Field Efficacy of Different Insecticides against Pink Bollworm Pectinophora gossypiella (Saunders)

Pink bollworm, Pectinophora gossypiella (Saunders) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) is an important pest of cotton worldwide, which causes significant economic loss to cotton growers. Its control under field condition is difficult, as it remains inside the boll and feeds therein until pupation. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate different insecticides viz, emamectin benzoate, spinetoram, indoxacarb, spinosad, cypermethrin, profenofos, chlorantraniliprole, bifenthrin, fanpropathrin, pyridalyl and flubendamide for the management of pink bollworm in cotton during 2021 and 2022. The results revealed that emamectin benzoate was found to be the most effective insecticide in terms of low larval population, green boll damage, open boll damage and locule damage followed by spinetoram. Seed cotton yield was found to be maximum in emamectin benzoate (23.86 and 27.46 q ha^-1) and spinetoram (27.46 and 26.55 q ha^-1) during both years.