INVESTIGATING THE PERFORMANCE OF DIFFERENT MECHANICAL TRAPS FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF RED PUMPKIN BEETLE (AULACOPHORA FOVEICOLLIS LUCAS) IN INDIAN SNAP MELON

Red pumpkin beetle is serious pest of cucurbits that cause damage upto 35-75% at seedlingstage. Experiments were carried out during 2011 in Square #09 area, Institute of Horticultural Sciences, University of Agriculture Faisalabad. Three mechanical control measures viz., yellow sticky traps, pit fall traps, light traps and one control treatment were laid out according to RCBD with three replication for the beetle s management. Faisalabad landrace of Indian snap melon was used as host plant. Minimum population of red pumpkin beetle (5.82 insects/ plant) and percentage leaf infestation (13.06%) was recorded in yellow sticky traps treated plots. Maximum population (6.78 insects/plant) and percentage leaf infestation (14.56%) was recorded in control plots. Maximum population reduction percentage (14.15 %) and percentage leaf infestation (10.30%) reduction percentage was recorded in plots treated with yellow sticky traps. Minimum population reduction percentage (1.32%) and leaf infestation reduction percentage (0.41%) was observed in light traps treated plots. Conclusively, yellow sticky straps were found to be the best control measure for the reduction of percentage leaf infestation of red pumpkin beetle and number of beetles per plant.