OBSERVATION ON PUPAL PERIOD OF ENDAPHIS APHIDIMYZA (SHIVPUJE & RAODEV) (ZOOPHAGOUS CECIDOMYIIDS) DIPTERA : CECIDOMYIIDAE

Aphid sucks the vital nutrients of the plant sap from the different parts like lower surface of leaf, stem, tender branches, and inflorescence of the plant. This impairs the normal growth of the crop plants and thus reduces the crop production. The Midges (Endaphis aphidimyza) act on the Aphids and reduce their population and thus relieve the crop plants from the ill effects of aphids. This paper presents results of a study on the effects of seasonal factors on different
stages of the life cycle of Midges and their population. The climatic factors have been assessed on the aphid population. Statistical analysis has revealed that the partial regression coefficient of temp (x1 0C) and pupal period (y) has negative and significant effect i.e. (b1 = -0.295), on 10 change in temperature decreases this period by -0.295. Similarly humidity (x2) has positive but highly significant result (b2 =0.104). The resultant effect of rainfall (b3 = 0.025) though positive but
non-significant and the wind velocity adversely affects the pupal period (b4 = -0.00104). The total variation explained by all the independent variables x1, x2, x3 and x4 came out to be 71.2 per cent. Obviously, Zoophagous appears to be ecofriendly organism.