Role Played by Campoietis chlorideae uchida in Natural Mortality of Hejicoverpa armigera (Hubner) on Chickpea in Punjab

Studies were conducted to assess tbe role of natural mortality factors in Helicoverpa annigera (Hubner) on chickpea in Punjab. The larval parasitoid Campoletis chlorideae Uchida bas been recorded as the most important mortality factor. Parasitism due to C. chlorideae ranged from 0.98 to 68.50 per cent throughout the crop season. The maximum parasitism was recorded during 3rd week of February, 1999 when the minimum mean temperatures and relative humidity were 11.9°C and 95 per cent, respectively. As C.chlorideae helps in suppressing tbe pest population both at vegetative and flowering! pod formation stage or the crop, it suggests that the conservation of C. chlorideae in chickpea is important.