BIOLOGY, PEST STATUS AND MANAGEMENT OF JACK FRUIT BORER, Diaphania caesalis (Walker)

Abstract

Experiments were conducted in the farmers orchard of Gazipur district and in the laboratory and Fruit Farm of Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute, Gazipur during January, 2005 to August, 2005 to study biology, pest status and management of jackfruit borer, Diaphania caesalis Walker From the study it was found that a female moth laid on an average 31 29 eggs and the incubation period was 4 5 days The larval period, pupal period and the adult longevity were on an average 12 01 days, 6.83 days, and 4 67 days respectively The highest fruit infestation was recorded in Joydebpur (30 64%) and the lowest was in Sreepur (21.28%). In Joydebpur, farmers were the most conscious (95 5%) about the attact of jackfruit borer and the least in Kapasia (48 4 %) In view of farmers observation and experience; Joydebpur farmers had the highest fruit infestation (53 78%) and the lowest in Sreepur (28 96%) At 15 days after fruit setting (DAFS) the fruit infestation was the lowest while the infestation reached its peak at 60 DAFS at all locations. Fruit infestation level declined gradually from 60 DAFS to 120 DAFS Among the different control measures evaluated against jackfruit borer; the lowest infestation was obtained from bagging treatment (3 18%) followed by neem oil spray (3 94%)and there was no significant difference was observed between bagging and neem oil treatments.