Assessment of the effectiveness of different botanicals and chemical insecticide in managing Epilachna beetle, Epilachna dodecastigma (Wied.)

Neem Oil, Mehagony Oil, Bishkatali Leaf Extract, pithraj seed extract and Diazinon 60 EC were assessed for their effectiveness in managing Epilachna beetle, Epilachna dodecastigma (Wied.). A local variety of Sweet Gourd was planted in Entomology Field Laboratory of Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU), Mymensingh following Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. The highest incidence of Epilachna beetle/Plant was 7.67 and the highest percentage of infested leaves (11.27%) was observed at 60 DAT. Beetle Population along with percentage of infested leaves declined at fruiting stage due to the maturity of the leaves. The effectiveness of the treatments against the pest was evaluated on the basis of percent reduction of beetle population at 24, 48 & 72 HAT in field level. In all spray intervals, mean reduction percentage of beetle population reached the peak point in Diazinon 60 EC @ 2.5 ml/L treated plots, whereas mean reduction percentage showed a declining trend in Bishkatali Leaf Extract @ 8% other than 2 nd spray. Though Neem, mahogany, biskatali, pithraj treated plots showed significant variation over untreated control in aspects of percent population reduction of Epilachna beetle, neem oil at 13% concentration was the most effective among them. Effectiveness of botanicals and synthetic insecticide increased with the increase of concentration.