Field response of sucking pests to juvenile hormone analogue, pyriproxyfen in okra ecosystem of West Bengal

Abstract

The present study was conducted to investigate the response of sucking pests and that of natural enemies in okra ecosystem and soil fauna to pyriproxyfen, under field condition during February-May 2015 and 2016. Four doses of pyriproxyfen 10EC (300, 500, 750 and 1000 mL/ha) along with fenpopathrin 30EC @ 250mL/ha and thiamethoxam 25WG @ 200g/ha as standard checks were imposed as foliar treatments and their subsequent effect was recorded. Pyriproxyfen at higher doses was found to reduce whitefly population to the tune of 68-73% in both the seasons. Similarly, leafhopper and aphid populations were reduced to the tune of 46-60% and 57-76% over two seasons. The test molecule was found to be soft to prevailing natural enemies (coccinellds and spiders) and the highest dose exerted a reduction of only 3.5% of population. It was found moderately toxic to soil fauna (micro-arthopods). Increase in yield was found to be around 53%.