Biological Control
Habitat Management for Conservation of
Natural Enemies
Field trial was conducted on habitat management
through artificial structures and border cropping with
other suitable crops for augmentation and
conservation of spiders in rice during 2007-08 at
Atterna village (Sonipat-Haryana). The experiment
was conducted with Pusa Sugandh 4 (Pusa 1121) as
the main crop with 5 treatments i.e. straw
bundles+maize (T1), straw bundles +sunnhemp (T2),
straw bundles+Sesbania (T3), only straw bundles (T4)
and control (T5) without any additional structure or
border crop. Each plot measured 0.5 acre in size. The
straw bundles were prepared with wheat straw stuffed
in plastic nets. Each bundle was about 3 feet in length
and 10 inches in diameter. Both the ends of these
bundles were tied with plastic rope. These bundles
were placed in sorghum fields for charging with spiders
and other natural enemies. After 15 days of charging,
these bundles were fixed vertically with bamboo sticks
@ 20 bundles /ha in paddy field having 20 days old
transplanted seedlings. Pheromone traps @ 5 traps/
ha were also installed in all the experimental fields to
monitor stem borer popoulation. One release of
Trichogramma japonicum @100,000 adults/ha was
carried out in 1st week of September to mange stem
borer. Control plot involved two insecticide sprays, one
in August and the other in September. The
observations on the infestation and population of
natural enemies especially spiders were recorded from
twenty hills selected randomly in each plot at 10 days
interval.
The observation made on charging of the straw
bundle for 15 days in sorghum fields indicated that
each bundle contained 25-50 spider adults, 12-15
spider egg masses, 400-800 spiderlings and 15-35
earwigs. The results on the population dynamics of
spiders indicated that the number of adult spiders on
paddy plants remained highest in the treatment having
straw bundles+maize (T1; 1.70/hill) followed by the
treatment having only straw bundle (T4; 1.69/hill),
straw bundles+sunnhemp (T2; 1.50/hill) and straw
bundles+Sesbania (T3; 1.30/hill) (Fig. 14). Control (T5)
indicated lowest population of spiders (0.4/hill)
throughout the season. In September maximum
spiders on the plant remained confined to lower part
of the plant (upto 10 inches above the ground) as
compared to middle (10-20 inches above the ground)
and upper part (20 inches above the ground. On the
ground, the population of spiders remained highest in
Rice fields showing straw bundles with different border crops.
34
Annual Report 2007–08
Biological Control
the treatment having only straw bundle followed by
straw bundles +Sesbania, straw bundles + maize,
straw bundles +sunnhemp and lowest in control. On
the ground, most of the spiders belonged to Lycosidae
(Wolf spiders) and Salticidae (Jumping spiders)
families.
In all the treatments (T1 to T4) having straw bundles
or straw bundle along with border crops, the population
of leaf folder and yellow stem borer remained lower
(range 1.7-3.9 per cent) than the control (T5; 3.4 and
5.2 per cent respectively) (Table 29). Harvest data
Chilli as intercrop in brinjal
Fig. 14. Population of spiders on plants (No./hill)
in different treatments
Table 29. Infestation of insect pests and population of natural
enemies (other than spiders) in different treatments in paddy
Treatment
Paddy+ Straw
Paddy+ Straw
Paddy+ Straw
Paddy+ Straw
Paddy (T-5)
Insect pests (%)
bundles+ Maize (T-1)
bundles+ Sun hemp (T-2)
bundles+ Sesbania (T-3)
bundles (T-4)
Stem
borer
Leaf
folder
2.9
3.2
3.2
3.9
5.2
1.7
1.9
2.0
2.2
3.4
Fig. 15. Paddy yield (q/ha) in different treatments
indicated highest paddy yield in T-2 followed by T3,
T4, T1 and T5 (Fig. 15).
Field trial was conducted on conservation of natural
enemies in brinjal in farmers’ field at Atterna with
Golden Hybrid (Hybrid 321). Transplanting of 45 days
old nursery was carried out on 24.07.2007. The
experiment included three treatments i.e. Brinjal +
Maize+Coriander (T-1), Brinjal + Chilli + Cowpea (T2) and Brinjal (T-3). Each plot was of 0.5 acre in size.
