Efficacy of novel insecticides and their combinations against pink bollworm, Pectinophora gossypiella (Saunders) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) in cotton

Pink bollworm, Pectinophora gossypiella (Saunders) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) is an important pest of cotton worldwide; causing significant economic loss to cotton growers. Its control under field condition is difficult, as it remains inside the boll and feeds internally. Therefore, under this study we have evaluated different insecticides viz., Quinalphos 25% EC, Profenofos 50% EC, Thiodicarb 75% WP, Chlorantraniliprole 18.5% SC, Spinosad 45% SC, Neem oil (0.3% W/W), Cypermethrin 25% EC, Triazophos 40% EC, Deltamethrin 2.8% EC and the combination of Profenofos 40% + Cypermethrin 4% EC and Deltamethrin 1% + Triazophos 35% EC for the management of P. gossypiella in cotton under rainfed conditions. The results revealed that combination of Profenofos 40% + Cypermethrin 4% EC showed most effective and offered lowest number of exit holes (0.3 to 0.5), mines on epicarp (2.0 to 7.0), larvae/plant (0.3 to 1.0) and per cent locule damage (1.3 to 7.3%) in green bolls as compared to individual formulations. Among individual formulations, Cypermethrin 25% EC effectively controlled pink bollworm larval damage (0.3 to 1.1 exit holes, 3.3 to 4.0 mines on epicarp, 0.9 to 1.7 larvae and 1.3 to 13.0% locule damage in green bolls after 10 days of spray) as compared to other treatments. Further, maximum seed cotton yield was recorded (11.6 to 12.04 q/ha) in Profenofos 40% + Cypermethrin 4% EC treated fields. The integration of these insecticide molecules proved to be effective in the management of pink bollworm under field conditions.