Toxicity evaluation of imidacloprid 17.8% SL against poplar defoliator Clostera cupreata (Butler) (Lepidoptera: Notodontidae)

Poplar (P. deltoides) is a major agroforestry species that plays a significant role in the socio-economic development of farmers in Northwestern India. The poplar leaf defoliator, Clostera cupreata, is a major insect pest of poplar, occurring in serious proportions and causing significant growth loss to the trees. In pursuit of chemical management for the poplar defoliator, Imidacloprid 17.8% SL was evaluated for its median lethal toxicity (LC50) against C. cupreata. The LC50 was calculated as 0.0017% at 72 hours after treatment (HAT) against third instar C. cupreata larvae under laboratory conditions. The screening process for the toxicity of Imidacloprid against C. cupreata may provide a crucial step for the development of novel insecticides for managing forestry insect pests.