New Horizons in Insect Science Towards Sustainable Pest Management

394 C. M. Naik et al.

tract. The unsprayed cashew trees without ants
recorded maximum percentage TMB damage
of 47.42 + 3.71 and 52.36 + 3.86 in coastal and
maidan tracts, respectively. Higher nut yield of
3.70 and 2.43 kg/tree was recorded on trees fully
colonized with O. smaragdina.

Effect of Biopesticides and Insecticide

on TMB

Data on effectiveness of treatments were record-
ed at 10, 20 and 30 days after treatment. Mono-
crotophos (0.05 %) treated trees at flushing regis-
tered significantly less TMB damage (14.82 %).
Maximum flush damage of 26.73 % was recorded
with microbial pesticide B. bassiana at 30 DAT.
Among botanicals, Pongamia seed kernel ex-
tract (2 %) was significantly superior over neem
products. These observations are in concurrence
with the findings of Thirumalaraju et al. ( 1997 ;
Table 3 ).
Endosulfan (0.05 %) recorded 16.72 % dam-
age on panicle at 30 DAT, and it was significantly
superior over the botanicals and entomopathogen
B. bassiana. The new molecule, λ-cyhalothrin
(0.005 %), was at par with endosulfan (0.05 %).
These two insecticidal treatments were signifi-
cantly superior over other treatments. The first
spray of monocrotophos (0.05 %) on the new flush
and λ-cyhalothrin (0.005 %) on the panicle were
at par with the recommended sprays of monocro-
tophos and endosulfan at the respective stages of

the crop. The botanicals and the microbial pesti-

cide alone were not effective against TMB.

During nut and fruit developmental stages,

carbaryl (0.10 %) in the sequential spray sched-

ule of monocrotophos (0.05 %)—λ-cyhalothrin

(0.005 %) recorded the least percentage TMB

damage of 4.36 % at 30 DAT, and it was at par

with the recommended spray schedule: monocro-

tophos (0.05 %)—endosulfan (0.05)—carbaryl

(0.10 %). The undamaged nuts appeared spotless,

healthy and larger at nut developmental stage, 30

days after treatment. Botanicals, viz. pongamia

oil, neem oil, NSKE and the microbial B. bassi-

ana, alone were not effective against TMB. How-

ever, PSKE (2 %) was found effective in combat-

ing the menace.

It is evident that the sequential sprays of mono-

crotophos (0.05 %)—λ-cyhalothrin (0.005 %)—

carbaryl (0.10 %) at flushing, panicle and nut

and fruit developmental stages were effective

in combating TMB. The effectiveness of mono-

crotophos (0.05 %)—λ-cyhalothrin (0.005 %)—

carbaryl (0.10 %) was in confirmation with

the findings of Bhat and Raviprasad ( 2007 ).

Highest mean nut yield of 1106.57 kg/ha was

recorded in sequential spray schedules: mono-

crotophos (0.05 %)—λ-cyhalothrin (0.005 %)—

carbaryl (0.10 %), followed by monocroto-

phos (0.05 %)—endosulfan (0.05 %)—carbaryl

(0.10 %; 879.91 kg/ha; Table 4 ). Lower nut yield

in botanicals and B. bassiana treated trees may

be due to high percentage damage by TMB on

flushing, panicle and nut and fruit developmen-

Table 3 Effect of O. smaragdina colonization on infestation of H. antonii on cashew
Zone Sprayed/
non-sprayed
plantation

Colonization

of Oecophylla

smaragdina

No. of Oecophylla

smaragdina

workers/tree

No. of trees

observed

Percentage

damage by

TMB

Nut yield

Coastal
Karnataka

Sprayed None (Few) < 20 52 12.30 + 2.31 4.30
Non-sprayed None (Moderate) < 20 32 47.42 + 3.71 1.76
Non-sprayed Part Moderate > 20–50 21 23.40 + 2.16 2.18
Non-sprayed Full Abundant > 500–1000 35 1 1.40 + 1.87 3.70
Maidan
Karnataka

Sprayed None (Few) < 20 28 8.35 + 1.62 2.60
Non-sprayed None (Moderate) < 20 17 52.36 + 3.86 1.02
Non-sprayed Part Moderate > 20–50 18 20.12 + 2.05 1.52
Non-sprayed Full Abundant > 500–1000 16 8.71 + 1.23 2.43
None cashew trees with no ants, Part part of the cashew tree canopy colonized by ants, Full entire tree canopy colo-
nized by ants