Seasonal Incidence of Mealy Bug and there Natural Enemy on Custard Apple

The effect of temperature, relative humidity and rainfall on population development of various stages of mealy bug on custard apple under field condition was studied during August 2014 to December, 2014. The incidence of mealy bug was observed in orchard in September 2014 (37^th SMW) and then gradually increases up to the month of November (i.e. 45^th meteorological week) and after that it decreases. The mealy bug population recorded highest (105.32 mealy bug per fruit) in the 45^th meteorological week when maximum and minimum temperature, morning and evening relative humidity were 33.6^oC and 18.3^oC, 65.6 and 30.4 per cent, respectively. The non-significant correlation between mealy bug on custard apple and various weather parameters studied clearly indicates that once the population of mealy bug started increasing climatic factors hardly played role in the development during the Kharif 2014 season. The population of natural enemies started increasing 45^th SMW onwards and that resulted in reduction of mealy bug population on custard apple.