Efficacy of insecticides in controlling Sternochetus gravis (Fabricius).
Dey K., Pande Y. D.
Author Affiliation: Calcutta Univ., Post-Graduate Cent., Agartala, Tripura 799?004, India.
Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences 57 : 678-680
Abstract : The efficacy of 11 insecticides against the curculionid Sternochetus gravis [S. frigidus] on mango was assessed in field studies in Tripura, India, in 1984. All the treatments were effective in reducing infestations by the pest. Three trials were conducted: in the first the insecticides were sprayed at flowering; in the second when the fruits were marble-sized; and in the third when the fruits were half-grown. Fenvalerate at 0.02% was the most effective treatment in all 3 trials, and in general, persistent insecticides with contact action were more effective than systemic ones in reducing infestations. All the insecticides were more effective when applied to marble-sized fruits than at flowering or when fruits were half-grown. It is suggested that a single foliar application of an effective persistent insecticide with strong contact toxicity is given at the onset of fruit-setting to keep infestations below economic injury level.