Chemical Control of Pomegranate Fruit Borer(S), Virachola isocrates (farr.) and Deudorix epijarbas (Moore)

Pomegranate fruit borer(s) Virachola isocrates (Fabr.) and Deudorix epijarbas (Moore) are serious pests of wild pomegranate Punica granatum in Himachal Pradesh. In two years study, the conventiooal insecticide endosulfan 0.14% was found most effective when compared with quinalphas (0.10%), methyl parathion (0.05%) and a pyrethroid, cypermenthrin (0.01%). In the second year the two isomers of endosulfap, alpha and beta-endosulfan were isolated and tested separately. The efficacy of alpha isomer (0.07, 0.14%) was better than beta-endosulfan (0.07, 014%). Two sprays of endosulfan (0.14%) at one month interval are recommended for saving the fruits from borer attack.