author(s)
M Sreedhar, A Vasudha and Syed khudus

abstract
Insect pests complex studies on Chrysanthemum revealed that a total of 11 insect species associated with the crop at different growth stages of the crop. The sucking pests (thrips, aphids and mealy bugs) were associated with the crop right from the seedling stage to maturity stage of the crop, while the major dominating pests such as bud borer and leaf caterpillar recorded at vegetative stage and as well as bud formation and flowering stage of the crop. Defoliators such as Bihar hairy caterpillar and semilooper also recorded from vegetative stage to flowering stage and they damage the crop moderately. Other insect pests (looper, ash weevil, grasshopper and painted lady butterfly) were also noticed on the crop and the extent of damage caused by them does not cause much economic loss.