Evaluation of Novel and Conventional Insecticides for Management of Mealy Bug, Phenacoccus Solenopsis Tinsley in Punjab

On the basis of LC₅₀ values of insecticides and taking that of profenophos as unity, the order of toxicity of insecticides was same for the both one day old nymph/crawler and adult female. The order of toxicity was spirotetramate > clothianidin > profenophos > thiodicarb > quinalphos > buprofezin > acephate with their relative toxicity values being 5.05, 2.93, 1.00, 0.84, 0.82, 0.29, 0.25 μg mL⁻¹ for one day old nymph/crawlers and 5.29, 2.41, 1.00, 0.96, 0.73, 0.35, 0.19 μg mL⁻¹ for the adult female, respectively. The new molecule, spirotetramate was found to be most toxic to one-day-old nymphs and adult female particularly among the conventional insecticides. Profenophos and thiodicarb proved to be the best insecticides for mealy bug control. Acephate was found to be least toxic against both nymph and adult of mealy bug.