Lecture 1 : PEST - DEFINITION, CATEGORIES, CAUSES FOR

OUTBREAK, LOSSES CAUSED BY PESTS

PEST - Derived from French word ‘Peste’ and Latin term ‘Pestis’ meaning
plague or contagious disease
- Pest is any animal which is noxious, destructive or troublesome to man or his
interests
- A pest is any organism which occurs in large numbers and conflict with man’s
welfare, convenience and profit
- A pest is an organism which harms man or his property significantly or is likely to
do so (Woods, 1976)
- Insects are pests when they are sufficiently numerous to cause economic damage
(Debacli, 1964)
- Pests are organisms which impose burdens on human population by causing
(i) Injury to crop plants, forests and ornamentals
(ii) Annoyance, injury and death to humans and domesticated animals
(iii) Destruction or value depreciation of stored products.
- Pests include insects, nematodes, mites, snails, slugs, etc. and vertebrates like rats,
birds, etc.
Depending upon the importance, pests may be agricultural forest, household,
medical, aesthetic and veterinary pests.

CATEGORIES OF PESTS
Based on occurrence following are pest categories
Regular pest: Frequently occurs on crop - Close association e.g. Rice slem borer,
Brinjal fruit borer
Occasional pest: Infrequently occurs, no close association e.g. Caseworm on rice,
Mango stem borer
Seasonal pest: Occurs during a particular season every year e.g. Red hairy caterpillar
on groundnut, Mango hoppers
Persistent pests: Occurs on the crop throughout the year and is difficult to control
e.g. Chilli thrips, mealy bug on guava
Sporadic pests: Pest occurs in isolated localities during some period. e.g. Coconut
slug caterpillar

Based on level of infestation

Pest epidemic: Sudden outbreak of a pest in a severe form in a region at a particular
time e.g. BPH in Tanjore, RHC in Madurai, Pollachi
Endemic pest: Occurrence of the pest in a low level in few pockets, regularly and
confined to particular area e.g. Rice gall midge in Madurai, Mango hoppers in
Periyakulam
Parameters of insect population levels
General equilibrium position (GEP)
The average density of a population over a long period of time, around which
the pest population over a long period of time, around which the pest population tends
to fluctuate due to biotic and abiotic factors and in the absence of permanent
environmental changes.

Economic threshold level (ETL)

Population density at which control measure should be implemented to
prevent an increasing pest population from reaching the ETL.

Economic injury level (EIL)

The lowest population density that will cause economic damage

Damage boundary (DB)

The lowest level of damage which can be measured. ETL is always less than
EIL. Provides sufficient time for control measures.

PEST CATEGORIES ACCORDING TO EIL, GEP AND DB

(i) Key pest

- Most severe and damaging pests
- GEP lies above EIL always
- Spray temporarily bring population below EIL
- These are persistent pests
- The environment must be changed to bring GEP
below EIL
e.g. Cotton bollworm, Diamond backmoth
(ii) Major pest
- GEP lies very close to EIL or coincides with
EIL
- Economic damage can be prevented by timely
and repeated sprays e.g. Cotton jassid, Rice
stem borer
(iii) Minor pest/Occasional pest
- GEP is below the EIL usually
- Rarely they cross EIL
- Can be controlled by spraying e.g. Cotton
stainers, Rice hispa, Ash weevils
(iv) Sporadic pests
- GEP generally below EIL
- Sometimes it crosses EIL and cause severe loss
in some places/periods e.g. Sugarcane pyrilla,
White grub, Hairy caterpillar
(v) Potential pests
- They are not pests at present
- GEP always less than EIL
- If environment changed may cause economic
loss e.g. S. litura is potentia pest in North India

CAUSES OF PEST OUTBREAK

Activity of human beings which upsets the biotic balance of ecosystem is the
prime cause for pest outbreak. The following are some human interventions - Reason
fro outbreak
i. Deforestation an bringing under cultivation
- Pest feeding on forest trees are forced to feed on cropped
- Biomass/unit area more in forests than agricultural land
- Weather factors also altered - Affects insect development

ii. Destruction of natural enemies

- Due to excess use of insecticides, natural enemies are killed
- This affects the natural control mechanism and pest outbreak occurs, e.g.
Synthetic pyrethroid insecticides kill NE.

iii. Intensive and Extensive cultivation

Monoculture (Intensive) leads to multiplication of pests
Extensive cultivation of susceptible variety in large area - No competition for food
- multiplication increases
e.g. Stem borers in rice and sugarcane

iv. Introduction of new varieties and crops.

