Flubendiamide, a novel insecticide for management of lepidopteron defoliators in soybean

Flubendiamide 20 WG, a benzenedicarboxamide compound with novel mode of action was evaluated against the major lepidopteron defoliators of soybean namely, Chrysodeixis acuta (Walker), Diachrysia orichalcea (Fabricius), Gesonia gemma Swinhoe, and Spodoptera litura (Fabricius) during 2010 and 2012 rainy seasons under the field conditions at Indore. Three application rates; 50, 60 and 120 g a.i. ha⁻¹ of Flubendiamide 20 WG were tested in comparison to the conventional insecticides viz., Endosulfan 35 EC @ 250g a.i. ha⁻¹ (2010) and Triazophos 40 EC @ 320 g a.i. ha⁻¹ (2012). The application rate of 60 g a.i. ha⁻¹ of Flubendiamide 20 WG was found most effective with better incremental cost benefit ratio as compared to the check insecticides. It has provided significantly better protection to soybean crop from the lepidopteron defoliators up to 15 days after spraying.