Toxicity of different insecticides against Spodoptera litura (Fabricius) in Punjab, India

Toxicity of different insecticides was evaluated against Spodoptera litura (Fab.) populations collected from three different locations viz. Malerkotla, Hoshiarpur and Mansa of Punjab. Based on LC₅₀ values obtained, indoxacarb was found to be most toxic against all the pest populations followed bb thiodicarb, chlorpyriphos and spiposad. Cypermethrin and fenvalerate were found to be less toxic to all the populations in comparison with other tested insecticides indicating development of resistance. Acephate was found to be least toxic against all the tested populations. The new molecules viz. indoxacarb with LC₅₀ value (0.00001–0.00003%) and thiodicarb with LC₅₀ values (0.00039–0.0010%) proved to be extremely toxic and almost all the populations indicated high level of susceptibility to these insecticides. These insecticides can thus prove to be promising substitutes for the effective control of insecticide resistant population of S. litura.