Outbreak of Katra, Amsacta moorei pest in the Rajasthan desert

Outbreak of Katra, Amsacta moorei pest in the Rajasthan desert

1979

REP.MB-2568

A serious outbreak of Amsacta moorei occurred in the desert region of Rajasthan, India in 1977. Pearl millet, sesame, cluster bean, moth bean and mungbean were severely damaged. The density of A. moorei on various crops was assessed at 4 ecologically different places. The occurrence of the pest was the highest at Nagaur, where the soils are heavy. The infestation of larvae was maximum on mungbean and moth bean, and minimum on pearl millet at all 4 sites. This unusal outbreak of the pest was ascribed to an earlier onset of the monsoon, which caused wetting of soils during the hottest period of the year. This assisted adult emergence and provided ample of food in the form of weeds. A concomitant increase in reproductive activity must also have existed. [THH]

v.18(1/2):140-141, ANNALS OF ARID ZONE

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