Varieties with favourable physiological and morphological factors cause
multiplication of insects. e.g.
Succulent, dwarf rice varieties favour leaf folder
Combodia cotton favours stem weevil and spotted bollworm
Hybrid sorghum (CSH 1), cumbu (HB1) favour shoot flies and gall midges
v. Improved agronomic practices
Increased N fertilizer - High leaf folder incidence on rice
Closer planting - BPH and leaf folder increases
Granular insecticides - Possess phytotonic effect on rice

vi. Introduction of new pest in new environment

Pest multiplies due to absence of natural enemies in new area
Apple wooly aphid Eriosoma lanigerum multiplied fast due to absence of
Aphelinus mali (Parasit)

vii. Accidental introduction of pests from foreign countries (through air/sea

ports) e.g.
a. Diamondback moth on cauliflower (Plutella xylostella)
b. Potato tuber moth Phthorimaea operculella
c. Cottony cushion scale Icerya purchasi on wattle tree
d. Wooly aphid - Eriosoma lanigerum on apple
e. Psyllid - Heteropsylla cubana on subabul
f. Spiralling whitefly - Adeyrodichus dispersus on most of horticultural crops

viii. Large scale storage of food grains Serve

as reservoir for stored grain pests
Urbanisation - changes ecological balance
Rats found in underground drainage

Resurgence
Tremendous increase in pest population brought about by insecticides despite
good initial reduction in pest population at the time of treatment.
Deltamethrin, Quinalphos, Phorate - Resurgence of BPH in rice
Synthetic pyrethroids - Whitefly in cotton
Carbofuran - Leaf folder in rice

Losses caused by pests

Crop loss from all factors - 500 billion US $ annually world wide
Insect pests - 15.6% loss of production
Plant pathogens - 13.3%
Weeds - 13.2%
Estimated crop loss in various crops in India

Crop Loss in yield %

1. Wheat 3.0
2. Rice 10.0
3. Maize 5.0
4. Sorghum 5.0
5. Cotton 18.0
6. Pulses, groundnut 5.0
7. Sugarcane 10.0
8. Coffee 8.0
9. Fruits 25.0
10. Coconut 5.0
Source: (Pradhan (1964)

Estimated annual crop loss in India by insect pests = Rs.29,240 crores

(Dhaliwal and Arora, 1996)
Lecture 2 : PEST MONITORING - PEST SURVEILLANCE AND
FORECASTING - OBJECTIVES, SURVEY, SAMPLING, TECHNIQUES AND
DECISION MAKING - ETL AND EIL. FACTORS INFLUENCING EIL AND
ETL.

Pest Monitoring
Monitoring phytophagous insects and their natural enemies is a fundamental tool
in IPM - for taking management decision
Monitoring - estimation of changes in insect distribution and abundance
- information about insects, life history
- influence of biotic and abiotic factors on pest population

Pest Surveillance
Refers to the constant watch on the population dynamics of pests, its incidence
and damage on each crop at fixed intervals to forewarn the farmers to take up
timely crop protection measures.

Three basic components of pest surveillance

Determination of
a. the level of incidence of the pest species
b. the loss caused by the incidence
c. the economic benefits, the control will provide

Pest Forecasting
Forecasting of pest incidence or outbreak based on information obtained from
pest surveillance.
Uses
- Predicting pest outbreak which needs control measure
- Suitable stage at which control measure gives maximum protection

Two types of pest forecasting

a. Short term forecasting - Based on 1 or 2 seasons
b. Long term forecasting - Based on affect of weather parameters on pest

Objectives of Pest Surveillance

to know existing and new pest species
to assess pest population and damage at different growth stage of crop
to study the influence of weather parameters on pest
to study changing pest status (Minor to major)
to assess natural enemies and their influence on pests
effect of new cropping pattern and varieties on pest
Survey
Conducted to study the abundance of a pest species

Two types of survey - Roving survey and fixed plot survey

Roving survey
- Assessment of pest population/damage from randomly selected spots
representing larger area
- Large area surveyed in short period
- Provides information on pest level over large area

Fixed plot survey

Assessment of pest population/damage from a fixed plot selected in a field.
The data on pest population/damage recorded periodic from sowing till harvest. e.g.
1 sq.m. plots randomly selected from 5 spots in one acre of crop area in case of rice.
From each plot 10 plant selected at random. Total tillers and tillers affected by stem
borer in these 10 plants counted. Total leaves and number affected by leaf folder
observed. Damage expressed as per cent damaged tillers or leaves. Population of
BPH from all tillers in 10 plants observed and expressed as number/tiller.

