Evaluation of poison baits against Spodoptera litura Fab. (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in spinach

Abstract

Choice tests were conducted under laboratory condition to standardize food bait using\rlarvae of S. litura revealed the combination of rice bran + jaggery 20% + yeast 0.1%\rand rice bran + molasses 10% have proved best in attracting more larval populations.\rEfficacy of different combinations of poison baits was evaluated under field condition\rfor the management of cutworm population in spinach. The jaggery based bait mixed\rwith spinosad (rice bran + jaggery 20% + yeast 0.1%+ spinosad @ 2.5ml/kg) proved\rbest next to spinosad spray in reducing the larval population and leaf damage and\rthereby increased leaf yield over other baits and untreated control. Hence, jaggery\rbased bait with spinosad may be recommended for management of cutworms in vegetable\recosystem.