Vol. 9, Special Issue 2, Part I (2025)

This experiment was carried out at four major chilli-growing villages in Cuddalore district near Annamalai University, Chidambaram during Kharif and Rabi seasons in the year 2022-23. Direct counting method and blue sticky traps were used to record the population of thrips. The maximum thrips population was observed in Ayipettai (mean no. of 16.84±0.01 thrips/flower on 36^th SMW) followed by Parampattu (10.76±0.04 thrips/flower on 34^th SMW) during Kharif, 2022. The peak incidence was recorded from 34 to 38^th SMW in all the four villages. The peak incidence (mean no. of 10.92±0.04 thrips/ flower) was recorded on the 12^th SMW in Ayipettai village, followed by 8.98±0.02 thrips/flower in Parampattu, 7.88±0.03 thrips/flower in Sakkangudi and 6.04±0.04 thrips/flower in Parathurchavadi on the 14^th SMW during Rabi, 2022-23. On an average, the highest number of adult thrips was recorded in all four villages from the 32 to 37^th SMW during Kharif, 2022 and the thrips population raised from the 51^st SMW in all four selected villages during Rabi, 2022-2023 in blue sticky traps. During Kharif, 2022, the thrips population was positively correlated with maximum temperature, humidity, rainfall, and windspeed. During Rabi, 2022-23, the population recorded a significant positive correlation with maximum temperature, minimum temperature, and positive correlation with rainfall, humidity, and wind speed.