Efficacy of insecticides against major sucking insect pests of okra and their effect on natural enemies

Field experiment was conducted at the central research field, during kharif (March to July 2022). The experiment was laidout in RCBD (randomized complete block design). Ten treatments were evaluated against jassid Amrasca biguttula (Ishida) and whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius). At vegetative stage, lowest number of A. biguttula (0.25/ leaf) and B. tabaci (0.12/ leaf) was observed with emamectin benzoate + abamectin @ 0.50 g/ l and chlorantraniliprole + thiamethoxam @ 0.50 ml/ l. respectively, A. biguttula (1.16/ leaf) and B. tabaci (0.33/ leaf) was recorded as lowest with emamectin benzoate + abamectin @ 0.75 g/ l at fruiting stage. The lowest fruit infestation (9.56%) was observed with chlorantraniliprole + thiamethoxam @ 0.75 ml/ l. Maximum number of ladybird beetle, Coccinella septempunctata (L) (2.59/ plant); spider, Hippasa agelenoides (Simon) (1.20/ plant) and green lacewing, Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens) (2.50/ plant) were observed when no insecticide was used. Both chlorantraniliprole + thiamethoxam @ 0.75 ml/ l and emamectin benzoate + abamectin @ 0.75 g/ l led to the least number of C. septempunctata (0.33/ plant). Flubendiamide @ 0.50 g/ l led to insignificant number of H. agelenoides (0.33/ plant). The highest fruit yield (19.56 t/ ha) was achieved from emamectin benzoate + abamectin @ 0.50 g/ l.