Effectiveness of insecticides against anar butterfly, Virachola  isocrates Fabricius infesting pomegranate

Abstract

Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) is an important fruit crop of tropical and subtropical regions. The anar butterfly, Virachola isocrates Fabricius, is a major pest of pomegranate and causes considerable fruit damage. An experiment was conducted during 2011–12 at the Horticulture Farm, B. A. College of Agriculture, AAU, Anand, to evaluate the efficacy of different synthetic insecticides against V. isocrates. The experiment was conducted in a six-year-old pomegranate orchard using a Completely Randomized Design with three replications. Fruit infestation was recorded before and at 1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks after insecticide application. Among the insecticides tested, chlorantraniliprole 20 SC @ 0.006% and flubendiamide 480 SC @ 0.015% were the most effective against V. isocrates. Novaluron, thiodicarb, endosulfan and malathion were moderately effective, whereas lufenuron, dichlorvos and metaflumizone were comparatively less effective.