Chemical Control of Prodenia Litura Fb. (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) On Cauliflower

In laboratory tests the larvae of Prodenia litura Fb. were exposed to sprayed cauliflower leaves and their mortality was recorded after 1, 2, 3 and 6 days of the treatment. Out of the twenty treatments, including control, BHC 0.2 per cent spray was the least effective and was no better than the control. It seems that the pest has developed resistance to BHC in this area. Effective control of the pest was obtained with 0.1 per cent Gardona, 0.1 per cent endosulfan, 0.08 per cent malathion, 0.05 per cent dichlorvos, 0.2 per cent trichlorfon, 0.05 per cent endrin and 0.05 per cent methyl para-thion. When the crop is near harvesting Gardona, malathion or dichlorvos may be used. DDT both at 0.1 and 0.2 per cent, methyl parathion and diazinon at 0.025 per cent and trichlorfan at 0.1 per cent were relatively ineffective. There are indications that the pest might develop resistance to DDT, which is being recommended for the control of this pest in Haryana.