Management of Thrips, Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood, on Rose under Open-Field and Protected Conditions

Investigation on management of thrips, Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood on roses under open-field and protected conditions was conducted during 2008-10 at Bengaluru. Clothianidin 50 WDG 20g a.i./ha proved best in terms of efficacy and cost. Vertimac, spinosad and Garlic Barrier agriculture (GB Ag ) were comparable in efficacy. GB Ag was on par with clothianidin besides being eco-friendly. GB Ag was found effective as a new molecule. Neem seed kernel extract (NSKE) proved to be superior to neem oil, pongamia oil and the commercial neem product, Nimbecidine. NSKE was also found to reduce thrips density to the extent of 64% - 88%. In rose fields where pest suppression measures are hardly practised, farmers can apply NSKE, monocrotophos or imidacloprid. Based on the cost of vertimac and spinosad, these can be recommended where cost-effective, as in commercial polyhouses growing roses

Diversity of Hymenopteran Parasitoids in different Crop Ecosystems

Surveys were carried out in different districts viz., Shivamogga, Davangere and Chitradurga of Karnataka to collect and document hymenopteran parasitoids parasitizing insect pests attacking different crop ecosystems. A total of 42 hymenopteran parasitoids species represented by 33 genera belonged 12 families were documented from a collection of 1379 specimens from different stages viz., egg, larva, pupa and adult stage of host insects from different host plants viz., rice, maize, cabbage, cotton, coconut, brinjal, cashew, crape jasmine, tobacco, field bean, soybean, arecanut, cocoa, okra and pongamia. Among them, maximum parasitoids species (20) were collected from larval stage of host insects with per cent species composition of 47.62. Among the families, Braconidae was found most dominant (comprised of 23.81%), followed by Eulophidae (16.67%), Encyrtidae and Scelionidae (each with 14.29%). Alpha and beta diversity were computed for the three zones. Species diversity in terms of richness, evenness and abundance of hymenopteran parasitoids were calculated and compared during study period using Shannon-Wiener index, Simpson diversity index, Margalef’s diversity index, Menhinick’s index and Evenness. Species diversity was high in Shivamogga district as evidenced by Shannon-Wiener index (2.49), Simpson diversity index (0.88), Margalef’s index (4.09) and Menhinick’s index (1.22) and Evenness (0.46), followed by Davanagere district with respect to Shannon-Wiener index (1.69) Simpson’s diversity index (0.75), Margalef’s index and Menhinick’s index (2.27 and 0.90), respectively, while evenness was 0.24 and Chitradurga district with respect to Shannon-Wiener index (1.34) Simpson’s diversity index (0.54), Margalef’s index and Menhinick’s index (2.12 and 0.59), respectively

Management of Fruit and Shoot Borer, Leucinodes orbonalis (Guenee) in Brinjal through Sequential Application of Selected Insecticides and Biorationals

Leucinodes orbonalis Guenee (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), commonly known as brinjal shoot and fruit borer is a dreaded pest in India. The bio efficacy of insecticides and biorationals has been test verified in managing fruit and shoot borer through logical sequential schedules. The results of the present field experiment conducted during Summer 2023 in Agricultural and Horticultural research Station (AHRS), Bavikere revealed the most effective insecticidal schedule among the tested sequences. The sequence containing Chlorantraniliprole 18.5 SC @ 0.3 ml/L - Spinosad 45 SC @ 0.4 ml/L - Lufenuron 5 EC @ 1.0 ml/L - Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki @ 2.0  g/L demonstrated remarkable success in reducing the damage caused by L. orbonalis along with economic viability and high cost-benefit ratio