Efficacy of certain botanical and biopesticides in the control of Spodoptera litura (Fab.) on groundnut.

An experiment was conducted on the efficacy of commercial formulation of Bacillus thuringiensis (Dipel 8 L) and diflubenzuron (Dimilin) with lower concentrations of chlorpyriphos and botanical pesticides against tobacco caterpillar Spodoptera litura (Fab.) on groundnut. The Dipel 0.05 per cent + chlorpyriphos 0.025 per cent followed by Dimilin 0.025 per cent + chlorpyriphos 0.025 per cent were proved superior and significantly effective by reducing 71.86 and 69.26 per cent population, respectively over control, followed by botanical pesticides 1.0 per cent which recorded 64.90 to 59.28 per cent population reduction over control. While the minimum per cent avoidable population was observed in dust formulations.