Efficacy of combined application of insecticides and protein attractant against Bemisia tabaci and Bactrocera cucurbitae in bitter gourd

Seven insecticides viz., imidacloprid, acetamiprid, thiamethoxam, spiromesifen, buprofezin, bifenthrin, triazophos against whitefly (Bemisia tabaci Gennadius) and six insecticides viz., malathion, spinosad, fenvalerate, dimethoate, cypermethrin, deltamethrin in combination with attractant, against fruit fly (Bactrocera cucurbitae Coquillett) in bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.) were evaluated under field conditions during spring-summer 2012 and 2013. The results revealed that two sprays of spiromesifen followed by two sprays of dimethoate + protein autolysate recorded the highest per cent reduction of whitefly population over control (65.74%) and 70.53 per cent (with trailing) and 66.09 per cent and 68.24 per cent (without trailing) during 2012 and 2013, respectively. The lowest per cent fruit infestation on weight basis by fruit fly was observed in the treatment T₂ (two sprays of acetamiprid followed by two sprays of spinosad + protein autolysate) i.e., 4.62 per cent (with trailing) and 4.89 per cent (without trailing) in 2012 and 5.48 per cent (with trailing) and 4.40 per cent (without trailing) during spring summer 2013, respectively. The highest marketable fruit yield on weight basis was obtained in the treatment T₂ (104.4q ha⁻¹ (with trailing) & 79.1 q ha¹ (without trailing)) during 2012 and (109.3 q ha⁻¹ (with trailing) & 77.8 q ha⁻¹ (without trailing) during 2013. Spiromesifen and buprofezin were found more effective against whitefly while spinosad was effective against fruit fly in bitter gourd.