The coriander was sown 1-day before brinjal as
intercrop. Cowpea was sown after 30 days of
transplanting of brinjal in 3 rows in the entire field
whereas chilli was sown after 20 days of brinjal
transplanting in 4 rows on water channel prepared for
irrigation in the field. The other interventions in T1 and
T2 included installation of pheromone traps for shoot/
fruit borer (Leucinodes orbonalis) @20 traps/ha, 6-8
sprays of chemical insecticides for managing the borer,
two sprays of neem seed powder extract (5%) and
one release of T. chilonis @100000 adults/ha. The
control (T3) included the installation of pheromone
traps @ 5 traps /ha and 12 sprays of chemical
insecticides. Observations on the infestation and
population of natural enemies were recorded at weekly
interval on 20 plants /plot at regular interval. Weekly
observations were also recorded on shoot/fruit borer
moth catches in pheromone traps.
The infestation of shoot/fruit borer ranged from 520% in treatment T1 and T2 against 40-45% in T-3 in
September. Infestation of the borer increased to 7085% in all the treatments (T1 to T3) in October and
November months. The infestation declined to low level
in December.
Adult spiders on plants ranged from 0.1-1.9 and
0.2-2.3 adults/plant in T1 and T2, respectively, as
okf"kZd izfrosnu
35
NCIPM
Table 30. Infestation of Leucinodes orbonalis and natural enemies in different treatments
Treatment
Infestation of Leucinodes orbonalis (%)
Sept.
Oct.
T1 (Brinjal + Maize + Coriander)
14.8
(6.5-20.0)
67.4
(55.4-70.0)
T2 (Brinjal + chilli + cowpea)
12.5
(5.0-18.4)
66.2
(55.0-72.0)
T3 (Brinjal)
34.4
(42.2-51.3)
68.6
(56.4-75.6)
compared 0.1-0.8 adult/plant in T3 in September
(Table 29). The spiders on the ground ranged from 0.2
to 2.3/m2, which were mainly form from Lycosidae
(Wolf spiders) and Salticidae (Jumping spiders)
Natural enemies
Spiders
Other predators
Ground :
0.15 to 1.6/ m2
Plant:
0.1-1.9/plant
Ground :
0.15 to 2.3/ m2
Plant:
0.1-0.80/plant
Ground :
0.15 to 1.65/ m2
Plant:
0.1-0.80/plant
Coccinella septumpunctata,
Cheilomenes sexmaculatus,
Chrysoperla carnea ,
Preying mantids
C. carnea, C.
septumpunctata, C.
sexmaculatus, syrphid fly,
Preying mantids
C. septumpunctata,
C. sexmaculatus
families. The spiders on the plant were dominated by
crab spiders. Spider population in October was
reduced to traces in all the treatments due to hoeing
and weeding operation and frequent pesticide sprays.
Important natural enemies in Brinjal+chilli+cowpea
(Mentis, Chrysoperla carnea, Coccinella septumpunctata, Chilomenes sexmaculatus)
36
Annual Report 2007–08
Biological Control
Population of coccinellids and other natural enemies
remained highest in T-2. Control (T3) recorded very
low population of natural enemies. The common
natural enemies recorded were Chrysoperla carnea,
Coccinella septumpunctata, Chilomenes sexmaculatus,
syrphid fly and preying mantids (Table 30).
Development of innovative methods and
techniques for the mass multiplication of
natural enemies
The objective was made to design, develop and
standardize the low cost methods and techniques for
the mass multiplication.
a) Designing and validation of “A field kit for the
multiplication of insect larval parasitoid i.e.,
Bracon species”
A field kit for the multiplication of insect larval
parasitoid i.e., Bracon species was designed and field
validated in sesame crop in a village named Bhora
Khurd (Distt. Gurgaon:Haryana). The objective of this
kit was to facilitate the multiplication of larval parasitoid
i.e., Bracon species in the crop fields.
