Department of Entomology, Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar
* Part of M.Sc. thesis of senior author submitted to Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, 1986
The lac insect, Kerria lacca Kerr, besides being useful is also a potential pest of some fruit and avenue trees in Haryana. Two field experiments were conducted to evaluate 4 systemic and 6 non-systemic (including two synthetic pyrethroids) insecticides against ‘Katki’ and ‘Basaikhi’ broods of the Lacciferid, on ‘ber’, Zizyphus mauri-tiana Lamk. as well as ‘pilkhan’, Ficus infectoria L. hosts. The maximum pest mortality (65%) was caused by 0.05 per cent fenitrothion at 3 days post treatment. However, on 7th and 10th day after application, the systemic insecticides proved superior to all other treatments. Spray of oxydemeton-methyl, monocrotophos or dimethoate at 0.03 per cent, soon after settlement of motile crawlers of ‘Katki’ (1st half of August) and ‘Basaikhi’ (1st half of December) generations seemed the most effective and could be recommended for control of K. lacca on fruit/avenue trees.
