Field efficacy and economics of neonicotinoids and biopesticides against peach leaf curl aphid, Brachycaudus helichrysi (Kalt.)

Studies on bio-efficacy of neonicotinoids, biopesticides/plant products and their combinations carried out againstpeach leafcurlaphid, Brachycaudus helichrysi (Kaltenbach) infesting peach revealed foliar application of imidacloprid and thiamethoxam (both @ 0.008%) at pink bud stage followed by at fruit set stage the most effective (<10% infestation). The biopesticides/plant products were not found effective. The pruning treatment was found superior over the biopesticides treatments and control. The treatments where oxy-demeton methyl was used as second spray at fruit set, the coccinellid, Coccinellase ptempunctata population was adversely affected. The avoidable loss in the treatments where imidacloprid/thiamethoxam was used as first spray followed by oxy demeton methyl application was appreciable (around 65%).