Qualitative survey - Useful for detection of pest

Quantitative survey - Useful for enumeration of pest

Sampling Techniques
Absolute sampling - To count all the pests occurring in a plot
Relative sampling - To measure pest in terms of some values which can be compared
over time and space e.g. Light trap catch, Pheromone trap

Methods of sampling
a. In situ counts - Visual observation on number of insects on plant canopy
(either entire plot or randomly selected plot)
b. Knock down - Collecting insects from an area by removing from crop and
(Sudden trap) counting (Jarring)
c. Netting - Use of sweep net for hoppers, odonates, grasshopper
d. Norcotised collection - Quick moving insects anaesthesised and counter
e. Trapping - Light trap - Phototropic insects
Pheromone trap - Species specific
Sticky trap - Sucking insects
Bait trap - Sorghum shootfly - Fishmeal trap
Emergence trap - For soil insects
f. Crop samples
Plant parts removed and pest counted e.g. Bollworms

Stage of Sampling
- Usually most injurious stage counted
- Sometimes egg masses counted - Practical considerations
- Hoppers - Nymphs and adult counted

Sample Size
- Differs with nature of pest and crop
- Parger sample size gives accurate results

Decision Making
- Population or damage assessed from the crop
- Compared with ETL and EIL
- When pest level crosses ETL, control measure has to be taken to prevent pest from
reducing EIL.

Economic Injury Level

- Defined as the lowest population density that will cause economic damage
(Stern et al., 1959)
- Also defined as a critical density where the loss caused by the pest equals the cost
of
control measure

EIL can be calculated using following formula

C C
EIL = (or)
VxIxDxK VIDK
where,
EIL = Economic injury level in insects/production (or) insects/ha
C = Cost of management activity per unit of production (Rs./ha)
V = Market value per unit of yield or product (Rs./tonne)
I = Crop injury per insect (Per cent defoliation/insect)
D = Damage or yield loss per unit of injury (Tonne loss/% defoliation)
K = Proportionate reduction in injury from pesticide use

Worked examples of EIL

Calculate EIL in terms of pest population/ha with following figures
C = Management cost per unit area = Rs.3,000/- per ha
V = Market value in Rs./unit product = Rs.1,000/tonne
I = Crop injury/pest density = 1% defoliation/100 insects
D = Loss caused by unit injury = 0.05 tonne loss/1% defoliation
K = Proportionate reduction in
injury by pesticide application = 0.8 (80% control)
C 3000
EIL = =
VIDK 1000 x 0.01 x 0.05 x 0.8
 EIL = 7500 insects/ha

Economic threshold level (ETL) or Action threshold

- ETL is defined as the pest density at which control measures should be applied to
prevent an increasing pest population from reaching Economic Injury Level (EIL)
- ETL represents pest density lower than EIL to allow time for initiation of
control measure

Factors Influencing ETL and EIL

a. Market value of crop Primary factors
b. Management costs
c. Degree of injury per insect Secondary factors
d. Crop susceptibility to injury

a. Market value of crop

When crop value increases, EIL decreases and vice-versa
b. Management of injury per insect
When management costs increase, EIL also increases
c. Degree of injury per insect
- Insects damaging leaves or reproductive parts have different EIL (Lower EIL for
Rep. part damages)
- If insects are vectors of disease EIL is very low even 1 or 2 insects if found -
management to be taken
- If insects found on fruits - Marketability reduced - EIL very low e.
Crop susceptibility to injury
- If crop can tolerate the injury and give good yield. EIL can be fixed at a higher
value
- When crop is older, it can withstand high pest population - EIL can be high

Tertiary factors
Weather, soil factors, biotic factors and human social environment
These tertiary factors cause change in secondary factors thereby affect the ETL and
EIL.
Lecture 3: PEST MANAGEMENT - DEFINITION - NEED - OBJECTIVES -
REQUIREMENTS FOR SUCCESSFUL PEST MANAGEMENT
PROGRAMME - COMPONENTS OF PEST MANAGEMENT

Pest Management (or) Integrated Pest Management –

Definition IPM definition by FAO (1967)
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a system that, in the context of
associated environment and population dynamics of the pest species, utilizes all
suitable techniques and methods in as compatible a manner as possible and maintains
pest populations at levels below those causing economic injury.

IPM definition by Luckmann and Metcalf (1994)

IPM is defined as the intelligent selection and use of pest control tactics that
will ensure favourable economical, ecological and sociological consequences.

Need for Pest Management (or) Why Pest Management

1. Development of resistance in insects against insecticides e.g. OP and synthetic

pyrethroid resistance in Helicoverpa armigera.
2. Out break of secondary pests e.g. Whiteflies emerged as major pest when
spraying insecticide against H. armigera.
3. Resurgence of target pests e.g. BPH of rice increased when some OP chemicals
are applied.
4. When number of application increases, profit decreases.
5. Environmental contamination and reduction in its quality.
6. Killing of non-target animals and natural enemies.
7. Human and animal health hazards.

