Efficacy of sweet flag formulation against brinjal shoot and fruit borer, Leucinodes orbonalis Guenee (Crambidae: Lepidoptera) and effect on egg parasitoids, Trichogramma spp.

Abstract

An EC formulation of sweet flag (Acorus calamus) was tested for insecticidal activity against brinjal shoot and fruit borer, Leucinodes orbonalis. All the concentrations of formulation imparted an oviposition deterrence in the range of 48.85±2.86 to 56.79±1.50 per cent. The highest reduction in hatchability of 91.11 per cent was observed in 8.0 per cent concentration of Sweet flag EC. The 8.0 per cent concentration of formulation resulted in a mortality of 79.98 per cent on neonate larvae. Per cent pupation and adult emergence was also low in 8.0 per cent concentration. The increase in concentration of Sweet flag EC resulted in a decrease in per cent parasitisation as well as emergence rate of Trichogramma pretiosum and T chilonis.