Efficacy of Botanicals and Insecticide Mixture on Third Instar Larvae of <i>Trilocha varians</i>

Abstract

Ficus benjamina is often known as weeping fig, planted in tropical and subtropical areas and the leaf eating caterpillar Trilocha varians is its major pest since 2019. This study evaluates two botanicals Azadirachta indica and Euclyptus globulus, alone and in combination with insecticides against this pest. The results showed that larval mortality was maximum when combined application of botanical and insecticide was given. Among tested botanicals, A. indica showed more toxicity than E. globulus. Combined applications of A. indica with insecticide gave 10.01, 16.63 and 21.22% mortality after 24, 48, and 72 hr of post treatment, respectively; while 6.45, 10.75 and 15.84% mortality was recorded after 24, 48 and 72 hr of combine application of E. globulus with insecticide. In all these evaluations, mortality increased with the time.