Stages in crop protection leading to IPM

1. Subsistence phase : Only natural control, no insecticide use

2. Exploitation phase : Applying more pesticides, growing HY varieties and
get more yield and returns
3. Crisis phase : Due over use pesticides, problem of resurgence,
resistance, secondary pest out break, increase in
production cost
4. Disaster phase : Due to increased pesticide use - No profit, high residue
in soil - Collapse of control system
5. Integrated : IPM integrates ecofriendly methods to optimize
Management Phase control rather than maximise it.
Objectives of pest management
1. To reduce pest status below economic injury level. Complete elimination of pest
is not the objective.
2. To manage insects by not only killing them but by preventing feeding,
multiplication and dispersal.
3. To use ecofriendly methods, which will maintain quality of environment (air,
water, wild life and plant life)
4. To make maximum use of natural mortality factors, apply control measures only
when needed.
5. To use component in sustainable crop production.

Requirements for successful pest management programme

1. Correct identification of insect pests
2. Life history and behaviour of the pest
3. Natural enemies and weather factors affecting pest population
4. Pest surveillance will provide above data
5. Pest forecasting and predicting pest outbreak
6. Finding out ETL for each pest in a crop
7. Need and timing of control measure - Decision
8. Selection of suitable methods of control
9. Analysis of cost/benefit and benefit/risk of each control measure
10. Farmer’s awareness and participation
11. Government support
12. Consumer awareness on use of pesticides free products

TOOLS OR COMPONENTS OF INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT

(Arranged in increasing order of complexity)

i. Cultural method or use of agronomic practices

1. Crop rotation 5. Pruning or thinning
2. Crop refuse destruction 6. Fertilizer management
3. Tillage of soil 7. Water management
4. Variation in time of 8. Intercropping
planting or harvesting 9. Trap crop

ii. Host plant resistance - Antixenosis, antibiosis, tolerance

iii. Mechanical methods of pest control

1. Hand destruction
2. Exclusion by screens, barriers
3. Trapping, suction devices, collecting machine
4. Crushing and grinding
 iv. Physical methods
1. Heat
2. Cold
3. Energy - light trap, irradiation, light regulation
4. Sound

v. Biological methods
1. Protection and encouragement of NE
2. Introduction, artificial increase and colonizing specific parasitoids and
predators
3. Pathogens on insects like virus, bacteria, fungi and protozoa
4. Use of botanicals like neem, pongam, etc.

vi. Chemical methods

1. Attractants
2. Repellents
3. Insecticides - OC, OP, carbamates, pyrethroids, etc.
4. Insect growth inhibitors
5. Chemosterilants

vii.Behavioural methods
1. Pheromones
2. Allelochemics

viii. Genetic/biotechnology method

- Release of genetically incompatible/sterile pests
- Transgenic plant

ix. Regulatory/legal method

- Plant/animal quarantine
- Eradication and suppression programme
 Lecture 4: TRADITIONAL METHODS OF PEST CONTROL

CULTURAL CONTROL
Definition : Manipulation of cultural practices to the disadvantage of pests.
I. Farm level pratices

S.No. Cropping Techniques Pest Checked

1. Ploughing Red hairy caterpillar
2. Puddling Rice mealy bug
3. Trimming and plastering Rice grass hopper
4. Pest free seed material Potato tuber moth
5. High seed rate Sorghum shootfly
6. Rogue space planting Rice brown planthopper
7. Plant density Rice brown planthopper
8. Earthing up Sugarcane whitefly
9. Detrashing Sugarcane whitefly
10. Destruction of weed hosts Citrus fruit sucking moth
11. Destruction of alternate host Cotton whitefly
12. Flooding Rice armyworm
13. Trash mulching Sugarcane early shoot borer
14. Pruning / topping Rice stem borer
15. Intercropping Sorghum stem borer
16. Trap cropping Diamond back moth
17. Water management Brown planthopper
18. Judicious application of fertilizers Rice leaf folder
19. Timely harvesting Sweet potato weevil

II. Community level practices

1. Synchronized sowing : Dilution of pest infestation (eg) Rice, Cotton
2. Crop rotation : Breaks insect life cycle
3. Crop sanitation
a) Destruction of insect infested parts (eg.) Mealy bug in brinjal
b) Removal of fallen plant parts (eg.) Cotton squares
c) Crop residue destruction (eg.) Cotton stem weevil
 Advantages Disadvantages
1. No extra skill 1. No complete control
2. No costly inputs 2. Prophylactic nature
3. No special equipments 3. Timing decides success
4. Minimal cost
5. Good component in IPM
6. Ecologically sound

PHYSICAL CONTROL
Modification of physical factors in the environment to minimise (or) prevent
pest problems. Use of physical forces like temperature, moisture, etc. in managing the
insect pests.

A. Manipulation of temperature
1. Sun drying the seeds to kill the eggs of stored product pests.
2. Hot water treatment (50 - 55oC for 15 min) against rice white tip nematode.
3. Flame throwers against locusts.
4. Burning torch against hairy caterpillars.
5. Cold storage of fruits and vegetables to kill fruitflies (1 - 2oC for 12 - 20 days).

