Asian Journal of Current Research

The population dynamics and seasonal fluctuations of major insect pests is crucial for the development of effective, timely, and sustainable pest management strategies. Equally important is the role of natural enemies, including predators and parasitoids, which contribute significantly to the natural suppression and regulation of pest populations within agroecosystems. The conservation and enhancement of these beneficial organisms are therefore essential components of integrated pest management programmes aimed at maintaining ecological balance and reducing reliance on chemical pesticides. The present investigation was conducted to study the population trends of major pests of chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) and their predators during Kharif 2020–21 and 2021–22 at Agriculture Research Station, Achalpur, Dr. PDKV, Akola. The chilli variety PDKV Hirkani was grown under field conditions following recommended agronomic practices without plant protection measures. Pest populations of aphid, thrips, whitefly, mites and fruit borer along with predators (ladybird beetles, chrysopids and spiders) were recorded at weekly intervals on randomly selected plants. The results revealed that aphid, thrips, mites and whitefly incidence began during the 32^nd–33^rd meteorological weeks, while mite and fruit borer activity started slightly later. Peak populations of all major pests were observed during the mid to late crop stages. Correlation analysis showed a significant negative relationship between whitefly and rainfall in 2020–21, while other pests exhibited non-significant associations with rainfall. Natural enemies (predators) were present throughout the crop season with peak activity coinciding with higher pest abundance and showed non-significant correlation with rainfall. Overall, the study indicates that rainfall has no significant effect on the population dynamics of chilli pests. While predators play an important role in regulating pest populations in the ecosystem. The findings highlight the importance of ecological monitoring for developing sustainable pest management strategies in chilli.