Record of insect pests and their natural enemies on little millet in Bilaspur district of Chhattisgarh

Introduction

Little millet is scientifically known as Panicum sumatrense (Roth. ex. Roem. & Schult.). It is a cereal crop that belongs to the grass family Poaceae. The term "millet" is used to refer to several types of small-seeded annual grasses. It is an important indigenous crop in the Indian subcontinent. The year 2023 is celebrated globally as the "International Year of Millets" to create health and nutritional awareness about millets to eventually promote their consumption and production. (Yadav et al., 2024) [16] . In India, it is grown in Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra, which are main small millet growing states in the u. s. a. Small millets are a group of crops or minor coarse cereals, viz., little millet (Panicum sumatrense R.), kodo millet (Paspalum scrobiculatum L.), foxtail millet (Setaria italica L.), barnyard millet (Echniochola frumentaceae link.) and proso millet (Panicum miliaceum L.), Millets are more often than not grown in low-rainfall regions resist long dry spells and get better rapid after deficit rains with negligible for low input conditions (Sukanya et al., 2023) [13] . Little millet known as unique nearby names in distinct kingdom and language like kutki in Hindi and koshra in Chhattisgarhi, equal/Savi in kannad, Sammulla in Telugu, Chama in Malyalam and Samai in Tamil and so forth. It matures very early in 70-75 days it serves as a really perfect capture crop for multiple and relay cropping machine (Sathish et al.,2017) [11] .every one hundred g little millet grain includes 65.5 g carbohydrate, 10.1 g protein, 3.89 g fat, 346 Kcal strength, 7.7 g dietary fibre, 16.1 mg calcium, 130 mg phosphorus, 91 mg magnesium, 1.eight mg zinc, 1.2 mg iron, 0.26 mg thiamine, 0.05 mg riboflavin, 1.3 mg niacin and 362μg folic acid (Venkatesh Bhat et al., 2018) [14] . The entire manufacturing of millets in the global is 98 million tonnes, with sorghum contributing 63%, observed via pearl millet with a contribution of 24%. Kodo millet, little millet, and barnyard millet are exclusively grown in India with a production of 1-three million tonnes (NAAS, 2022) [8] . India is the most important grower (with 19% contribution) and producer (20% manufacturing) of millets within the global. The percentage of India in Asia stands at 85% in Area and 80% in production (FAOSTAT, 2023) [2] . Little millet is currently grown at some point of India in approximately a million hectares. In India, little millet cultivated in a place of 291thousand hectares with annual manufacturing of 102 thousand tones and productiveness of 349 kg per hectare which is very less in comparison to different cereal vegetation (Katara et al., 2019) [5] . Chhattisgarh has 5.88 million hectares of cultivable land. Rice is the essential crop of the vicinity. In 2006, Chhattisgarh occupied 248.five thousand hectares of land (which is 21.18% of India's 1173.5 thousand ha) underneath small millets with overall manufacturing of fifty two.1 thousand lots (that is simplest 10.22% of overall national manufacturing of 509.8 thousand tons) and yield of 210 kg/ha in opposition to national productivity of 434 kg/ha (Sahu and Sharma, 2018) [10] . World wide, at the least 150 insect species are recorded as feeding on millets (Nwanze and Harris, 1992) [9] . In India, nearly 32 in line with cent of the crop is lost because of insect pests (Borad and mittal, 1983) [1] . In millets, shoot flies, ear head insects, aphids, and grasshoppers are taken into consideration serious pests (Kalaisekar et al., 2017) [4] .

Materials and Methods

The experiment was carried out at Instructional Farm of BTC CARS, Bilaspur, a constituent college of Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Raipur (Chhattisgarh). The Little millet variety, CGkutki-1 were sown in the plot size of 10 m × 10 m (L×W) with planting distance of 20 cm × 10 cm duringKharif 2023 with following all improved recommended package of practices for raising the crop under unprotected conditions. To record the observations of insect pests damaging and visiting the crop along with their natural enemies, 10 plants were randomly selected and the observations were recorded at weekly intervals from germination to harvesting of the crop.

