INSECTICIDAL IMPACTS ON FECUNDITY AND LARVAL DAMAGE POTENTIALS OF PINK BOLLWORM Pectinophora gossypiella

Abstract

Pink bollworm (Pectinophora gossypiella) is one of the most notorious insects causing severe damage to cotton crops thought the world. A huge amount of different chemical formulations has been used for the control of P. gossypiella population that affects its biology. The present research was executed to determine the influence of insecticides on adult fecundity and boll damage potentials by the larvae. The results elucidated that a mixture of Deltamethrin+Triazophos had a maximum impact in fecundity reduction and boll damage by the larva when tested at one, three and twenty-four hours of post-application intervals (PAI). The damage to cotton bolls was in the ranges of 27.50±0.57 to 57.50±1.44 at 3 to 144-hours PAIs respectively. Damage to cotton bolls and reduction in fecundity was at the highest 82.50±1.34, and 49.65±1.51% when a mixture of Deltamethrin+Triazophos and Alpha-Cypermethrin were applied at 144-hours PAI respectively. The experimental results highlighted the critical efficacy of the test insecticide for the control of P. gossypiella by reducing the boll damage and oviposition at different intervals of application.