author(s)
B Sundar, V Rashmi, HK Sumith and S Sandhya

abstract
Experiments were carried out during, Kharif, season 2015, to evaluate the incidence and period of activity of Spodoptera litura on soybean crop. The highest tobacco caterpillar infestation during Kharif season with mean population of 4.3 larvae / mrl was recorded during last week of august at 49 DAG. Thereafter an abrupt decline in larval population was observed in fourth week of September with an average of 1.2 larvae/mrl at 84 DAG mainly due to high humidity coincided with heavy infection of parasitic fungus, Beauveria bassiana during the period. Peak parasitism of Beauveria bassiana was found during last week of September. Peak larval population of the tobacco caterpillar, Spodoptera litura showed positive and significant correlation with rain fall. ((r= 0.75)