Management of pomegranate aphid, Aphis punicae (passerini) with new insecticides

Field evaluation of new insecticides for the management of pomegranate aphid, Aphis punicae was carried out at Bijapur-Karnataka for two years during 2010 and 2011. The study revealed that thiamethoxam 25 WG @ 0.2 g/l recorded highest reduction in population followed by imidacloprid 70 WG @ 0.3g/l. During first year, the mean reduction with thiamethoxam was 90.19 and 94.10% after first and second spay, whereas during second year, the reduction was to the extent of 91.19 and 93.42%, respectively. Similarly, during 2010, imidacloprid recorded 87.92 and 90.39% reduction in population after first and second sprays whereas during 2011 it was 89.73 and 93.42%. The trees sprayed with thiamethoxam (9105 kg/ha) and imidacloprid (9038 kg/ha) recorded highest quantity of marketable fruits. Thus thiamethoxam and imidacloprid recorded highest gross returns, net returns and maximum B:C ratio.