Evaluation of newer insecticides against chilli aphids and their effect on natural enemies

The cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii (Glover) and the peach green aphid, Myzus persicae (Sulzer) are commonly found infesting chillies. Small, ovate, soft greenish brown sluggish nymphs and adults are found in large colonies on the under surface of leaves and growing shoots of plants, sucking the cell sap. The aphids also secrete honey dew on which black sooty mould develops covering the leaves and twigs. This black coating hinders the photosynthetic activity of the plant causing further retardation in growth and fruiting capacity of the plant (Butani, 1976). Chilli is a crop subjected to scheduled application of insecticides and acaricides. The pesticidal sprays have become a threat to chilli ecosystem causing resurgence of pest and threat to natural enemy fauna. Pesticide residues in chilli are of great concern from the point of view of domestic consumption and export as well. The risk of using chemical insecticides in the management strategies can be reduced by incorporating safer molecules of chemicals so that the pest could be managed with least problems to the natural enemy fauna and least residues in edible part. The aim of study was to identify the biorational insecticidal molecule that is effective in managing chilli aphids and to prove the safety of these insecticide molecules to its predators.