Evaluation of bio-pesticides against lepidopterous pests of cabbage

Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki formulations viz. delfin, dipel, halt, biobit, biolep, bioasp, botanical insecticide neemgold, nematode (Steinernema feltiae), green commandos and endosulfan insecticide were evaluated against lepidopterous pests of cabbage under field conditions. Delfin was very effective in reducing the population of cabbage leaf webber, Crocidolomia binotalis (67.6%) and diamond back moth, Plutella xylostella (57.1%). Dipel was equally effective against these pests and recorded 67.4 and 56.2% reduction, respectively. Endosulfan proved to be effective against tobacco caterpillar Spodoptera litura, which recorded 55.4% reduction. All the test insecticides were found to be safe and did not show any adverse effect on coccinellid population under field conditions.