Abstract

The toxicity of insect growth regulators and neonicotinoid-based insecticides recommended for the management of cotton mealy bug, Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley were compared and tested for their toxicity against different developmental stages of predatory coccinellid Cheilomenes sexmaculata (Fabricius). Buprofezin recorded significantly higher (76.66%) hatching of eggs of C. sexmaculata, followed by endosulfan (73.33%), imidacloprid (70.00%) and chlorpyriphos (63.33%). The cumulative mortality of second instar grubs and adults were found to be highest in clothianidin, profenophos, imidacloprid, chlorpyriphos, acephate and thiodicarb. The emergence of adults from the treated pupae was highest in buprofezin (83.33%), endosulfan (76.67%) and profenophos (53.33%). Buprofezin was found to be the safest insecticide, followed by endosulfan to all the stages of C. sexmaculata and pupae were found to be resistant to the insecticides as compared to the eggs.

Keywords: Cheilomenes sexmaculata, cotton, toxicity, buprofezin.