Biocontrol-based management of fall armyworm,Spodoptera frugiperda (J E Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) on Indian Maize

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - Spodoptera frugiperda (J E Smith) (fall armyworm) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is a key pest of maize that has recently entered in India causing damage and...     

Influence of abiotic factors on behaviour and adult emergence pattern of coconut white grub, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Leucopholis coneophora</Emphasis> Burmeister (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)

Leucopholis coneophora Burmeister is a subterranean pest associated with coconut based cropping systems in south India. Feeding damage causes yellowing of fronds and yield reduction. To develop appropriate IPM strategy a basic knowledge on insect behaviour is essential. Four years studies indicated that, adult emergence of L. coneophora was commenced with summer shower in April in Kerala. Delay in summer shower delayed the emergence. After a pause in May, the emergence resumed with the setting of south west monsoon in June. The beetles did not emerge during dry spells in between the rainy days, when the soil temperature (at 10 cm depth) was ≥34.5 °C. Emergence of the beetles started at an illuminance of 124.37?±?75.5 l in evening and remained active till 2?±?0.4 l with a maximum swarming at 32.6?±?15.1 l. Female emergence and mating occurred at 12.04?±?8.1 l. Female based sex pheromone mediated communication is evident. Strong competition among the males for mating with emerging female, which was evident by a wider operational sex ratio in the initial period (1:10.11) that narrowed down to 1:4.33 in later days. The beetles neither congregate on any host plant nor exhibit phototaxis. Number of beetles entrapped in light traps varied from 1.5–16.5% and hand picking is highly significant over light trapping. Hence hand picking of beetles daily in the evening for 2 weeks commencing from the onset of south west monsoon in Kerala, in Indian subcontinent is suggested as a tool in IPM.     

Toxicity and dissipation of soil insecticides applied in the management of arecanut white grub, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Leucopholis burmeisteri</Emphasis> Brenk. (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)

White grubs, Leucopholis spp. are subterranean pests of arecanut grown in South India. Grub infestation leads to yellowing, stem tapering, and crown size and yield reduction. Use of chemical insecticide to mage the white grubs gives varying degree of success. Hence an attempt was made to screen newer and safer insecticides. Imidacloprid (LC₅₀ at 120 h = 16.849 ppm on III instar larvae), chlorpyriphos (LC₅₀ = 14.242) and bifenthrin (LC₅₀ = 12.797 ppm) were identified as effective insecticides. Evaluation of these insecticide in the field over two year period indicated the following efficacy in reducing larval population: chlorpyriphos @ 4 kg a.i/ha (83.31%) > bifenthrin @ 4 kg a.i./ha (82.83%) > imidacloprid @ 0.24 kg a.i./ha (75.84%) > bifenthrin @ 2 kg a.i./ ha (74.26%) > chlorpyriphos @ 2 kg a.i./ha (69.15%) > chlorpyriphos @ 1 kg a.i./ha (61.79%) > imidacloprid @ 0.12 kg a.i./ha (56.54%) > bifenthrin @ 1 kg a.i./ha (54.34%) > imidacloprid @ 0.06 kg a.i./ha (41.47%). Bifenthrin in soil persisted for a longer period than chlorpyriphos. On the day of application, 59.46 ppm bifenthrin residue was recovered from soil. On 10th day, it was 7.29 ppm which decreased to 2.59 ppm on 30th day and was beyond detection limit on 65th day. Chlorpyriphos exhibited a rapid degradation in the initial stage; 27.46 ppm residue on the day of application, which further reduced to 0.964 ppm on 10th day, and was below the detection limit on the 30th day. Growth of Trichoderma harzianum was not affected by bifenthrin even up to 40 ppm concentration. However, chlorpyriphos affected the growth of Trichoderma at higher than 5 ppm dose. Similarly, imidacloprid inhibited the colony growth from 2 ppm onwards. Having high lipophylic property and contact toxicity, bifenthrin would be an ideal alternative insecticide to chlorpyriphos for the management of white grubs in palm garden, which is safe and long persisting.