Field Evaluation of Different Insecticides Against Aonla Aphid, Schoutedenia emblica

In order to find feasible chemical control measures against Schoutedenia emblica (Patel and Kulkarni) (Aphididae: Homoptera), a key pest of aonla (Emblica officinalis Gaertn.(Euphorbiacae) a field experiment was conducted to evaluate four synthetic, one semi-synthetic and one botanical insecticide viz., Dimethoate, Imidacloprid, Spinosad, Profenophos, Acetamiprid and Neem Seed Kernel Extract (NSKE) on cultivar Chakiya. Profenophos and dimethoate were highly effective with quick knock down effect, while imidacloprid and acetamiprid were also highly effective with medium knock down effect and NSKE and spinosad were moderately effective with slower knock down effect. Use of bio-rational and low dose compounds as NSKE or spinosad or imidacloprid or acetamiprid was suggested to be more appropriate in view of safety to natural enemies, particularly, C. sexmaculata, a major predator of S. emblica and minimising residual load on aonla fruits and in environment.