Bionomics And Management Of Fruit Borer Infesting Pomegranate

Pomegranate (Punica granatum Linnaeus) is an ancient favourite table fruit of tropical and sub tropical regions of world. It belongs to family punicaceae which includes only one genus and two species. Pomegranate is native to Iran, where it was first cultivated around 2000 BC and spread to the Mediterranean countries. It is extensively cultivated in Spain, Morocco, Egypt, Iran, Afghanistan, Arabia, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and China. Cultivation of high yielding varieties of pomegranate with intensive care and management in the recent past under irrigated condition with early stage exploitation of plant has lead to certain severe insect pest's problems. There are 45 species of insect pests attacked to pomegranate trees. Different insect pests have been recorded to attack on pomegranate in India viz., Fruit borer, bark eating caterpillars, stem boring beetles, leaf defoliators, termites, whitefly, mealy bug and fruitfly. Among them, V. isocrates is serious pest of pomegranate having a wide host ranges including, apple, ber, citrus, guava, pear, aonla etc. It is most obnoxious pest of pomegranate. This pest was reported to cause 40-90 per cent damage to pomegranate fruits.