B. Manipulation of moisture
1. Alternate drying and wetting rice fields against BPH.
2. Drying seeds (below 10% moisture level) affects insect development.
3. Flooding the field for the control of cutworms.

C. Manipulation of light
1. Treating the grains for storage using IR light to kill all stages of insects (eg.)
Infra-red seed treatment unit (Fig.1).
2. Providing light in storage go downs as the lighting reduces the fertility of
Indian meal moth, Plodia.
3. Light trapping.

D. Manipulation of air
1. Increasing the CO2 concentration in controlled atmosphere of stored grains to
cause asphyxiation in stored product pests.

E. Use of irradiation
Gamma irradiation from Co60 is used to sterilize the insects in laboratory
which compete with the fertile males for mating when released in natural condition.
(eg.) cattle screw worm fly, Cochliomyia hominivorax control in Curacao Island by
E.F.Knipling.
F. Use of greasing material
Treating the stored grains particularly pulses with vegetable oils to prevent the
oviposition and the egg hatching. eg., bruchid adults.

G. Use of visible radiation : Yellow colour preferred by aphids, cotton whitefly :

yellow sticky traps.

H. Use of Abrasive dusts

1. Red earth treatment to red gram : Injury to the insect wax layer.
2. Activated clay : Injury to the wax layer resulting in loss of moisture leading to
death. It is used against stored product pests.
3. Drie-Die : This is a porous finely divided silica gel used against storage
insects.

Preparation of activated clay :

Kaolinite clay

POWDERING

ACID ACTIVATION
In H2SO4 10 N

DIGESTION (Autoclave - 1 hr in 15 lb)

WASHING

DRYING

POWDERING AND SIEVING IN 100 MESH HEAT

ACTIVATION (Muffle furnace - 4hrs at 400oC)

ACTIVATED CLAY

MECHANICAL CONTROL
Use of mechanical devices or manual forces for destruction or exclusion of
pests.
A. Mechanical destruction : Life stages are killed by manual (or) mechanical
force.
Manual Force
1. Hand picking the caterpillars
2. Beating : Swatting housefly and mosquito
3. Sieving and winnowing : Red flour beetle (sieving) rice weevil (winnowing)
4. Shaking the plants : Passing rope across rice field to dislodge caseworm and
shaking neem tree to dislodge June beetles
5. Hooking : Iron hook is used against adult rhinoceros beetle
6. Crushing : Bed bugs and lice
7. Combing : Delousing method for Head louse
8. Brushing : Woolen fabrics for clothes moth, carper beetle.

Mechanical force
1. Entoletter : Centrifugal force - breaks infested kernels - kill insect stages -
whole grains unaffected - storage pests.
2. Hopper dozer : Kill nymphs of locusts by hording into trenches and filled with
soil.
3. Tillage implements : Soil borne insects, red hairy caterpillar.
4. Mechnical traps : Rat traps of various shapes like box trap, back break trap,
wonder trap, Tanjore bow trap.

B. Mechanical exclusion
Mechanical barriers prevent access of pests to hosts.
1. Wrapping the fruits : Covering with polythene bag against pomegrante fruit
borer.
2. Banding : Banding with grease or polythene sheets - Mango mealybug.
3. Netting : Mosquitoes, vector control in green house.
4. Trenching : Trapping marching larvae of red hairy catepiller.
5. Sand barrier : Protecting stored grains with a layer of sand on the top.
6. Water barrier : Ant pans for ant control.
7. Tin barrier : Coconut trees protected with tin band to prevent rat damage.
8. Electric fencing : Low voltage electric fences against rats.

Advantage of mechanical control Disadvantages

1. Home labour utilization 1. Limited application
2. Low equipment cost 2. Rarely highly effective
3. Ecologically safe 3. Labour intensive
4. High technical skill not required in adopting.

Appliances in controlling the pests

1. Light traps : Most adult insects are attracted towards light in night. This
principle is used to attract the insect and trapped in a mechanical device.
a) Incandescent light trap : They produce radiation by heating a tungsten
filament. The spectrum of lamp include a small amount of ultraviolet,
considerable visible especially rich in yellow and red. (eg.) Simple
incandescent light trap (Fig. 2), portable incandescent electric (Fig.3). Place a
pan of kerosenated water below the light source.

b) Mercury vapour lamp light trap : They produce primarily ultraviolet, blue and
green radiation with little red. (eg.) Robinson trap (Fig.4). This trap is the
basic model designed by Robinson in 1952. This is currently used towards a
wide range of Noctuids and other nocturnal flying insects. A mercury lamp
(125 W) is fixed at the top of a funnel shaped (or) trapezoid galvanized iron
cone terminating in a collection jar containing dichlorvos soaked in cotton as
insecticide to kill the insect.

c) Black light trap : Black light (Fig.5) is popular name for ultraviolet radiant
energy with the range of wavelengths from 320-380 nm. Some commercial
type like Pest-O-Flash, Keet-O-Flash are available in market. Flying insects
are usually attracted and when they come in contact with electric grids, they
become elctrocuted and killed.

