Evaluation of Ecofriendly Control Methods for Management of Mealybug, Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley in Cotton

摘要

Eco-friendly management of mealybug, Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley, was important to reduce reliance on insecticides and conservation of natural enemies. The study was conducted to evaluate a set of eco-friendly biopesticides, biorationals and insecticides against mealybug, Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley. The treatments were applied thrice in mealybug infested field at 15 days interval and the mortality data both for mealybug and generalist predators were recorded. Similarly the mortality data on 5 day old mealybug nymphs was also obtained under laboratory condition. The insecticides, acephate and chlorpyriphos proved effective in reducing the population of mealybug by 72.34 and 68.60%, respectively after 3 spray applications. The insecticides were found statistically superior over biopesticides and biorationals in reducing the mealybug population. The biopesticides and biorationals insecticides reduced 18.52 to 41.42% mealybug population after three spray applications under field condition. The biopesticides and biorationals are least toxic to generalist predators and can be integrated with insecticides for sustainable management of the mealybug.