Results and Discussion

A. Insect pests observed on little millet crop (Table 1, 3&Fig 1) 1. Grasshopper, Hieroglyphus banian(Orthoptera:

Acrididae) The grasshopper, Hieroglyphus banian appeared on little millets during 34 th standard meteorological week (SMW) i.e. 20 th -26 th August (3 rd week) with a mean leaf damage of 2.33% at vegetative growth stage of crop. The leaf damage due to the pest gradually increased and reached to its peak in the 3 rd week of September (38 th SMW) with a mean leaf damage of 29.85%. Then, the damage per cent gradually declined and attained 15.38% during 42 nd SMW i.e. 15 th October at maturity cum harvest stage of the crop (Plate-1).The present finding is in conformity with Kumar et al. (2023) [6] who also reported that grasshopper infestation was initiated in little millet during the second week of August (33rd SMW) with 3.84 per cent affected leaf. During the study period pest incidence was ranged from 2.35 to 4.22 per cent. The highest grasshopper incidence was recorded in 40 th SMW with 4.22 per cent leaf infestation.

Aphid, Hysteroneura sp. (Hemiptera: Aphididae)

The aphid appeared on little millet during 35 th standard meteorological week (SMW) i.e. 27 th August-2 nd September (4 th week) with a mean population of 0.80 aphids/plant at vegetative stage of crop. The population build up gradually and reached to its peak in the 2 nd week of September (37 th SMW) with a mean population of 6.90 aphids/plant. Then, the population gradually declined and reached to its minimum levels of 1.70 aphids/plant during 42 nd SMW i.e. 15 th October at maturity cum harvest stage of the crop (Plate-2).Similarly, present finding is in accordance with the findings of Starks et al. (1982) [12] who also reported that both nymphs and adult aphids (Rhopalosiphum maidis Fitch), shoot bugs (Peregrinus maidis Ashm.), plant bugs (Aspavia armigera T., Callidea spp.) and chinch bugs (Blissus leucopterus Say) suck the sap from young leaves and the whorl which causes distortion, yellowing and wilting of pearl millet plants leading to shriveled chaffy grains.

Army worm, Mythimna separata (Noctuidae:

Lepidoptera) The army worm appeared on little millets during 34 th standard meteorological week (SMW) i.e. 20 th August-26 th August (3 rd week) with a mean population of 0.30 larvae /plant at vegetative stage of crop. The population build up gradually and reached to its peak in the 4 th week of September (39 th SMW) with a mean population of 0.60 larvae /plant. Then, the population gradually declined and reached to its minimum levels of 0.10 larvae /plant during 42 nd SMW i.e. 15 th October at maturity cum harvest stage of the crop (Plate-3).Present finding is in accordance with the findings of (Gahukar, 1984) [3] who also reported that Mythmina separata Walker, Spodoptera litura (Fab.) (Noctuidae: Lepidoptera), Caterpillars are defoliators of ragi, maize, bajra and sorghum.

White spotted flea beetle, Monolepta signata

(Chrysomelidae: Coleoptera) The white spotted flea beetle appeared on little millets during 33 th standard meteorological week (SMW) i.e. 13 th August-19 th August (2 nd week) with a mean population of 0.20 beetles /plant at vegetative stage of crop. The population build up gradually increased and reached to its peak in the 3 rd week of September (38 th SMW) with a mean population of 0.60 beetles /plant. Then, the population gradually declined and reached to its minimum levels of 0.10 beetles/plant during 41 th SMW i.e. 14 th October at maturity cum harvest stage of the crop (Plate-4).Earlier findings of Kumar et al. (2020) [7] revealed that Monolepta signata was found active throughout the cropping seasonof black gram. Incidence of white spotted leaf beetle was commenced from 16 th standard meteorological week (SMW) i.e., 18 th April' 18 with a mean population of 0.72 grubs and adults/plant. The highest mean population of white spotted leaf beetle (4.32 grubs and adult/plant) was observed during first week of May, 22nd SMW (2nd May' 18).

Painted bug, Bagrada hilaris (Pentatomidae:

Hemiptera) The painted bug first appeared on little millets during 34 th standard meteorological week (SMW) i.e. 20 th -26 th August (3 nd week) with a mean population of 0.10 bug /plant at vegetative stage of crop. The population build up gradually and reached to its peak in the 2 nd week of September (37 th SMW) with a mean population of 0.40 bug /plant. Then, the population gradually declined and reached to its minimum levels of 0.10 bug/plant during 42 nd SMW i.e. 15 th October at maturity cum harvest stage of the crop (Plate-5). The present finding is in conformity with Wali et al. (2022) [15] who also studies on pearl millet revealed the serious infestation of Bagrada hilaris from vegetative to reproductive stage of the crop.

