EVALUATION OF NOVALURON + EMAMECTIN BENZOATE AGAINST LEAF EATING CATERPILLAR, SPODOPTERA LITURA IN TOBACCO NURSERIES

Abstract

Tobacco caterpillar, Spodoptera litura F. is the key pest of tobacco nurseries and it is one of the major biotic dampers in successful production of healthy seedlings. Novaluron 5.25 % + emamectin benzoate 0.9 % SC @ 0.006%, 0.009 % & 0.012% was evaluated against S.litura in tobacco seed beds in a replicated trial in comparison with novaluron 10 EC @ 0.01%, emamectin benzoate 5 SG @ 0.0025%, chlorfenapyr 10 SC @ 0.01% and untreated control during 2015 and 2016 seasons. Results showed that emamectin benzoate 0.0025% recorded least seedling damage followed by novaluron 5.25 % + emamectin benzoate 0.9 % SC @ 0.012% & 0.009%. The seedling damage in the treatments of emamectin benzoate 0.025%, novaluron 5.25 % + emamectin benzoate 0.9 % SC @ 0.009% & 0.012% and chlorfenapyr 10 SC @ 0.01% were on á par with each other. The studies on persistent residual toxicity of the test insecticides showed that more than 90 per cent mortality was recorded in novaluron + emamectin benzoate up to 8 DAS. The period of persistency was 16 days in novaluron + emamectin benzoate 6.15 SC @ 0.012%. The mean persistent toxicity and persistent toxicity index were 69.13 & 1106.08 for novaluron 5.25 % + emamectin benzoate 0.9% SC @ 0.012%.