Seasonal abundance of major sucking pests of cocoa

Monitoring of seasonal abundance of major sucking pests of cocoa was carried out by direct counting in the farmer's holdings at Sethumadai, Pollachi from October, 2014 to April, 2015. The highest number of aphids was recorded during tenth standard week (178 per top three leaves per tree) and the lowest number of aphids was recorded during forty-fifth standard week (99.2). Regarding mealybugs, the highest number of mealybugs was recorded during ninth standard week (361 per three pods per tree) and the lowest number of mealybugs was recorded during forty-fourth standard week (135.4). The highest number of tea mosquito bugs was recorded during forty-fourth standard week (12 per three pods per tree) and the lowest number of tea mosquito bugs was recorded during fifth standard week (0.8 per three pods per tree). Maximum temperature (T_max) was positively correlated with aphids population with the r value of 0.480 and was found to be statistically significant at 5% level. Whereas, minimum temperature (T_min) was found to be negatively correlated with the r value of -0.485 and was found to be statistically significant at 5% level. Regarding mealybugs, maximum temperature (T_max) was positively correlated with the abundance of mealybugs with the r value of 0.420 and was found to be statistically significant at 5% level. Whereas, minimum temperature (T_min) was found to be negatively correlated with the r value of -0.455 and was found to be statistically significant at 5% level. Relative humidity was positively correlated with the abundance of tea mosquito bugs with the r value of 0.539 and was found to be statistically significant at 5% level. Regarding abundance of the aphids and mealybugs temperature played a major role in the development, whereas, preferred stage of the host played a major role in population dynamics of tea mosquito bugs.