Efficacy of insecticides and botanicals against black beetle, Heteronychus loideres Redenbacher (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)

Abstract

The present investigation was conducted at Rice and Wheat Research Centre, Malan, Kangra during the 2018 Kharif season. Six insecticides and botanicals such as carbofuran3G @33kg/ha, chlorpyrifos20 EC @2.0 l/ha, cartap hydrochloride4G @25kg/ha, eucalyptus oil @1.0 l/ha and eupatoriom 5% @2.5 l/ha and clothianidin 50 WDG @12g a.i./ ha have been evaluated against black beetle, Heteronychus loideres Redenbacher for effective chemical control. In contrast to untreated control, the application of various insecticides or botanicals proved promising in checking black beetle infestation. In black beetle, the most effective treatment was chlorpyrifos 20 EC (2.0 L ha-1), followed by statistically equivalent carbofuran 3 G (33 kg ha-1) and clothianidine 50 WDG (12 g ha-1). Among botanicals eupatorium (2.5 L ha-1) recorded maximum tiller infestation and was found at par with eucalyptus oil (1 L ha-1). Yield data showed that in protected plots, the grain yield was higher than in unprotected plot. In protected plots the grain yield was maximum in chlorpyrifos (35.33 q ha-1) and minimum in eupatorium (25.75 q ha-1). Benefit: cost (12.23:1) was maximum in chlorpyrifos treated plots. Chlorpyrifos is the most effective against tested insects, among the insecticide and botanicals studied.