Preference of lesser date moth (Batrachedra amydraula Meyr) – A Case study at Date Palm Research Institute of Shah Abdul Latif University, Khairpur

Abstract

The smaller date moth, B.amydraula is a very serious insect pest of date palm fruits. The Lesser date moth B.amydraula attacked on new developing fruits and causes more than 75% losses to date palm. Therefore, the study on varietal preference of lesser date moth on different date palm varieties. The initial population recorded in the second week of April on different date palm varieties i.e., Aseel, Karblai, Kupro, Heman and Gajar was 3.33±1.76, 2.33±1.45, 0.33±0.33, 0.0 and 0.33±0.33 B. amydraula per plant, respectively. Afterwards, population showed a rapid increase in various treatments that gradually showed decreasing trend towards the maturity of the crop. Thus, the highest mean population in an observation was recorded on Aseel variety (27.33±2.33 per plant) on 29^th June 2020. Moreover, the maximum population on Kupro, Gajar, Karblai and, Heman varieties was recorded as 6.67±0.88, 6.67±2.33, 6.33±2.40 and 5.33±1.45 per plant, respectively. Overall, results indicated that maximum and minimum population of B. amydraula was recorded on Asel (7.470± 1.488 per plant) and Heman (1.076 ± 0.313 per plant) varieties, whereas the population recorded on Kupro, Gajar and Karblai varieties were 1.379 ± 0.334 per plant, 1.257±0.360 and 1.666±0.390 per plant. The all-weather parameters i.e., maximum, and minimum, temperature, relative humidity and wind velocity indicated that their effect on the infestation of Lesser date moth B. amydraula on different date palm varieties during the entire duration of study. According to results, the data indicated that negative effect of minimum temperature (r = 0.9851; P < 0.001) and highly significant impact of maximum temperature (r = 0.0010; P < 0.001) and wind velocity (r = 0.0864; P < 0.001) was recorded positive effect on infestation. The Aseel variety of date palm showed susceptible whereas Heman showed comparatively resistance against lesser date moth B. Amydraula respectively.