The impact of this kit was studied in managing the
insect pest i.e., sesame leaf webber/capsule borer
(Antigastra catalaunalis) in sesamum crop. This field
kit provides a readily available food source and an
alternative oviposition site to the parasitoid, allowing
parasitoid numbers to increase in abundance in the
crop fields. The insect cages containing food for mass
multiplication of host insect i.e., Corcyra larvae were
installed on this kit in the sesame crop field to reinforce
the parasitization of A. catalaunalis by Bracon hebetor
under natural condition to keep a check on pest
Table 31. Impact of the technique
Treatment
Yield
Total
Plant
(q/ha) returns/ Protection
(Rs.) ha (Rs.) cost/ha (Rs.)
No plant protection 2.0
measures(Kharif
2006)
Use of field kit for
3.69
the multiplication of
larval parasitoids i.e.,
Bracon spp.(Kharif
2007)
5,400
Nil
17,712
47.5
Net
returns/
ha (Rs.)
5400
17,664.5
Kharif 2006, rate of sesamum seeds: Rs. 2,700/=
Kharif 2007, rate of sesamum seeds: Rs. 4,800/=
The technique has already been applied for getting Patent
(Surender Kumar Singh, Desh Bandhu Ahuja, Dinesh Kumar Garg
and Amerika Singh, 2007).
population. The farmers were educated about the
benefit and role of bio-intensive IPM technologies and
with their participatory approach, this kit was validated.
The population of A. catalaunalis remained well under
control thoughout the crop season and the
pest population was found in traces. The til hawk
moth incidence was there on the crop and the
larvae were collected by hand and destroyed. The
crop yield data was also collected and compared with
the yield data of kharif season 2006 and presented in
Table 31.
The precise advantage of this kit are:
1. The hosts provided female parasites with a
readily available food source and an alternative
oviposition site, allowing parasitoid numbers to
increase in advance of the pest population.
2. There is no need to store the Bracon wasps and
then release in the field. By this kit the population
of the parasitic wasps can any time be increased
upto the desired number by increasing the food
and host insect cultures in the kit.
3. The individual or a group of farmers can use this
kit for the multiplication of the parasitic wasps
for use under different crop agro-ecosystems.
4. The dependency on the chemical pesticides for
the control of insect pests on the crops can be
reduced by the use of this kit.
5. The parasitic wasps can be multiplied in the kit
throughout the crop season.
6. The natural control balance between insect pest
and natural enemies which at present is lost due
to the mortality of natural enemies by the
unjudicious use of chemicals over the years may
be restored in the different agro – ecosystems
and alike by the use of this kit.
The impact study of this technology will also be
carried out in the next kharif season 2008 in the
sesamum fields.
Designing and validation of a new “Non-sticky
Yellow Insect Trap”
A new “Non-sticky Yellow Insect Trap” was designed,
fabricated and validated in the mustard agroecosystem in a village named Ktewra, New Delhi. The
ordinary available yellow sticky trap in the market at
present has a number of disadvantages like replacing
them frequently (the sticky material becomes nonfunctional over time due to dust storm i.e., soil
particles, insect attached to its sticky surface, washing
of the sticky materials with rains etc.) and these
shortcomings have been well overcome in this newly
okf"kZd izfrosnu
37
NCIPM
designed trap and its different models were validated
and improved.
Management of Spododptera litura in
Soybean based cropping system
Spodoptera litura (Tobacco cutworm) is a polyphagous pest and is widely distributed in India. S. litura
is affecting about 150 host species such as soybean,
cotton, cruciferous, vegetables, cucurbits, groundnut,
tobacco and hot pepper. Other host include
ornamentals, wild plants, weeds and shade trees.
During the recent past the insect has caused
widespread epidemic on soybean in central India
during August-September and also on cotton in
Punjab, Rajasthan, and Haryana during late
September and October 2004. Earlier the pest had
attained epidemic status but in the recent episode it
is more disturbing.
To monitor the population of Spodoptera litura and
its natural enemies at regular intervals in different field
crops, a village name Nathupura, Distt. Sonipat,
Haryana was selected and the sex pheromone traps
were installed in the cauliflower fields in December,
2007 and the lure was changed regularly and the
trapped male moth data were collected regularly
presented in Fig. 16. The population of the male moth
of S. litura was found trapped regularly and throughout
the season, however, the population of the male moth
was low particularly during 4 th to 8 th standard
meteorological weeks and after this period it started
increasing.
