S.L. GATHALA AND N.K. BAJPAI

A field experiment was conducted during 2007 to evaluate the losses caused by red pumpkin in beetle, Raphidopalpa foveicollis (Lucas) on major cucurbitaceous crops. The insect caused heavy loss to summer, squash, pumpkin and ridge gourd leaves whereas it did not prefer bitter gourd. The insect pest also caused heavy loss to flowers of pumpkin crop while others were free from infestation. In summer squash the mean reduction in leaf damage over unprotected plants during first, second and third month was 26.89, 32.44 and 32.22 per cent respectively, whereas in pumpkin it was 40.47, 30.01 and 29.48 per cent. The reduction in beetle infestation in pumpkin flower was 37.60 and 52.66 per cent during second and third month respectively. The mean reduction in leaf damage over unprotected plants in ridge gourd was 26.11, 31.57 and 31.85 per cent respectively.