ABSTRACT
The seasonal incidence of borer, Earias species and their predator on okra were studied at an experimental farm of College of
Agriculture, Bikaner Rajasthan. The commencement of shoot borer on okra was observed in the 2nd and 3rd week of August
during 2013 and 2014 respectively. The shoot borer reached its peak in the 3rd and 5th week of September during 2013 and
2014, respectively. The infestation of shoot borer disappeared from shoots during 3rd and 4th week of October during 2013 and
2014, respectively. The correlation between shoot borer infestation and maximum, minimum temperature and relative humidity
showed non-significant effect in both the years. The fruit damage commenced in the 34th SMW (fourth week of August) and
reached peak both number and weight basis in third week of November during both the years of study. The correlation of
borer on fruits based on number basis exhibited a negative and significant effect with maximum temperature (r= -0.76) minimum
temperature (r= -0.92) and mean relative humidity (r= -0.56) during 2013. The infestation of fruit borer based on number basis
showed quite similar trend of correlation during 2014, which was significant negative with maximum temperature (r= -0.81),
minimum temperature (r= -0.77) and mean relative humidity (r= -0.70). A negative significant correlation were observed between
maximum temperature (r= -0.76), minimum temperature (r= -0.93) and mean relative humidity (r= -0.57) during 2013 on weight
basis. Similar observations were recorded during 2014 i.e., maximum, minimum temperature and mean relative humidity showed
negative significant correlation with fruit damage on weight basis (r=-0.81, r=-0.79 and r=-0.70 respectively). The population
of predator, Coccinella spp. started in the first week of August and reached to its maximum in the fourth week of September
during 2013 and 2014. The populations of Chrysoperla commenced in 33rd and 32nd SMW during 2013 and 2014 respectively
and reached peak in the fourth week of September during both the years. The nonliving factors i.e., abiotic factors did not
affect the predator in present investigation during 2013 and 2014 except the rainfall exhibited (r= -0.61) negative significant
effect on Chrysoperla population during 2013.
Keywords: Okra, seasonal incidence, shoot and fruit borer and predator