Path Analysis of Weather Parameters with Teak Defoliator (<I>Hyblaeapuera</I> Cramer) in Uttara Kannada District of Karnataka

Abstract

Teak defoliator (Hyblaea puera Cramer) is the most devastating insect pest on Teak which causes heavy defoliation in its larval stage. The outbreak of this moth is noticed during June to September. A light trap was installed in Teak plantation to study the effect of various weather parameters. The path analysis of five associated weather parameters indicated that, on the outbreak of moth rainfall had positive direct effect on emergence of male and female moth during 2003-04 and 2004-05 (0.7079 r= 0.7920; 0.7308 r= 0.7904 and 0.4608 r= 0.4342; 0.5555 r= 0.5018, respectively). Indirectly relative humidity in the evening through rainfall influences the outbreak of male moth (0.1947 r= 0.4549) and through maximum temperature it influences emergence of female moth (0.2110 r= 0.4175) during 2003-04. Similarly, relative humidity in the morning through relative humidity in the evening influences the outbreak of male and female moth (0.8190 r= 0.1402; 0.7988 r= 0.1688, respectively) during 2004-05.