Comparative toxicity of insecticides and biopesticides against Spodoptera litura (F.)

The toxicity of some insecticides viz. alphamethrin, endosulphan, flubendiamide and indoxacarb, and biopesticides like emamectin benzoate, novaluron and spinosad was evaluated against first and third instar larvae of Spodoptera litura (F.) by leaf dip method. The studies were conducted during 2011 in the Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture, CSK Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, Palampur. The LC₅₀ value of emamectin benzoate to first instar larvae was 6.80 x 10⁻⁷ % and against third instar it was 4.23 x 10⁻⁶ %. The relative toxicity to first instar indicated that emamectin benzoate, indoxacarb, spinosad, flubendiamide, alphamethrin and novaluron were 15300, 3570, 6.44, 4.16, 4.10 and 2.43 times, respectively more toxic than endosulphan. Almost similar trend was observed against third instar except some minor changes. The studies indicated that emamectin benzoate and indoxacarb were most toxic to S. litura larvae.