1College of Agricultural Sciences, International University of Business Agriculture and Technology, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Department of Entomology, Gazipur Agricultural University, Gazipur1706, Bangladesh
*Correspondence: mramin@gau.edu.bd
Cultivation of malta fruit in Bangladesh is constrained by sucking arthropod pests that reduce yield and quality. A field experiment was conducted from May to October 2024 in the Madhupur tract to evaluate integrated pest management strategies against scale insects, mealybugs, mites and psyllids. The implemented treatments included intercropping combinations, manual pest removal, neem oil, Bio-BTK and synthetic insecticides, namely emamectin benzoate (Proclaim 5 WG) and thiamethoxam (Actara 25 WG). Emamectin benzoate provided the most effective suppression of sucking pests, recording the lowest abundances (11.8 scale insects per plant, 8.5 mealybugs per plant, 8.1 psyllids per leaf and 8.5 mites per branch) and the highest yield (19.1 ± 2.2 MT ha-1), along with the maximum marginal benefit-cost ratio (MBCR) of 25.9, significantly outperforming other treatments (P<0.05). Neem oil and Bio-BTK provided moderate control while supporting beneficial arthropods. Intercropping reduced pest pressure and enhanced predator abundance, supporting sustainable IPM approaches.
Emamectin benzoate, thiamethoxam, azadirachtin, Bacillus thuringiensis, Citrus sinensis, Integrated pest management, Sucking pests
