Efficacy and economics of certain insecticides used for the control of sorghum shootfly Atherigona soccata (Rondani) and stem borer Chilo partellus (Swinhoe)

Field trials were carried out in New Delhi, India, to determine the effectiveness of combinations of several insecticides (carbofuran, deltamethrin, fensulfothion, isofenphos and aldicarb, and malathion, endosulfan, carbofuran, phenthoate and carbaryl) in various formulations against the sorghum pests Atherigona soccata Rond. and Chilo partellus (Swinh.), respectively. A foliar application of deltamethrin was less effective and aldicarb in a granular formulation more effective than the other compounds against A. soccata, while all treatments except malathion dust significantly reduced the damage caused by C. partellus. The cost-benefit ratio was most favourable in the case of seed treatment with 5% carbofuran (against A. soccata) plus 2% phenthoate dust (against C. partellus) followed by seed treatment with 5% carbofuran (against A. soccata) plus a granular formulation of endosulfan (against C. partellus)