Integrated management of lepidopteran defoliators in litchi under subtropics of Bihar

Abstract

A field trial was conducted for two years at ICAR-National Research Centre on Litchi to develop the eco-sustainable bio-rational approaches for managing the litchi leaf folder, Platypeplus aprobola and litchi looper, Perixera illepidaria. Maximum (14.33) leaf folder incidence was observed in the month of October and minimum (0.33) population in January. In case of litchi looper maximum population (12.67) was observed in 42nd standard week (SW) with no population (0.00) in 1st and 2nd standard week. Pruning of twigs in June followed by application of 4 kg castor and 1 kg neem cake along with spraying of novaluron 10EC (0.015%) had minimum (10.00) leaf folder population treatment after 15 days of first spray followed by spinosad and fipronil as registered 14.67 and 15.00 leaf folder population, respectively. Similar insecticide was found effective in control of litchi looper during field investigation. For the management of lepidopteran defoliators in litchi pruning of twigs in June followed by application of 4 kg castor and 1 kg neem cake along with two spray of novaluron 10EC (0.015%) or fipronil 5SC (0.01%) is recommended.