EFFICACY OF DIFFERENT PLANT OILS AGAINST RED PUMPKIN BEETLE, AULACOPHORA FOVEICOLLIS (COLEOPTERA: CHRYSOMELIDAE)

Abstract

The experiment was conducted in the central research farm of Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur during March to August 2017. The aim of this study was to manage the notorious vegetable pest red pumpkin beetle (RPB) using four botanicals as treatments (neem, pithraj, kalozira and tishi oils) instead of synthetic pesticide. The local variety of sweet gourd was selected as a host plant for the test insect. Data were taken on the number of red pumpkin beetle in twig per plant, number of red pumpkin beetle in 5 leaves per plant, number of damage leaves per twig before and after applied the treatments. The data were also taken on fruits yield. The insects reduced with increasing time after spray. The number of insect per plant markedly reduced up to 72 hours but best result was observed at 24 and 48 hours after application of treatments. For every spray the highest number of insect was observed 7 days after spray. The results of the present study revealed that among all the tested botanical oils kalozira had promising effect on the inhibition of RPB in most of observation at 7 days after spray. Based on yield, significantly (P < 0.05) the highest (9.67) number of fruits were found in 10% concentrated kalozira oil treated plot which weight was 33.67 kg. Therefore, kalozira oil may be used as eco-friendly for the effective management of A. foveicollis in field conditions.