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Management of the Diamondback Moth and Other Crucifer Insect ...

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Studies on <strong>the</strong> biology <strong>and</strong>toxicity <strong>of</strong> newerinsecticide molecules oncabbagehead caterpillar,Crocidolomia binotalis(Zeller) (Lepidoptera:Pyralidae) in IndiaKannan, M.ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, DEPARTMENT OFAGRICULTURAL ENTOMOLOGY, TAMIL NADUAGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY, COIMBATORE 641 003, INDIAentokan@yahoo.co.inVijayaraghavan, C.ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, DEPARTMENT OFAGRICULTURAL ENTOMOLOGY, TAMIL NADUAGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY, COIMBATORE 641 003, INDIAvijayaraghavanento@yahoo.co.inJayaprakash, S.A.Ph.D SCHOLAR, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURALENTOMOLOGY, TAMIL NADU AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY,COIMBATORE 641 003, INDIAentojp@gmail.comUthamsamy, S.FORMER PROFESSOR, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURALENTOMOLOGY, TAMIL NADU AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY,COIMBATORE 641 003, INDIAuthamasamy@yahoo.comABSTRACTThe biology, morphometrics, growth <strong>and</strong> development<strong>and</strong> susceptibility <strong>of</strong> cabbagehead caterpillar,Crocidolomia binotalis (Zeller) to new moleculeinsecticides were studied in laboratory conditions oncauliflower. The female moths laid <strong>the</strong>ir eggs in 7-12masses <strong>of</strong> 15-80 eggs/mass on <strong>the</strong> abaxial surface <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>leaves with incubation period <strong>of</strong> 3 days. The first,second, third, fourth <strong>and</strong> fifth instars <strong>of</strong> larvae lasted for2.50, 2.50, 2.00, 2.00 <strong>and</strong> 2.00 days respectively. Theprepupal <strong>and</strong> pupal periods lasted for 1.00 to 2.00 <strong>and</strong>6.00 to 8.00 days, respectively. The longevity <strong>of</strong> male<strong>and</strong> female moths after oviposition was 2.50 <strong>and</strong> 1.50days respectively. The total life cycle <strong>of</strong> male <strong>and</strong> femaleon cauliflower lasted for 32.50 <strong>and</strong> 31.50 days,respectively. The larva consumed on average 3181.21 mgcauliflower leaves during its growth period, <strong>of</strong> which85.8 per cent was consumed during <strong>the</strong> last instar.Approximate digestibility (AD) <strong>and</strong> efficiency <strong>of</strong>conversion <strong>of</strong> ingested food (ECI) declined progressivelyto <strong>the</strong> lowest (14.60 <strong>and</strong> 9.16%) in <strong>the</strong> fifth instar,whereas efficiency <strong>of</strong> conversion <strong>of</strong> digested food (ECD)increased to <strong>the</strong> highest level (62.70%) in <strong>the</strong> last instar.On <strong>the</strong> basis <strong>of</strong> LC50 values, <strong>the</strong> order <strong>of</strong> toxicity wasemamectin benzoate > spinosad > indoxacarb >azadirachtin > quinalphos with <strong>the</strong>ir corresponding LC50values being 0.0221, 0.0323, 0.0763, 0.1791 <strong>and</strong> 1.6955ppm, respectively.INTRODUCTIONThe importance <strong>of</strong> vegetables as protective foods <strong>and</strong> assuppliers <strong>of</strong> adequate quantities <strong>of</strong> vitamins, proteins,carbohydrates <strong>and</strong> minerals is well known. The per capitaconsumption <strong>of</strong> vegetables in India is only 135 g,although dieticians recommend 285 g for an adult perday for maintenance <strong>of</strong> health. The existing area undervegetable cultivation in India is around 6.7 millionhectares with production <strong>of</strong> about 101.44 million tonnes.Cauliflower, Brassica oleracea var. botrytis, is <strong>the</strong> mostimportant cole vegetable crop grown in tropical <strong>and</strong>subtropical regions <strong>of</strong> India with an area <strong>of</strong> 2.79 lakhhectares <strong>and</strong> 44.44 lakh tonnes <strong>of</strong> production(Weinberger <strong>and</strong> Srinivasan 2009). Cauliflower remainsa very important crop for smallholder farmers, providingincome <strong>and</strong> nutrition <strong>and</strong> enabling small farms to remainfinancially viable, especially in <strong>the</strong> rapidly growing periurbanfarming sector. Cultivation <strong>of</strong> cauliflower is alsoassociated with some insect pests. Among <strong>the</strong> variousinsect pests, <strong>the</strong> diamond back moth, Plutella xylostella(L.) is <strong>the</strong> most harmful <strong>and</strong> economically important pest<strong>of</strong> cauliflower in India. However, <strong>the</strong> cabbage headcaterpillar, Crocidolomia binotalis (Zeller) (Lepidoptera:Pyralidae) which is <strong>the</strong> secondary pest <strong>of</strong> cauliflower,may become serious during <strong>the</strong> dry season. It also causesconsiderable yield loss to cruciferous crops likecauliflower, cabbage, radish <strong>and</strong> mustard.The cauliflower leaves are skeletonised by <strong>the</strong> larvae <strong>of</strong>C. binotalis <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>y remain on <strong>the</strong> under surface <strong>of</strong>leaves in webs. The developed larvae feed on <strong>the</strong>mvoraciously <strong>and</strong> severe infestation results in entiredefoliation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> plant. The quantitative consumption <strong>of</strong>food by an insect is <strong>the</strong> total response to feed as a wholewith its nutrients, water contents <strong>and</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r physical aswell as chemical components. <strong>Insect</strong> nutritional studiesprovide valuable information on <strong>the</strong> energy metabolism<strong>of</strong> biochemical components in insect body, <strong>and</strong> also cancontribute key points to develop new managementstrategies. A larval density <strong>of</strong> 2-3 per plant could destroy<strong>the</strong> primordial tissues in cauliflower <strong>and</strong> prevent <strong>the</strong>establishment <strong>of</strong> young plants (Nagarkatti <strong>and</strong> Jayanth1982). Information on <strong>the</strong> biology, morphometrics,susceptibility to new group <strong>of</strong> insecticides <strong>and</strong> quantity<strong>of</strong> food eaten by C. binotalis on cauliflower in India willbe useful to develop effective pest management strategiesin <strong>the</strong> future.MATERIALS AND METHODSBiology <strong>and</strong> morphometrics <strong>of</strong> C.binotalisThe biology <strong>and</strong> morphometrics <strong>of</strong> leaf webber, C.binotalis (Zeller) on cauliflower was studied duringJanuary to March, 2008 in <strong>the</strong> Department <strong>of</strong>Agricultural Entomology, Tamil Nadu AgriculturalUniversity, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India. Late instarlarvae <strong>of</strong> C. binotalis were collected from cauliflowerThe 6th International Workshop on <strong>Management</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Diamondback</strong> <strong>Moth</strong> <strong>and</strong> O<strong>the</strong>r <strong>Crucifer</strong> <strong>Insect</strong> Pests 31

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