Efficacy of Biopesticides Against Brinjal Shoot and Fruit Borer and Safety to its Natural Enemies

Brinjal suffers from severe infestation by shoot and fruit borer, Leucinodes orbonalis. This study assessed the toxic effects of four biopesticides and an insecticide on L. orbonalis larvae, examining borer abundance, infestation, and impact on insect predators. The effects of Fytomax PM, neem oil, Spinomax SC 44.03%, Bio-chamak 1% EW, and synthetic insecticide Ripcord 10 EC were evaluated in the field and laboratory. The abundance of larvae and their natural enemies was recorded 3 and 7 days after spray. The biopesticide Spinomax SC 44.03% revealed the lowest level of infestation which is statistically similar to the that with Ripcord 10 EC. Seven days after the third spray, Spinomax SC 44.03% resulted in the lowest abundance (5.0 ± 0.6 larvae/plant). Ripcord 10 EC-treated plants had the lowest predator abundance. LT50 and LT95 values ranged from 55.2 to 134.2 hr and 182.4 to 725.4 hr, respectively.