Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

STUDIES ON THE DAMAGE IN THE ORANGE CROP AND POPULA- TION DENSITY OF FRUIT SUCKING MOTHSIN THE VIDARBHA REGION OF MAHARASHTRA (INDIA)

A.S. Mohite, S.P. Umarkar and J.S. Shinde

Abstract

A survey has been conducted in two districts of Vidarbha in order to study the damage caused by fruit sucking moths to citrus orchards and their population density during a season of ambia bahar of years 1985 and 1986. The rate of fruit dropping differs from orchards to orchards and from place to place. The maximum fruit dropping was recorded during September and October. Range of percent fruit dropping was between 6.51 ± 0.46 and 10.58 ± 0.87. Population of fruit sucking moth increases in the month of August to November. Three major species of the fruit-sucking moths in Viclarbha region were Othreis matenia, 0 threis Monica and 0 threis an cilia. Among these species, Othreis materna constitutes 81.91% of the total population density of the moths.