2. Pheromone trap : Synthetic sex pheromones are placed in traps to attract

males. The rubberised septa, containing the pheromone lure are kept in traps
designed specially for this purpose and used in insect monitoring / mass
trapping programmes. Sticky trap (Fig.6), water pan trap (Fig.7) and funnel
type (Fig.8) models are available for use in pheromone based insect control
programmes.

3. Yellow sticky trap : Cotton whitefly, aphids, thrips prefer yellow colour.
Yellow colour is painted on tin boxes and sticky material like castor oil /
vaseline is smeared on the surface (Fig.9). These insects are attracted to
yellow colour and trapped on the sticky material.
4. Bait trap : Attractants placed in traps are used to attract the insect and kill
them. (eg.) Fishmeal trap: This trap is used against sorghum shootfly.
Moistened fish meal is kept in polythene bag or plastic container inside the tin
along with cotton soaked with insecticide (DDVP) to kill the attracted flies
(Fig.10&11).
5. Pitfall trap helps to trap insects moving about on the soil surface, such as
ground beetles, collembola, spiders. These can be made by sinking glass jars
 (or) metal cans into the soil. It consists of a plastic funnel, opening into a
plastic beaker containing kerosene supported inside a plastic jar (Fig. 12).
6. Probe trap : Probe trap is used by keeping them under grain surface to trap
stored product insect (Fig.13).
7. Emergence trap : The adults of many insects which pupate in the soil can be
trapped by using suitable covers over the ground. A wooden frame covered
with wire mesh covering and shaped like a house roof is placed on soil
surface. Emerging insects are collected in a plastic beaker fixed at the top of
the frame (Fig.14).

8. Indicator device for pulse beetle detection : A new cup shaped indicator device has
been recently designed to predict timely occurrence of pulse beetle Callosobruchus
spp. This will help the farmers to know the correct time of emergence of pulse beetle.
This will help them in timely sun drying which can bill all the eggs.
Match the following (any eight) 8 x 0.5 = 4

A1. Drones - Pollination by honeybees

A2. Sun drying of foodgrains - Transmits bubonic plague
A3. Sudden outbreak of pest - Inactivity of insects in winter
A4. Gause's principle - Emerge from unfertilized eggs
A5. Myiasis - Communication in bees
A6. Newspaper method - Pest epidemic
A7. Mellitophily - Competitive exclusion
A8. Rat flea - Infestation of tissues by maggots
A9. Karl von Frisch - Kills stored product insects
A10. Hibernation - Uniting bee colonies

PART - B
Answer any six 6x1=6

B1. Wagtail dance B5. ETL and EIL

B2. Supercedure B6. Roving survey and fixed plot
survey
B3. Management of mosquitoes B7. Delousing cattle and birds
B4. Key pest and potential pest B8. Ripening of honey

PART - C
Answer any five 5 x 2 = 10

C1. Draw a flow chart to show economic classification of insects

C2. List 5 major differences between rock bee (Apis dorsata) and Indian bee (Apis
cerana indica)
C3. Discuss the ways to reduce pesticidal poisoning to bees.
C4. Write in brief the causes for pest outbreak
C5. Discuss pollination in fig by fig wasp
C6. Define IPM. Give a diagrammatic representation of various components of IPM
C7. Define cultural method of pest control. Mention any eight farm level cultural
practices with examples

WISH YOU ALL THE BEST

Lecture 5 LEGAL CONTROL METHODS - DEFINITION - PEST
INTRODUCTIONS - QUARANTINE - PHYTOSANITARY CERTIFICATE
PEST LEGISLATION LEGAL CONTROL/LEGISLATIVE
CONTROL/REGULATORY CONTROL

Definition: Preventing the entry and establishment of foreign plant and animal pest in
a country or area and eradication or suppression of the pests established in a limited
area through compulsory legislation or enactment

Pests Accidentally Introduced Into India

1. Pink bollworm - Pectinophora gossypiella
2. Cotton cushion scale - Icerya purchasi
3. Wooly aphid of apple - Aphelinus mali
4. SanJose scale - Quadraspidiotus perniciosus
5. Potato tuber moth - Gnorimoschima operculella
6. Cyst (Golden) nematode of potato - Globodera sp.
7. Giant african snail - Acatina fullica
8. Subabul psyllid - Heteropsylla cubana
9. Bunchytop disease of banana
10. Spinalling whitefly - Aleyrodicus dispersus

Foreign Pests From Which India Is Free

Mediterranean fruitfly - Ceratitis capitata
Grapeavine phylloxera
Cotton boll weevil - Anthonomos grandis
Codling moth of apple - Lasperysia pomonella

Quarantine
Isolation to prevent spreading of infection

Plant Quarantine
Legal restriction of movement of plant materials between countries and between
states within the country to prevent or limit introduction and spread of pests and
diseases in areas where they do not exist.

