H. Basappa ¹

Affiliations
1 Oilseeds Research (ICAR), Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, 500030, Andhra Pradesh, IN

Abstract

Several species of both beneficial and harmful insects are associated with sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.). In sunflower ecosystem, 48 species of natural enemies are recorded comprising 7 parasitoids, 24 insect predators, 9 spiders and 8 predatory birds. Majority of the insect predators belong to Coleoptera,Hemiptera, Mantodea, Orthoptera, Odonata and Neuroptera whereas hymenopterans comprised both predators and parasitoids. Among the 48 species of natural enemies recorded in the sunflower ecosystem, the predominant species are Trichogramma chilonis Ishii (on eggs of Helicoverpa armigera), Charops obtusus Morley (on Spilarctia obliqua Walker), Campoletis chlorideae Uchida, Rhogas percurrens Lyle (on H. armigera larvae) and Cotesia flavipes (Cameron) (on Spodoptera litura larvae). Among predators, coccinellids, Cheilomenes sexmaculata (F.), Brumoides suturalis (Fab.), Chilocorus nigritas (F.), Coccinella septempunctata L. and Scymnus sp. keep a good check on eggs and early stage larvae of Lepidoptera and sucking pests. In addition, Chrysoperla (carnea-group), Eocanthecona furcellata (Wolff), Rhynocoris kumarii Ambrose and Livingstone, Geocoris tricolor F. and Anthocoris sp., mantids, Eumantissa sp., Ceriagrion coromandelianum (F.), Ischnura sp., Dolichopus sp., Therevia sp., microbial agents and predatory birds play a vital role in the suppression of insect pests in sunflower. Though the activity of major predators like coccinellids and spiders was noticed in all the cropping seasons, maximum population was found during September and January, coinciding with the maximum population of insect pests.

Keywords

Sunflower, Biocontrol Agents, Biodiversity.

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H. Basappa ¹

Affiliations
1 Oilseeds Research, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad 500030, Andhra Pradesh, IN

Abstract

Investigations were carried out during 2001-2004 to study the impact of biointensive integrated pest management (BIPM), chemical pesticide intensive integrated pest management (CIPM) modules and non-integrated pest management (non-IPM) modules (farmers' practice) on the natural enemies of insect pests of castor in Andhra Pradesh. BIPM module proved to be relatively safer to natural enemies with 16.13 and 66.10 % average field parasitization of Achaea janata (L.) eggs and larvae by Trichogramma chilonis Ishii and Microplitis maculipennis Szepligeti, compared to 6.92 and 21.2, 8.80 and 24.00, 8.92 and 22.35 % in CIPM module and non-IPM modules 1 and 2, respectively. M. maculipennis cocoon number per plant increased with increase in duration after treatment in the BIPM module whereas it decreased in CIPM and non-IPM modules. Similarly, average parasitisation by Charops obtusus Morley (3.54%), Rhogas spp. (4.60%), Apanteles hyposidrae Wilkinson (13.85%), Euplectrus maternus Bhatnagar (7.92%) on A. janata larvae and Cotesia flavipes Cameron (8.96%) on Spodoptera litura (F.) was higher in the BIPM module compared to CIPM module (1.65, 1.59, 3.50, 2.37 and 2.49%) and non-IPM modules 1(1.16, 0.80, 2.70, 1.20 and 2.68%) and 2 (1.50, 1.19, 2.80, 3.82 and 1.99%), respectively. BIPM module had higher population of predators like Chrysoperla sp., Cheilomenes sexmaculata (Fabricius), Cantheconidea furcellata (Wolff), Rhynocoris kumarii Ambrose and Livingstone and spiders per 10 plants (8.45, 3.41, 3.27 and 7.10) than CIPM module (1.75, 2.90, 1.38, 1.45 and 1.40) and non-IPM modules 1(1.20, 1.82, 1.00, 1.00 and 1.80) and 2 (1.97, 2.41, 1.32, 1.22 and 2.90), respectively. Black drongo (Dicrurus adsimilis Blyth) and Indian myna (Acridotheres tristis (L.)) were the predominant predatory birds which used bird perches frequently while predating on A. janata, S. litura and Conogethes punctiferalis (Guenee) larvae in BIPM and CIPM modules compared to non-IPM modules.

Keywords

Castor, Insect Pests, Natural Enemies, Impact, Biointensive Integrated Pest Management (BIPM), Chemical Pesticide Intensive Integrated Pest Management (CIPM).

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H. Basappa ¹

Affiliations
1 Oilseeds Research (ICAR), Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, 500 030, Andhra Pradesh, IN

Abstract

Toxicity of biopesticides and synthetic insecticides was assayed for egg parasitoid, Trichogramma chilonis Ishii and coccinellid predator, Cheilomenes sexmaculata (Fabrieius) under laboratory conditions. Neem seed kernel extract (NSKE 5%), custard apple seed extract (CASE 5%), pongamia seed extract (PSE 5%), neem oil (2%) and pongamia oil (2%) were compared with commercial neem formulation (0.2%) for their toxic effect Synthetic insecticides like imidacloprid (0.01%), acetamiprid (0.002%), thiomethoxam (0.02%), profenophos (0.05%), and carbosulfan (0.14%) were compared with monocrotophos (0.05%) for their toxicity to T. chilonis and C. sexmaculata. Most of the botanicals were found safe to T. chilonis and C. sexmaculata. Among six insecticides tested, carbosulfan was found to be highly toxic to T. chilonis and C. sexmaculata, followed by acetamiprid. imidacloprid was relatively less toxic to botb species. Microbial biopesticide, Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) was also found safe to both species.

Keywords

Biopesticides, Cheilomenes sexmaculata, Safety, Synthetic Insecticides, Toxicity, Trichogramma chilonis.

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