Male moth catch
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
S1 S2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Standard Meteorological weeks
9 10 11
Fig. 16. Average male moth catch of S.litura in cauliflower at
Sonepat, Haryana during 2007
Similarly, the population of the male moth of S. litura
was found trapped regularly and throughout the
cauliflower crop season in adopted village Ktewra, New
Delhi and Chhelu ki patti, Palwal, Haryana.
In village Ktewra, New Delhi, the population of the
38
Annual Report 2007–08
male moth was low upto the 8 th standard
meteorological weeks and it started increasing
afterwards. In village Chhelu ki patti, Palwal, Haryana,
the population of the male moth was low particularly
during 4th to 8th standard meteorological weeks and it
started increasing afterwards.
MM 3.3 Development, validation, utilization
and / or commercialization of bio pesticides
and bio inoculants
Procedure for rearing of mealy bug, Phenococcus
solenopsis, the dominant spp. in the North and Central
Zones has been standardized. The culture is now being
maintained at PDBC, NCIPM, CICR, Nagpur and Sirsa
for evaluation of entomopathogens. Field survey was
carried out in North Zone for collection of mealy bug
cadavers from cotton stalks. Verticillium lecanii was
isolated from these cadavers and is being multiplied
for evaluation.
PDBC has provided fifteen isolates (Vl-1 to Vl-5,
Vl-2a, Vl-2c, Vl-2d, Vl-3a, Vl-3d, Vl-3g, Vl-7, Vl-8, Vl-9
& Vl-10) of V. lecanii for evaluation against mealy bugs
to NCIPM, CICR, Nagpur and Sirsa. Field testing of
different formulations of V. lecanii along with important
insecticides against P. solenopsis carried out at Sirsa
indicated maximum reduction in the population of
crawlers in profenophos followed by V. lacanii
formulations. A clear response of increased doses was
also seen in all V. lecanii treatments. Maximum mortality
of 93.2% was observed in case of V. lecanii culture
received from PDBC at 7.5 &10g/l concentrations.
Almost similar trend of results was observed in case
of different treatments tested in combination with
sticker but the mortality started early and was more
as compared to treatments tested without sticker.
Quinalphos, profenophos, carbaryl and chloropyriphos
were found to be non compatibility with V. lecanii
cultures as they caused more than 80% inhibition.
Fifteen isolates of Trichodema harzianum, T. viride,
and T. virens have been isolated and are now being
maintained for evaluation against the foliar diseases
of cotton at UAS, Dharwad. Twenty five isolates of
Ramularia areola causing grey mildew in Karnataka,
Coimbatore and Maharastra and isolates of
Rhizoctonia bataticola, Alternaria macrospora ,
Xanthomonas axonopodis pv malvacearum and
Verticillium albo-atrum have been collected and
maintained for future research with antagonistic fungi
and bacteria. Giant culture medium (Maize and sand
1:3) was prepared for 17 isolates of Sclerotium rolfsii
Biological Control
a
b
c
Rearing of mealy bug, Phenococcus solenopsis in the laboratory
a. on sprouted potato; b & c a close-up view
and inoculated to the pots of 2 Bt cotton and 1 non Bt
cotton genotypes to find out the virulent isolates.
Spraying the debris with nematode suspension
(5000 nematodes / ml) of Heterorhabditis indica and
Steinernema riobrave was found to cause mortality of
red cotton bug by 78-75% at CICR Nagpur and S.
riobrave recorded higher mortality of mealy bug female.
Out of 100 soil samples collected from the
rhizosphere of cotton from different cotton growing
regions of Tamil Nadu by CICR Coimbatorre, 5
samples were positive for Heterorhabditis sp. and 11
for Streinernema sp. Bacterial symbionts Xenorhabdus
sp. and Photorhabdus sp. (based on biochemical
characterization were isolated from entomopathogenic
nematodes. Out of 16 bacterial symbionts isolated,
Xeno-1, Xeno-12 and Photo -3 were found to be highly
pathogenic against mealy bug. Primary phase alone
was found to be pathogenic to mealy bug. Method for
mass multiplication of bacterial symbiont was
standardized.
Screening of Metarhizium anisopliae, Beauveria
bassiana and B. brongniartii against Mealy bug under
laboratory condition at CICR, RS, Coimbatore
indicated only 10-20 % mortality.
okf"kZd izfrosnu
39