UTTAR PRADESH JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY

Mustard (Brassica juncea L.) is one of the most important oilseed crops cultivated in India and contributes substantially to edible oil production and the agricultural economy. However, its productivity is severely constrained by several insect pests, among which the mustard aphid, Lipaphis erysimi (Kaltenbach), is the most destructive. The present investigation was conducted during the rabi season of 2025-26 under field conditions at Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, to study the seasonal incidence of major insect pests of mustard, their relationship with biotic and abiotic factors, and the efficacy of selected botanical formulations against mustard aphid. The results revealed that aphid infestation commenced during the second standard week and reached its peak population of 190.20 aphids per 10 cm central twig during the tenth standard week. Aphid population showed a positive correlation with relative humidity and predator abundance, whereas temperature negatively influenced population build-up. Among the botanical treatments evaluated, Jeevamrit (5%) was the most effective, recording the lowest aphid population (9.32 aphids per 10 cm central twig), the highest population reduction over the control (76.16%), and the maximum seed yield (14.01 q ha⁻¹). NSKE (3%) and Carica papaya leaf extract (3%) also effectively suppressed aphid populations. The findings indicate that botanical formulations, particularly Jeevamrit and NSKE, may be incorporated into integrated pest management (IPM) programmes for the sustainable management of mustard aphid while minimising environmental risks.