Evaluation of bioagents against mustard aphid, Lipaphis erysimi (Kaltenbach) (Homoptera: Aphididae), under net covered condition in field

Three bio-agents viz., Coccinella septempunctata (Linnaeus), Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens) and Verticillium lecanii (Zimmerman) were evaluated against mustard aphid Lipaphis erysimi (Kaltenbach) under net covered condition in the field at National Research Centre on Rapeseed-Mustard, Sewar, Bharatpur (Rajasthan), during 2005–06 and 2006–07. C. septempunctata @ 5,000 beetles/ha was found to be most effective by reducing 88.17 percent aphid population after 10 days of release, followed by V. lecanii @ 10⁸ spores/ml (75.79 percent) and C. septempuactata @ 3,000 beetles/ha (65.46 percent), Maximum yield was recorded with the release of C. septempunctata @ 5,000 beetles/ha followed by V. lecanii @ 108 spores/ml and C. septempunctata @ 3,000 beetles/ha.