Efficacy of Biopesticides against banana scarring beetle, Basilepta subcostatum Jacoby

A field experiment was conducted during 2006–07 at Rajendra Agricultural University, Pusa, Bihar, India to test the efficacy of one entomopathogenic fungus (Beauveria bassiana) and three neem products against banana scarring beetle, Basilepta subcostatum Jacoby. Among the treatments tested, B. bassiana(5g/L) and azadirachtin (5ml/L) were highly effective and on par with carbaryl, which was used as check. The efficacy was measured in terms of fruit damage, beetle population, number of scars, pulp-skin ratio, TSS and benefit-cost ratio. The results suggested that an ecofriendly management strategy can be developed by including these products.