Non-host plant derived kairomone to enhance activity of natural enemies of lepidopteran pests of Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench

Abstract

Vegetational manipulation and use of semio-chemicals in Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench eco-system to manage the key lepidopteran pests like Earias vittella (Fab.) and Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) were tried by conducting a field experiment during January 2014 at the Department of Agricultural Entomology, Agricultural College and Research Institute, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India, in which eight intercrops were grown along with Ab. esculentus at 1:4 ratios. The average population and shoot and fruit damage caused by Ea. vittella and He. armigera on Ab. esculentus were low when intercropped with cluster bean (Cyamous tetragocalobe L.), besides attracting comparatively high population of Chrysoperla zastrowi sillemi (Esben-Peterson) and per cent field recovery of Trichogramma chilonis Ishii than Ab. esculentus as pure crop. Kairomone activity of acetone extract of flowers of Cy. tetragocalobe was favourable and enhanced the foraging activity of Tr. chilonis and Ch. zastrowi sillemi against lepidopteran pests of Ab. esculentus.