Efficacy of biopesticides against sucking insect pests of chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) and their impact on fruit yield

Efficacy of different biopesicides was evaluated against major sucking insect pests of chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) under foot hills of Nagaland, India during November to May 2021-22. The overall average per cent reduction of sucking insect pest population indicated that Spinosad 45% SC (67.07%) was proved to be significantly superior to control followed by Neem seed powder pellet formulation (52.14%). Among Entomopathogenic fungi Lecanicillium lecanii (44.46%) was the most effective followed by Beauveria bassiana (42.91%) and Metarhizium anisopliae (40.84%). Pongamia oil (32.92%) was found to be the least effective among all the treatments. Spinosad 45% SC was found to have high cost benefit ratio (1:1.82) followed by Lecanicillium lecanii (1:1.75), Beauveria bassiana (1:1.62), Neem seed powder pellet formulation (1:1.47), Metarhizium anisopliae (1:1.44) and Pongamia oil (1:0.99). To ensure healthy and sustainable food production, use of chemical insecticides should be reduced and there is an increasing need to utilize biopesticides available and to develop new biopesticides with different mode of action.