Deen Mohd Bhat1#, Ajaz A. Qureshi2 and R. C. Bhagat2

1Department of Zoology, Govt. Degree College for women, M. A. Road Srinagar, Kashmir-190006 (India) : din_ento@yahoo.co.in 2Department of Zoology, University of Kashmir, Hazratbal, Srinagar, J&K -190006 (India) 1#Department of Zoology, Govt. Degree College for women, M. A. Road Srinagar, Kashmir-190006 (India): din_ento@yahoo.co.in 9906956033

ABSTRACT

The cabbage large white butter fly, Pieris brassicae L. (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) is one the major insect pests of cruciferous vegetable crops in Kashmir causing considerable damage to the host crops. A field survey was carried out from 2006-2007 in different areas of Kashmir to explore tachinid fly parasitoids of this pest in the Brassica agro-ecosystem. The field and laboratory investigation revealed that the larvae of P. brassicae were found to be parasitized by 2 tachinid flies, viz., Exorista larvarum L. and Compsilura cocinnata Meign (Diptera: Tachinidae). The parasitism was observed on various crops such as Brassica oleracea var. campestris, B. o. var. gongylodes, B. o. var. capitata and B. o. var. acephala and Raphanus sativus. However, the overall percentages of the parasitism was recorded to be quite low in the range of 0-1.9% in 2006 and 0-1.4% in 2007 in case of E. larvarum and 0-2.7% in 2006 and 0-2.1% in 2007 in case of C. cocinnata respectively. These parasitoids are being reported for the first time on P. brassicae from Kashmir region.

Key words : Tachinidae, parasitoid, Pieris brassicae, Exorista, Brassica, Kashmir.

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