Efficacy of botanicals, biopesticides and insecticide against pulse beetle, Callosobruchus chinensis Linn. on Bengal gram

A laboratory experiment was undertaken during July to November 2002. Malathion 50EC @ 1 ml/litre of water as surface treatment was the most effective to achieve 100 per cent mortality of adult pulse beetle followed by neemazal and ipomoea, respectively in 1, 3 and 6 hours after treatment. No egg laying and adult emergence was found in malathion treated seeds. Among other treatments, neemazal 5000 ppm @ 6 ml/litre as surface treatment was recorded to be the most effective in reducing egg laying and adult emergence of this bruchid followed by ipomoea, citronella, Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki and granulosis virus than control. Plant products and biopesticides also delayed adult emergence as well as the life cycle of this beetle.