Non-target Effect of Herbicides: Role of Pre-emergence Herbicides on Developmental Behaviour of Spodoptera litura

Role of two pre-emergence herbicides (basalin and lasso) was investigated on the biology of Spodoptera luma by diet incorporation method. Complete mortality of larvae was recorded in these herbicides within 24 his at highest concentration but a decrease in survival was recorded at lower concentrations Prolongation of larval period was also observed at all concentrations. EC were 0.093 and 0.253 for lasso and basalin, respectively while ET₅₀ ranged from 24.1 to 3827.4 his for different concentration of basalin and 33.0 to 819 hrs for lasso These two herbicides directly affected the biology of S. litura Therefore, it is suggested that before formulating IPM programme, database should be generated as to how herbicides affect the overall developmental profile of insects.