Field efficacy of some insecticides against hibiscus mealybug, Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae)

Abstract

Hibiscus mealybug, Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) is the pest having serious economic importance. Its infestation on crops, fruits, vegetation and ornamental plants results in defoliation, sooty mold growth and abnormal shaped fruit. The study was conducted to verify toxic effects of Advantage, Telsta, Imidacloprid, Talstar and their possible mixtures for the control of 3rd instar of mealybug under field conditions. The study was held in University of Gujrat, Punjab, Pakistan. Toxicity of different insecticides and their mixtures was evaluated in the field at 0.14% concentration on the randomly selected Hibiscus rosa-sinensis (Shoe flower plants) with heavy infestation of 3rd instar of mealybug after 24, 48 and 72 h of spray. Talstar + Imidacloprid showed highest mortality of 68.09% and 87.23% after 24 and 48 h respectively whereas after 72 h Advantage+Talstar showed highest mortality (97.56%) and Talstar+Imidacloprid (95.75%) was the 2nd highly effective treatment after 72 h of spray. Other insecticide mixtures also gave significant results in showing mortality. Lowest mortality was shown by Talstar (42.86%), Advantage+Imidacloprid (72.22%) and Advantage+Telsta (77.78%) after 24, 48 and 72 h of spray respectively. The study emphasizes on the use of such insecticide mixtures that might be helpful in pest resistant management strategy for mealybug. It is suggested to check persistence and residual toxicity of these insecticide mixtures under field conditions.