Bio-efficacy of insecticides as seed dressers against leaf eating caterpillar, Spodoptera litura (Fab.) infesting Soybean

The present investigation was carried out to study the efficacy of new molecules of insecticides, viz., chlothianidin 600 FS @ 7 and 9 ml/kg seed, thiamethoxam 70 WS @ 5 g/kg seed, imidacloprid 70 WS @ 10 g/kg seed and carbosulfan 25 DS @ 30 g/kg seed against leaf eating caterpillar, Spodoptera litura infesting soybean. Among insecticides, imidacloprid 70 WS @ 10 g/kg seed proved to be most effective treatment in reducing leaf eating caterpillar (1.27 larvae/plant). The next best treatments in order of effectiveness were thiamethoxam 70 WS @ 5 g/kg seed (1.52 larvae/plant), chlothianidin 600 FS @ 9 ml/kg seed (1.61 larvae/plant), chlothianidin 600 FS @ 7 ml/kg seed (1.69 larvae/plant) and carbosulfan 25 SD @ 30 g/kg seed (1.81 larvae/plant). The treatments with imidacloprid 70 WS @ 10 g/kg seed was observed to be relatively safe to natural enemies.