International Journal of Entomology Research

Authors
Deen Mohd Bhat

Abstract
The Cole crops like cabbage, cauliflower, knolkhol, kale and turnip are widely cultivated and consumed as vegetables in J&K state and Danderkhah location in this region is well known for the cultivation of these crops. The present investigation was undertaken in order to study the incidence and diversity of major lepidopterous insect pests and their potential parasitoids (natural enemies) on Cole crops at Danderkhah Study site. Two plots (50X 50 m) of Cole crop at this site were selected and fortnightly field survey was conducted in the year 2016-17. As many as 16 lepidopterous insect pest species, belonging to 5 insect families and 12 Insect genera, were recorded on Cole crops during present study, among which, Thysanoplusia orichalcea, Pieris brassicae, Pieris rapae, Plutella xylostella, Agrotis ipsilon and Helicoverpa armigera were the abundant ones. The other detailed studies with special reference to seasonal incidence and diversity, pertaining to these lepidopterous pests were conducted. Moreover, during this study, as many as 16 parasitoid species were found parasitizing the lepidopterous pests on Cole cops. The data collected during this investigation can be helpful in future studies for devising the pest management strategies, especially against afore-mentioned pests in this region.