Efficacy of Insecticides Against Mustard Aphid Brevicoryne brassicae and their Safety to Coccinellid Predators

Abstract

Field experiment was conducted during rabi 2018-19 to ascertain the efficacy of insecticides on mustard aphid Brevicoryne brassicae L., and their safety to the coccinellid predators. Insecticides viz., imidacloprid17.8SL (0.30 ml/l of water), dimethoate 30EC (1 ml/l of water), cypermethrin 10EC (0.6 ml/l of water), chlorpyriphos 50EC+ cypermethrin 5EC (1ml/l of water), profenophos 40EC+ cypermethrin 4EC (1ml/l of water), neem oil (2ml/l of water), dichlorvos 76 EC (1ml/l of water), chlorpyriphos 20SC (0.5 ml/l of water) were evaluated. Profenophos 40EC+ cypermethrin 4EC was found to be the most effective in reducing the aphid incidence. Neem oil and imidacloprid proved to be safe to the coccinellid predators viz., Coccinella septumpunctata (L.) and Hippodamia variegata (Goeze); while profenophos + cypermethrin was found to be the most toxic. Thus, imidacloprid can be used for the management of B. brassicae as it is the most effective and also safe to coccinellid predators.