant) and the peak population (4.08/plant) was observed in 10th SMW. The maximum temperature (0.340*) exhibited positively significant correlation with population of bark-eating caterpillar. First appearance of bagworm larval population was noted from 50th SMW (1.00 case/plant) and the peak population was observed in 8th SMW (3.62 case/plant). Relative humidity (0.354*) showed positively significant correlation with the bagworm population. Conclusion: The maximum temperature (0.340*) and relative humidity (0.354*) showed positively significant correlation with the bark-eating caterpillar and bagworm infestation, respectively.