PERFORMANCE OF DIFFERENT BOTANICALS AGAINST RED COTTON BUG, DYSDERCUS CINGULATUS (FAB.) UNDER LABORATORY CONDITIONS

Abstract

Red Cotton Bug (Dysedercus cingulatus) is one the devastating cotton pests, however controlled by various chemical insecticides, while concerning to the environmentalists and public health workers. Therefore, botanicals/bio-pesticides are considered comparatively good options to reduce the use of synthetic insecticides and protect biodiversity to a certain extent. Hence, this study is conducted to aware with the performance of different botanicals against Red Cotton Bug and laboratory experiment was performed at Molecular Entomology Laboratory, Department of Entomology, Sindh Agriculture University Tandojam Pakistan during Rabi-2021 season. The analysis was directed in Complete Randomize Design (CRD), in which four botanicals (Tooh, Neem, Datura, and Chilies) were incorporated on third instar nymphs of D. cingulatus at various (12%, 14%, 16%, 18%, 20%) dosages and time span (24 hrs., 48 hrs., 72 hrs., 96 hrs. and a week). Each treatment was replicated with three replications. In each replication ten 3^rd instar nymphs of D. cingulatus were released on the treated seeds of cotton crop. In lab bioassay, the LT₅₀, LT₉₀, LC₅₀, and LC₉₀ values were calculated for botanicals. The highest mortality was observed in the insects treated with 20% botanicals, where the most efficient insecticide was found Datura (62.9%) and Tooh remained the least effective botanical with 51.8% mortality. The least time to kill the insects was taken by Neem with LT₅₀ and LT₉₀ 66.8 and (186.8) hours, respectively. The lowest dose 13.9% was utilized by Datura to kill 50% of tested insect (LC₅₀) and LC₉₀ was recorded 43.1%. It is recommended to use Datura to control Red Cotton Bug and conduct some in-depth studies considering mixture of Datura, Tooh, Chilies and Neem with multiple ratios to produce most effective organic pesticides for various insects.