Seasonal incidence of sugarbeet pests and natural enemies

The seasonal incidence of sugarbeet pests and natural enemies were assessed in Coimbatore during 2006–2007 and the predominant pests were Spoladea recurvalis (F.). Spodoptera litura (F.) and Tetranychus urticae Koch. S. recurvalis incidence was noticed from August 2006 to February 2007 and the maximum larval population was observed during the second fortnight of October 2006. Peak incidence of S. litura occurred during the first fortnight of November (3.9 larvae/3 leaves/plant). T. urticae incidence was noticed on late stage (100 days old) sugarbeet during December to March with a peak population of 48.90 mites per 3 sq.cm. during first fortnight of January. Highest natural parasitization of S. recurvalis by Eurytoma tanjorensis Narendran, Elasmus brevicornis Gahan, Schoenlandella hymeniae (Fischer and Parshad) and Trathala sp. was 37.00 6.33, 0.67 and 0.67% respectively.