POPULATION DENSITY OF CICADA, TIBICEN SPP. (HOMOPTERA: CICADIDAE) IN GRAPE VINEYARDS IN NORTHERN PLAINS OF AFGHANISTAN

To determine the population density of Cicada, Tibicen spp., a research study was carried out in the Northern Plains of Afghanistan. Grape Vineyards were selected in 3 sites in Bagram (Ghulam Ali Mahigeer) and Qarabagh (Nahr-e-kalan) districts during March-August, 2006. In each spot the experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design, having three replications. The pest incidence was recorded from 0.25 m^3 (0.50 m x 0.50 m x 1 m) area of root zone of three plants randomly selected from each replication. The selected plants in these spots were regularly monitored on 15 days interval throughout the season. Almost same population trend was observed in all these areas. The Cicada nymphs was first observed at the 1st week of March, whereas an increase in population was recorded in the end of March upto May. Peak population i.e. 22.11, 28.55 and 16.55 nymphs Plant^-1 was recorded in Ghulam Ali, Mahigeer and Nahr-e-Kalan sites respectively on the 1oth of May, 2006. After this the nymphal population started decline and lowest population up to 14.67, 18.55 and 10.33 nymphs Plant^-1 was recorded at Ghulam Ali, Mahigeer and Nahr-e-Kalan respectively, at the time of harvest.