Survey on Major Insect Pests of Ginger and Their Natural Enemies in Shiva mogga District

Abstract

A roving survey was undertaken during 2024–25 in major ginger growing areas  of Shivamogga district, viz., Beeranakere and Ayanuru (Shivamogga taluk),  Taralaghatta and Saluru (Shikaripura taluk), Baluru and Arasalu (Hosanagara taluk),  Kolgunisi and Anavatti (Soraba taluk), and Iruvakki and Hosakoppa (Sagara taluk),  to record the occurrence of insect pests and their natural enemies in the ginger  ecosystem. The results revealed that the shoot borer, Conogethes punctiferalis, was  the predominant and most destructive pest with incidence ranging from 3.19 to 5.70  per cent, highest in Taralaghatta village. Other pests recorded included leaf roller  (Udaspes sp.), thrips (Panchaetothrips sp.), rhizome fly (Mimegralla coeruleifrons),  leaf beetles (Altica cyanea, Monolepta signata), weevils (Myllocerus sp.), and leaf  eating caterpillars (Spilarctia obliqua, Spodoptera litura), with varied levels of  infestation across locations and varieties. Among the ginger varieties, Rio-de-Janeiro  was more susceptible to shoot borer and leaf roller, while Himachal showed higher  incidence of thrips, rhizome fly, leaf beetles, weevils, and leaf eating caterpillars.  Natural enemies recorded during the survey included coccinellids (Cheilomenes  sexmaculata, Coccinella transversalis, Anegleis cardoni), spiders (Araneus sp.,  Neoscona sp., Pardosa sp.), and green lacewings (Chrysoperla sp.). Coccinellids  were most abundant in Taralaghatta, while spiders were highest in Taralaghatta and  Saluru, and green lacewings in Iruvakki. The survey thus highlighted the prevalence  of C. punctiferalis as the major pest of ginger in Shivamogga, along with a complex  of secondary pests and their associated natural enemies.