Earhead bug, Calocoris angustatus Lethiery

(Alydidae: Hemiptera) The earhead bug appeared on little millets during 36 th standard meteorological week (SMW) i.e. 3 rd -9 th September (1 st week) with a mean population of 0.30 bug /plant at panicle stage of crop. The population build up gradually and reached to its peak in the first week of October (40 th SMW) with a mean population of 1.40 bug /plant. Then, the population gradually declined and reached to its minimum levels of 1.10 ear head bug/plant during 42 nd SMW i.e. 15 th October at maturity cum harvest stage of the crop (Plate-6).The present finding is in conformity with Kumar et al. (2023) [6] who also reported that the mean population of earhead bug was first appeared during September and active up to October month. The population of bug ranged from 0.33 to 0.89. The highest population of the pest (0.89 bug/plant) was observed in 42 nd SMW of October month.

B. Natural enemies of insect pests in little millet crop (Table 2, 4& Fig 2) 1. Lady bird beetle, Coccinella transversalis Fab. (Coccinellidae: Coleoptera)

The lady bird beetle appeared on little millets during 33 rd standard meteorological week (SMW) i.e. 13 th -19 th August (2 nd week) with a mean population of 0.10 beetle/plant at vegetative stage of crop. The population build up gradually and reached to its peak in the second week of September (37 th SMW) with a mean population of 1.00 beetle/plant. Then, the population gradually declined reached to its minimum levels of 0.20 beetle/plant during 42 nd SMW i.e. 15 th -21 st October at maturity cum harvest stage of the crop (Plate-7).

Dragonfly, Orthetrum sabina (Libellulidae: Odonata)

The dragon fly appeared on little millets during 32 nd standard meteorological week (SMW) i.e. 6 th -12 th August (1 st week) with a mean population of 0.10 fly/plant at vegetative stage of crop. The population build up gradually and reached to its peak in the first week of September (36 th SMW) with a mean population of 0.70 fly/plant. Then, the population gradually declined and reached to its minimum levels of 0.20 fly/plant during 42 nd SMW i.e. 15 th -21 st October at maturity cum harvest stage of the crop (Plate-8).

Lynx spider, Oxyopes sp. (Oxyopidae: Araneae)

The spiders appeared on little millets during 33 rd standard meteorological week (SMW) i.e. 13 th -19 th August (2 nd week) with a mean population of 0.10 spider/plant at vegetative stage of crop. The population of spider build up gradually and reached to its peak in the second week of September (37 th SMW) with a mean population of 0.60 spider/plant. Then, the population gradually declined and reached to its minimum levels of 0.10 spider/plant during 42 nd SMW i.e. 15 th -21 st October at maturity cum harvest stage of the crop (Plate-9).

4.

Damselfly, Agriocnemis lacteola Selys (Coenagrionoidae: Odonata) The damselfly appeared on little millets during 34 rd standard meteorological week (SMW) i.e. 20 th -26 th August (3 rd week) with a mean population of 0.10 fly/plant at vegetative stage of crop. The population build up gradually and reached to its peak in the second week of September (37 th SMW) with a mean population of 0.40 fly/plant. Then, the population gradually declined and reached to its minimum levels of 0.10 fly/plant during 42 nd SMW i.e. 15 th -21 st October at maturity cum harvest stage of the crop (Plate-10).

Milkweed assassin bug, Agriocnemis lacteola (Reduviidae: Hemiptera)

The milkweed assassin bug appeared on little millets during 34 rd standard meteorological week (SMW) i.e. 20 th -26 th August (3 rd week) with a mean population of 0.10 bug/plant at vegetative stage of crop. The population build up gradually and reached to its peak in the first week of September (36 th SMW) with a mean population of 0.40 bug/plant. Then, the population gradually declined and reached to its minimum levels of 0.10 bug/plant during 42 nd SMW i.e. 15 th -21 st October at maturity cum harvest stage of the crop (Plate-11).

Robber fly, Holocephala sp. (Asilidae: Diptera)

The robber fly appeared on little millets during 34 rd standard meteorological week (SMW) i.e. 20 th -26 th August (3 rd week) with a mean population of 0.10 fly/plant at vegetative stage of crop. The population build up gradually and reached to its peak in the second week of September (37 th SMW) with a mean population of 0.30 fly/plant. Then, the population gradually declined and reached to its minimum levels of 0.20 fly/plant during 40 th SMW i.e. 1 st -7 st October at maturity cum harvest stage of the crop (Plate-12).

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