Saroja J.
Abstract
Sesame leaf webber, Antigastra catalaunalis Duponchel (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) is a pest of serious concern for the cultivation of sesame. It is a regular pest and accountable for the considerable loss. Systematic study concerning the seasonal abundance of the sesame leaf webber and other pests was attempted here. The data on the seasonal abundance of the sesame pest were observed from seedling to maturity stage, and continued upto maturity of the crop. Though a continuous raising of the crop throughout the year was done, March to August was found to be favorable for most of the pests. But the dominant one is Antigastra catalunalis. Among the different stages of the crop, early stage upto 45 DAS was preferred to most by Antigastra catalunalis.