Evaluation of Azadirachtin on Mortality and Feeding Inhibition Efficacy of <I>Anomala blanchardi</I> Blanch (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), a Major Pest of Primary Tasar Food Plants

Abstract

The May-June beetle, Anomala blanchardi Blanch is one of the major pests of primary tasar food plants, Terminalia arjuna Bedd. and T. tomentosa W & A causing 10-15% loss to the foliage with an average incidence of 15-20 adults per bush. An experiment was undertaken to evaluate the effect of Amrutguard a Neem (Azadirachta indica A. juss) formulation on mortality and feeding inhibition efficacy against adults of A. blanchardi. Observations reveal that maximum mortality (77.77%) was recorded when adults of A. blanchardi were fed with 30 ppm Azadirachtin treated leaves as compared to control (6.66%). Results indicate that in the said concentration the excretion oflitter was minimum (0.39 g/treatment) vis-a-vis control (1.527 gl treatment). This reflects the minimum feeding due to strong antifeedant properties of Azadirachtin. The paper deals with the use of non-wood products of neem in the pest management thereby minimizing crop loss and load of insecticides in the forest ecosystem.