Journal of Environmental Biology

Assessment of spatio-temporal dynamics of  Helicoverpa armigera in chickpea, through ICT-based pest surveillance in Maharashtra

M. Meenakshi¹*, S. Niranjan¹, K. Rakesh¹, M.K Khokhar¹, B.L. Manisha¹, S.K. Ajay¹ and P. Ravindra¹     

¹ICAR-National Research Institute for Integrated Pest Management, New Delhi-110 068, India

²Department of Agriculture, Government of Maharashtra, Pune-411 005, India

Received: 11 August 2025                   Revised: 28 October 2025                   Accepted: 18 February 2026

*Corresponding Author Email: minaxi.2007@gmail.com                  *ORCiD: https://orcid.org /0000-0002-2490-2952

Abstract

Aim: Helicoverpa armigera, the gram pod borer, poses a significant threat to chickpea production in India. This study aimed to understand the spatio-temporal infestation patterns of H. armigera using ICT-based surveillance across 28 districts in Maharashtra from 2018 to 2025, addressing how digital tools can support pest management decisions.

Methodology: Pest infestation data were collected through mobile-enabled scouting and analysed using Inverse Distance Weighted (IDW) interpolation and Principal Component Analysis (PCA). These tools help to identify spatial hotspots and temporal trends in pest outbreaks.

Results: A major outbreak was observed in 2019–20 with a peak relative abundance of 0.40 larvae m^-1 row length followed by a steady decline to 0.04 larvae m^-1 row length in later years (2022–2025). Persistent hotspots were found in Latur, Dharashiv and Solapur, whereas the northern and coastal districts showed minimal pest presence. PCA identified 2019–20, 2020–21, and 2024–25 as the years contributing most to pest variability.

Interpretation: This study highlights the effectiveness of ICT-based pest surveillance in supporting timely advisories and reducing pest infestation through targeted IPM interventions. These findings emphasize the need for district-specific monitoring and data-driven pest management strategies to ensure sustainable chickpea production in vulnerable areas of Maharashtra.

Key words: Chickpea, H. armigera, ICT, Management, Maharashtra, Pest surveillance

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