Incidence and Host Preference of Brinjal Hadda Beetle Epilachna vigintioctopunctata (Fabricius) (Coccinellidae: Coleoptera) on Different Solanaceous Weed Hosts

Spotted beetle, Epilachna vigintioctopunctata (Fabricius) (Coccinellidae: Coleoptera) is one of the major defoliators of eggplant leading to heavy economic yield loss. Due to its multiple host range pests occurred throughout the year. In order to know the alternate hosts of hadda beetle field survey, field susceptibility evaluation and laboratory host preference of studies conducted to find out preference on different solanaceous hosts during the year 2017-2018. During survey E. vigintioctipunctata recorded on different solanaceous weed hosts viz., Datura metal, Solanum xanthocarpum, Physalis angulata, Solanum nigrum, Solanum torvum and Solanum trilobatum. Survey resulted that high population occurred on weed host during off-season than the crop seasons. The feeding damage and highest population of hadda beetles were recorded in the field was P. angulata (7.94) followed by S. nigrum (2.86), D. metal (1.03), S.trilobatum (1.00) and the lowest population recorded on S. xanthocarpum (0.27) under field condition. The higher laboratory feeding preference of hadda beetle in free choice test recorded on P. angulata (0.45) followed by S. nigrum (0.25), D. metal (0.21), S.trilobatum (0.16) and the lowest leaf area consumption recorded on S. xanthocarpum (0.27). In oviposition and orientation assay also P. angulata recorded as most preferred crop and least preferred was S. xanthocarpum.