ARTHROPOD NATURAL ENEMIES OF HELICOVERPA-ARMIGERA (HUBNER) (LEPIDOPTERA, NOCTUIDAE) IN INDIA

Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is one of the m ost serious insect pests in the Old World. In India, it causes substan tial losses to legume, fibre, cereal oilseed and vegetable crops. This paper reviews the literature on the biology, ecology, efficacy, reari ng and augmentation of endemic parasitoids and predators, as well as e xotic parasitoids introduced and released in India. It also provides u pdated lists of H. armigera natural enemies native to India. In additi on, reports of augmentative releases of Trichogramma spp., the most ex tensively studied natural enemy of H. armigera are summarized.