Comparative Effectiveness of Chlorantraniliprole and Neem Leaf Extract against Fall Armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)
Nimra Altaf, Muhammad Arshad, Muhammad Zeeshan Majeed, Muhammad Irfan Ullah, Hamza Latif, Muhammad Zeeshan, Gulfam Yousuf, Muhammad Afzal
Abstract
Fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda ( J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is a destructive insect pest of various economic crops. This species was first reported in Pakistan during 2019, and is now an emerging threat to Pakistan's Agriculture. The main objective of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of a synthetic insecticide Chlorantraniliprole in comparison to different concentrations of single botanical, i.e., neem leaf extract @ (50 ppm and 100 ppm) against FAW larvae in maize. Our findings showed a significant effect (P < 0.001) of these chemicals on the mortality and consumption rate of FAW larvae. Results show that mortality increased in all treatments with time. Recommended dose of chlorantraniliprole (50 ml/100 litre water) insecticide showed 71.0% mortality of FAW on 5 th day, which increased up to 82.0% on the 7 th day after application of treatments. No significant (P > 0.05) difference in larval mortality was observed for chlorantraniliprole (recommended dose) and neem at 100ppm on the 5 th and 7 th day after application. Higher concentration (100ppm) of neem showed 59.0% mortality of FAW larvae on 5 th and 72.0% on the seventh day of application. Chlorantraniliprole reduced 62.9% food consumption on the 5 th day and 71.9% on the 7 th day, while 43.5% on the 5 th day and 51.6% on the 7 th day reduction in food consumption occurred at 100 ppm when compared to the control group. While using 50ppm concentration of neem extract, 20.90% and 27.35% consumption rate was reduced at 5 th and 7 th day respectively. Our findings suggest chlorantraniliprole as an effective insecticide to control FAW larvae in maize crop; however, neem extract at 100 ppm concentration also performed well against this pest. As botanicals have less harmful to humans and the environment than synthetic insecticides, neem leaf extract can be used in integrated pest management programs of FAW.