Directorate of Biological Research, Forest Resehrch Institute & Colleges, Dehra Dun-248 006, Uttar Pradesh (India).
*Present address: Entomology Division, Defence Research and Development Establishment, Tansen Road. Gwalior-474 002 (M.P.) (India).
Three synthetlc pyrethroids, viz., deltamethrin, cypermethrin and permethrin emulsifiable concentrates were evaluated as ovicides against the eggs of poplar defoliator, Pygaera fulgurita Walk. under laboratory conditions. It was observed that the percentage of unhatched eggs increased with the corresponding increase in concentration of each insecticide from 0.00005 to 0.005 per cent. Deltamethrin showed the maximum ovicidal activity, the mortality of eggs being 100.00 per cent with 0.001 and 0.005% concentrations. This was followed by cypermethrim giving 87.69 per cent mortality of eggs with 0.005% concentration. The least effective insecticide was permethrin where only 68.75 per cent mortality was obtained with 0.005% concentration.
