Intercropping Influence of aromatic plants and okra on the population fluctuations of earias insulana and Helicvorpia armigera (Lepidoptera : Noctuidae)‎ a well as the role of intercropping on predator population and okra yield

Abstract EN

This study was conducted at El-Riad region, Kafr El- Sheikh Governorate during two successive growing seasons (2017 and 2018) to investigate the role of intercropping of okra and aromatic plants on the infestation with Earias insulana (Boisduval), Helicvorpia armigera (Hübner) (Lepidoptera :Noctuidae) and the associated predators and okra yield.

The aromatic plants were catnip, spearmint, lemongrass, rosemary and lemon balm plants.

Results showed that intercropping reduced the infestation percentage with E.

insulana , H.

armigera, especially in case of rosemary + okra, catnip + okra, respectively and increased the associated numbers of predators especially in lemon balm+ okra.

Results exhibited that lemon balm intercropping with okra was highest attractive for Coccinella sp.

(Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) and Nesidiocoris tenuis (Reuter) (Heteroptera: Miridae).

Intercropping between spearmint and okra was highest attractive to Chrysoperla carnea Stephens (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae), as so catnip plants intercropping with okra plants was more attractive to Paederus alfierii Koch (Coleoptera:Staphylinidae) and Scymnus spp.

(Coleoptera: Coccinellidae).

The highest abundance of true spiders was found on okra plants intercropped with lemongrass, followed by okra with catnip.

The highest okra yield was obtained when okra was intercropped with lemon balm.