Role of Insecticides and Botanicals in Regulating Whitefly (Dialeuropora decempuncta) Incidence and Their Influence on some Economic Traits of Silkworm (Bombyx mori L.)

The effectiveness of monocrotophos, acephate and dichlorvos, neem based pesticides (azadirachtin 1500 ppm & 300 ppm) and dk bioneem was observed against whitefly on mulberry. All pesticides tested, significantly reduced the pest population. Among them, acephate and monocrotophos both as 0.05% and neem oil (azadirachtin 1500 ppm) 1% were most effective. The findings of bioassay study on silkworm (Race-Nistari) revealed that insecticides treated leaves fed to silkworm caused a highly significant decline in the commercial characters. Larval weight, effective rate of rearing, cocoon weight, shell weight, SR %, filament length and denier as compared to control up to 14 days of spray. Mulberry leaves treated with dichlorvos (0.1%) and neem oil (1%) showed 95 and 93% survivability up to cocoon formation even after 14 days of spray. Based on the economics and residual effects on silkworm, neem oil (1%) and dichlorvos (0.1%) were the effective treatments in combating the whitefly infestation to mulberry.