Efficacy of botanicals alone and in combination with insecticide against Trilocha varians (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae) in controlled conditions

Abstract

Ficus benjamina (Rosales: Moraceae), commonly known as weeping fig, is not only planted alongside the road as decorative plant in Pakistan but also has chemicals which used to treat cancer and ulcer. A leaf eating caterpillar, Trilocha varians (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae) is a serious pest of Ficus spp. especially Ficus benjamina. This is a new emerging pest of horticultural andagricultural crops all over the world. The pest is causing 100% defoliation and even death of plant.The severe attack of this pest has seen on F. bejamina. The current pest is invading to otherornamental plants, especially jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) in the world and becoming risk for other crops. There is need to minimize the pest population, but still no management strategies have adopted to control this pest in the world. The current experimental study was conducted to check the efficacy of botanicals alone and in combine application with insecticides against 2nd instar larvae of leaf eating caterpillar, T. varians under laboratory conditions. Results showed that among botanicals, Azadirachta indica was showed more toxicity as compared to Eucalyptus globulus. A. indica was showed the highest mortality (6.40%) of larvae at 72 hours of post treatment, whileminimum mortality (0.40%) at 24 hours. The combine application of A. indica and Emamectin benzoate was given maximum mortality (9.20�9.20) at 72 hours and minimum (1.80�3.20) at 24 hours. The mixture of emamectin benzoate and E. globulus was also found effective and toxic against second instar larvae but less than combine application of A. indica and Emamectin benzoate. In response to this new pest issue in the ornamental plants, control strategies includingbiological control alone and in combine with others chemicals are being developed in Pakistan.