PEST LEGISLATIONS
1905 - ‘Federal Insect Pest Act’ - first Quarantine act against SanJose scale
1912 - ‘US Plant Quarantine Act’
1914 - ‘Destructive Insects and Pests Act’ of India (DIPA)
1919 - ‘Madras Agricultural Pests and Diseases Act’
1968 - ‘The Insecticides Act’
DIFFERENT CLASSES OF QUARANTINE
Foreign Quarantine (Legislation to prevent the introduction of new pests,
diseases and weeds from foreign countries)
Plant quarantine inspection and treatments at sea ports of Mumbai, Kolkata, Cochin,
Chennai and Visakapattinam and airports of Amritsar, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai
and New Delhi
Import by post parcel prohibited except by scientists
Import of plant materials prohibited or restricted
Import permits required for importation of plant material
Phytosanitary certificate from the country of origin is required

Phytosanitary certificate is issued by State Entomologist and Pathologists to the

effect that the plant or seed material is free from any pest or disease
a. Fumigation of imported plant material based on need
b. Taking care of pests of quarantine concern in India

Restriction imposed on the importation of

i. Sugarcane setts - to prevent West Indies sugar weevil
ii. Coffee seeds - to prevent coffee berry borer
iii.Cotton seeds - to prevent cotton boll weevil
a. Export of pepper, cardamom and tamarind restricted
b. In 1946, Directorate of Plant Protection, Quarantine and Storage, Government of
India established - for inspection of export and import of agricultural
commodities.
2. Domestic quarantine (within different parts of country)
- Flutted scale Icerya puchasi noticed in Nilgiris and Kodaikanal in 1943 in Wattle
trees. Quarantine stations at Mettupalayam and Gudalur for Nilgiris and
Shenbaganur for Kodaikanal to prevent spread of flutted scale in TN.
- Preventing movement of Banana from Palani hills to prevent Bunchy top spread
3. Legislation to take up effective measures to prevent spread of established
pests Example: Cotton stem weevil, Groundnut RHC, Coffee stem borer, Coconut
black headed caterpillar (BHC), Sugarcane top borer.

i. Stem weevil of cotton (Combodia cotton, 1913)

Previous crop to be removed before Aug.1
Next crop to be sown not before Sep. 1 to keep land free of cotton for sometime

ii. RHC of groundnut (1930)

- Collection of pupae in summer ploughing
- Putting light traps and bonfires
- Hand picking of egg and larvae
- Spread leaves in field, trench, collect and destroy
iii. Stem borer of coffee (1946)
This act is still in force in Salem, Coimbatore, Madurai and Nilgiris
- All infested plants to be removed and destroyed by 15th December every year
- Swabbing with wettable powder (Carbaryl) on stem and branch
Legislation to prevent the adulteration and misbranding of insecticides and to
determine the permissible residues in food stuff.
Legislation to regulate the activities of men engaged in pest control

THE INSECTICIDES ACT, 1968

- Implemented in 1971 (Insecticides Rule, 1971)
- Safety oriented legislation
- Regulates import, manufacture, storage, transport, sale, distribution and use of
insecticides with a view to prevent risk to human beings and animals
- Regulatory provision - compulsory registration, licensing, inspection, drawal and
analysis of samples, detention, seizure and confiscation of stocks, suspension and
cancellation of licences, etc.
- Enforcement of the act is joint responsibility of central and state governments.
- Statutory bodies
- (i) Central Insecticides Board (CIB) (28 members)
Chairman (CIB) - Director General of Health Services
(ii) Registration Committee (RC) (5 members)
Chairman (RC) - Deputy Director General, Crop Sciences, ICAR

Salient features of the insecticides act (1968)

- Compulsory registration with CIB (Central level)
- Licence for manufacture, formulation and sale at state level
- Inter departmental/Ministerial/Organisational co-ordination achieved by high level
Advisory Board “Central Insecticides Board” with 28 members form various
fields
- RC to lookafter registration aspects of insecticides
- Enforcement by Insecticide inspectors at state/central level
- Power to prohibit the import, manufacture and sale of insecticides and also
confiscate stocks. Guilty are punishable.

Role of Plant Quarantine in the Export of Agricultural Commodities

International Plant Protection Convention (1951) of FAO, UN.

