POPULATION DYNAMICS OF CHAFER BEETLE, OXYCETONIA VERSICOLOR (FABRICUS) ON ROSA CHINENSIS AND ROSA HYBRIDA.

Flower chafer beetle, Oxycetonia versicolor (Fabricius) (Scarabaeidae: Coleoptera) destroys the blossoms of flowers and buds of significant crops like ground nut, brinjal, pearl millet and jatropha. The size of adult chafer beetle was found 5.6 - 16.5 mm in length and 5.6 - 8.9 mm in width. Sexual dimorphism was not seen. The body is oval, tiny, a little flattened and vividly coloured, red, marked with black elytra. Its prothorax is brick red with white dots on the back. Chafer Beetle was found during peak flowering period. A mild to moderate level of infestation was observed with 9-13 beetles per ten plants. Infestation was severe during May to September. Its peak activity period was noted during the 2nd week of August on Rosa chinensis. However in Rosa hybrida, it was found maximum 9.33 during 1st week of August. Mean population varied from 2.75, 2.17 to 9.25, 8.50 in Rosa chinensis and Rosa hybrida, respectively. Minimum population was seen in the month of May in both the species of roses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]