Efficacy of Newer Insecticides against Sucking Pests of Black Gram (Vigna Mungo L.)

Afield experiment was carried out to evaluate the efficacy of some newer insecticide molecules against major sucking pests on black gram and their impact on associated natural enemies and incremental benefit. Out of twelve treatments tested, ten were from novel groups including spinetoram, flonicamid, diafenthiuron, pyriproxyfen, spiromesifen, dinotefuran, clothianidin, cyantraniliprole, fipronil and pymetrozine. Whitefly, leaf hopper, aphid and flower thrips were recorded as major sucking pests. Diafenthiuron emerged as the most effective insecticide against whitefly (97.7% reduction), leaf hopper (91.2%) and aphid (96.2%) and yielded the highest (1208.33 kg ha^-1). Fipronil significantly controlled flower thrips (86.2%) as compared to other treatments. All the tested treatments did not show any detrimental impact on associated natural enemies. Clothianidin treated plots resulted in highest incremental cost benefit ratio (1:25.8) followed by flonicamid (1:18.7), dinotefuran (1:16.7) and diafenthiuron (1:15.6), highlighting their economic feasibility in integrated management program.