Insecticidal evaluation for the management of bamboo leaf roller Pyrausta coclesalis (Lepidoptera: Pyraustidae)

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during 2024 - 25 at AICRP on Agroforestry Research Farm, Futala, College of Agriculture, Nagpur, to evaluate the efficacy of different insecticidal treatments against the bamboo leaf roller, Pyrausta coclesalis (Lepidoptera: Pyraustidae), a major defoliator of bamboo (Poaceae) in Central India. Seven insecticidal formulations Azadirachtin 0.03% EC, Ethion 50% EC, Profenophos 50% EC, Chlorpyriphos 50% + Cypermethrin 5% EC, Acephate 50% + Imidacloprid 1.8% SP, Thiamethoxam 12.6% + Lambda-cyhalothrin 9.5% ZC, and Pyriproxyfen 5% + Fenpropathrin 15% EC along with an control (water spray) were evaluated under field conditions. Insecticides were applied thrice during the study period, and leaf damage was assessed at 7 and 14 days after each spray. Significant differences in leaf damage were observed among treatments across all applications. The pooled data revealed that all insecticidal treatments significantly reduced leaf damage compared to the control (water spray) (23.52% mean damage). Among the tested treatments, Chlorpyriphos 50% + Cypermethrin 5% EC (T4) was most effective, recording the lowest cumulative mean leaf damage (11.83%) and the highest reduction over control (49.69%). This was followed by Thiamethoxam + Lambda-cyhalothrin (14.29%; 39.24%) and Profenophos (14.88%; 36.72%), which showed statistically comparable efficacy. Pyriproxyfen + Fenpropathrin (16.35%; 30.48%) and Acephate + Imidacloprid exhibited moderate performance (17.57%; 25.28% reduction), while Azadirachtin 0.03% EC was the least effective (18.95%; 19.41% reduction) over insecticidal treatment.