Relative toxicity of commonly used pesticides to different stages of predator Cheilomenes sexmaculata (Fabricius) in cotton

Abstract

Experiment was conducted to evaluate toxicity of thirteen insecticides viz., thiamethoxam 25 WG, buprofezin 25 SC, clothianidin 50 WDG, diafenthiuron 50 WP, fipronil 5 SC, imidacloprid 70 WG, flonicamid 50 WDG, lamda-cyhalothrin 5 EC, methyl parathion 50 EC, thiacloprid 21.7 SC, cypermethrin 10 EC, indoxacarb 15.8 EC and chlorantranilliprole 18.5 SC against different stages of predatory coccinellid, Cheilomenes sexmaculata. Indoxacarb 15.8 E@ 0.008% was highly toxic at 72 hours after treatment against eggs (55.19% mortality). While, indoxacarb 15.8 E@ 0.008% and methyl parathion 50 EC@ 0.05% ware highly toxic at 72 hours after treatment against grubs and adults, with 92.96 and 83.33 per cent mortality of grubs and adults, respectively. Buprofezin 25 SC@ 0.05% caused the lowest mortality at 24, 48 and 72 hour after treatment, of all stages tested, hence can be considered as safer insecticide.