Seasonal incidence and natural enemies of Helicoverpa Armigera (Hübner) on wheat

The polyphagous and noxious insect pest i.e. Helicoverpa armigera occurs and cause damage to its nonpreferred wheat crop also. The preliminary studies under field conditions with surveys of localities at Pantnagar, Uttarakhand revealed very less frequency of H. armigera on wheat, which began in the first week of March and declined in last week of April in the rabi seasons 2014–15 and 2015–16. The seasonal incidence on different varieties of wheat and chickpea clearly showed that the wheat varieties were not preferred its larvae (0.35 to 0.75 larvae/10 plants) in comparison to its preferred host chickpea (7.69 larvae/10 plants). A total of 7 natural enemies and two microbial agents had been observed on H. armigera in wheat.