COMPARATIVE EFFICACY OF SYNTHETIC INSECTICIDES AGAINST CITRUS PSYLLA, DIAPHORINA CITRI KUWAYAMA (HOMOPTERA: PSYLLIDAE) UNDER LABORATORY AND FIELD CONDITIONS

Abstract

Citrus fruits are rich in macronutrients, such as simple sugars and nutritional fiber, and provide many kinds of micronutrients containing thiamine, vitamin B6, riboflavin, pantothenic acid, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and copper, which are vital for keeping health and normal growth. Production of citrus was strongly affected by citrus psylla (Diaphorina citri). The present study was carried out to determine the effectiveness of some synthetic insecticides with different concentrations against citrus psylla under field and laboratory conditions. Four insecticides viz. Politrin-C® (Profenofos + Cypermethrin), Talstar® (Bifenthrin), Confidor® (Imidacloprid), and Cymbush® (Cypermethrin) were used for evaluation of their effectiveness against citrus psylla. For laboratory experimentation, four concentrations of each insecticide along with one control treatment were made. For the field experiment, all the said insecticides were applied at field recommended doses. Citrus psylla was collected from an infested field of citrus crop and transferred in a plastic cage (60×60×60 cm) and kept in the IPM laboratory under standard laboratory conditions in the Department of Entomology, University of Agriculture Faisalabad Pakistan. Fresh leaves of citrus were used for the insect rearing as a diet for the insects. The rearing conditions were maintained at 25±2oC and 60-70% RH. Results revealed that LC50 values were 3.23%, 5.60%, 5.42% and 3.09% after 6 hours, 0.41%, 1.41%, 2.42% and 1.90% after 12 hours and 0.08%, 0.09%, 0.49% and 1.80% for Politrin-C®, Talstar®, Confidor® and Imazone® after 24 hours respectively. Politrin-C® was found to be more effective because of causing maximum mortality (71.15%), (51.20%), and (34.64%) after 24 hours, 12 hours, and 6 hours respectively of post-treatment application. The maximum population reduction of 66.68% was recorded with Politrin-C® followed by 62.96%, 61.23%, and 59.68% population reductions observed with treatments with Confidor®, Imazone®, and Talstar® respectively. However, Politrin-C® proved to be more toxic and considered effective for D. citri.