Bio-efficacy of Belt Expert 480 SC against caterpillars and sucking pest complex in black gram (Vigna mungo L. Hepper) and its effect on natural enemies and plants

Abstract

The use of insecticides as a combination product with different modes of action and target may help in the reduction enhancement of categories of pests. Furthermore, the number of insecticide applications would be reduced which may pave the opportunity for an easy fit into the strategies of integrated pest management. Therefore, the field experiments were carried out at the Main Agricultural Research Station, Dharwad, Karnataka, India for two consecutive kharif seasons to evaluate bio-efficacy of combination product Belt Expert 480 SC (Flubendiamide 24% + Thiacloprid 24% SC w/v) against caterpillars and sucking pest complex in black gram and their safety towards non-target organisms. Field trials consisted of nine treatments replicated three times in a randomized block design. Results revealed that two sprays of the combi-product Belt Expert 480 SC (Flubendiamide 24% w/v + Thiacloprid 24% w/v SC) @ 250 mL/ha recorded lower pod borer incidence (4.54%) with higher seed yield (9.13 q/ha) followed by Belt Expert 480 SC (Flubendiamide 24% w/v + Thiacloprid 24% w/v SC) @ 200 mL/ha with pod borer incidence of 5.47% and seed yield of 8.83 q/ha. The treatments viz., Belt Expert 480 SC (Flubendiamide 24% w/v + Thiacloprid 24% w/v SC) @ 200 and 150 mL/ha, Alanto 240 SC (Thiacloprid 21.7% w/w SC) @ 250 mL/ha and Fame 480 SC (Flubendiamide 39.35% m/m SC) @ 100 and 125 mL/ha proved safe to natural enemies. None of the insecticidal treatments (Belt Expert 480 SC (Flubendiamide 24% w/v + Thiacloprid 24% w/v SC) @ 250, 500 and 1000 mL/ha) showed any type of phytotoxic symptoms on black gram plants.