POTENTIAL OF CAMPOLETIS CHLORIDEAE UCHIDA IN THE NATURAL CONTROL OF HELICOVERPA ARMIGERA (HUBNER) INFESTING VARIOUS CROPS AT LUDHIANA (PUNJAB)

Field collected 377 Helicoverpa armigera (Hiibner) larvae from the chickpea, Egyptian clover, sunflower and tomato crops from January 1998 to May 1999, in and around Ludhiana District (Punjab state) were analysed symptomatically (retarded growth, decreased feeding, tendency to remain at the bottom of the rearing containers and sluggishness) for detecting any incipient parasitisation during laboratory rearing. The Campoletis chlorideaeUchida was the only parasitoid detected, causing 20.9±2.9, 24.9±1.8, 20.0 and 25.9 per cent natural mortality of H. armigera larvae brought from chickpea, Egyptian clover, sunflower and tomato crops, respectively. Mean natural parasitism varied between 22.3±3.7 per cent during 1998 and 22.9±2.4 per cent during 1999 irrespective of fields visited in different agro-ecosystems. Being an important parasitoid, the C. chlorideae needs conservation for exploiting its potential in the four crops studied.