Effect of ivermectin on larval mortality and reproductive potential of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Albizia</Emphasis> foliage feeder, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Spirama retorta</Emphasis> Cramer (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Toxicity of ivermectin (Ivecop-12), a derivative of avermectin B, produced by a soil actinomycete, Streptomyces avermitilis, was evaluated in laboratory against the larvae of Spirama retorta Cramer (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), a major stenophagous insect defoliator of Albizia spp. (family Leguminosae) in nurseries and young plantations. The study was conducted with eight treatment concentrations of lethal and sub-lethal doses. Results revealed that ivermectin is highly toxic and induce larval mortality when applied separately on host plant leaves and larvae, and on leaves and larvae of the insect pest together. The nature of treatment affects the larval mortality. Treatment of host plant leaves alone as well as leaves together with larvae showed 100% mortality by the treatment of 0.075% concentration whereas only 95% larval mortality was recorded due to larval treatment by the concentration of 1.2%. The LC₅₀ value of the tested product was worked out to be 0.014, 0.170 and 0.012% for leaf and larval treatments separately and leaf and larval treatments together, respectively, against the insect pest. This clearly shows that ivermectin is more effective in larval killing when ingested through food. Further, the adults developed from treatments of sub-lethal concentrations and subsequently, when mated laid significantly (P < 0.05–0.01) less number of eggs and also showed significant (P < 0.05–0.01) reduction in hatching percentage compared to control. These observations suggest that the tested bioproduct, ivermectin, interfere physiological programming of larvae thereby causing alteration in fecundity and fertility of the target insect pest.