Article V of the convention makes it mandatory for member countries to issue
Phytosanitory certificate (PSC)
PSC should be conformity with Plant Quarantine Regulations of importing country.
Agricultural commodities during export should be accompanied by PSC.
General requirement of PSC
- Inspected agrl. commodities should be free from pest/diseases
- Takes time for inspection - seek prior guidance from plant quarantine authorities in
India

Special requirements of PSC

- Additional declarations required from importing country for freedom of
commodities from specific pests/diseases
- Obtain complete details of requirements of importing country

Technical limitations
- Rules not relaxable. No compromise with principles of Plant Quarantine.

Procedure for getting PSC

- Application to be submitted to Plant Quarantine and Fumigation station
- Will be scrutinised, samples drawn and examined for pest, diseases, weeds
- If free PSC issued
- If found infested - rejected, PSC not issued
- Sometimes treatment (fumigation) given and PSC issued

Authority to issue PSC

Union Govt. of Agrl. has authorised officers in Central and State Govt. and UT
PPA to Govt. of India - Heads of Unit

Airports Seaports Land frontiers

Amristar Bombay Amristar Rail
Bombay Tuticorin Attari Rail
Calcutta Bhavnagar Attari Road
Hyderabad Calcutta Bongaon
Chennai Cochin Gede
New Delhi Chennai Kalimpong
Patna Nagapattinam Panitanki
Varanasi Rameswaram
Tiruchirapalli Visakhapatnam
Trivandrum
Lecture 6 : HOST PLANT RESISTANCE - DEFINITION - TYPES AND
MECHANISMS ECOLOGICAL AND GENETIC RESISTANCE

Host Plant Resistance (HPR)

Definition
“Those characters that enable a plant to avoid, tolerate or recover from attacks of
insects under conditions that would cause greater injury to other plants of the same
species” (Painter, R.H., 1951).
“Those heritable characteristics possessed by the plant which influence the ultimate
degree of damage done by the insect” (Maxwell, F.G., 1972).

Types of Resistance
Ecological Resistance or Pseudo resistance
Apparent resistance resulting from transitory characters in potentially susceptible host
plants due to environmental conditions.
Pseudoresistance may be classified into 3 categories
a. Host evasion
Host may pass through the most susceptible stage quickly or at a time when insects
are less or evade injury by early maturing. This pertains to the whole population of
host plant.
b. Induced Resistance
Increase in resistance temporarily as a result of some changed conditions of plants or
environment such as change in the amount of water or nutrient status of soil
c. Escape
Absence of infestation or injury to host plant due to transitory process like incomplete
infestation. This pertains to few individuals of host.

Genetic Resistance
A. Based on number of genes
- Monogenic resistance: Controlled by single gene
Easy to incorporate into plants by breeding
Easy to break also
- Oligogenic resistance: Controlled by few genes
- Polygenic resistance: Controlled by many genes
- Major gene resistance: Controlled by one or few major genes (vertical resistance)
- Minor gene resistance: Controlled by many minor genes. The cumulative effect
of minor genes is called adult resistance or mature resistance or field resistance.
Also called horizontal resistance
B. Based on biotype reaction
- Vertical resistance: Effective against specific biotypes (specific resistance)
- Horizontal resistance: Effective against all the known biotypes
(Non specific resistance)
C. Based on population/Line concept
- Pureline resistance: Exhibited by liens which are phenotypically and genetically
similar
- Multiline resistance: Exhibited by lines which are phenotypically similar but
genotypically dissimilar

D. Miscellaneous categories
- Cross resistance: Variety with resistance incorporated against a primary pest,
confers resistance to another insect.
- Multiple resistance: Resistance incorporated in a variety against different
environmental stresses like insects, diseases, nematodes, heat, drought, cold, etc.
E. Based on evolutionary concept
- Sympatric resistance: Acquired by coevolution of plant and insect (gene for gene)
Governed by major genes
- Allopatric resistance: Not by co-evolution of plant and insect.
Governed by many genes

Mechanisms of Resistance
The three important mechanisms of resistance are
- Antixenosis (Non preference)
- Antibiosis
- Tolerance

Antixenosis: Host plant characters responsible for non-preference of the insects for
shelter, oviposition, feeding, etc. It denotes presence of morphological or
chemcial factor which alter insect behaviour resulting in poor establishment of the
insect. e.g.
Trichomes in cotton - resistant to whitefly
Wax bloom on carucifer leaves - deter feeding by DBM
Plant shape and colour also play a role in non preference
Open panicle of sorghum - Supports less Helicoverpa

Antibiosis
Adverse effect of the host plant on the biology (survival, development and
reproduction) of the insects and their progeny due to the biochemical and biophysical
factors present in it.
Manifested by larval death, abnormal larval growth, etc.
Antibiosis may be due to
- Presence of toxic substances
- Absence of sufficient amount of essential nutrients
- Nutrient imbalance/improper utilization of nutrients
Chemical factors in Antibiosis - Examples

Chemicals present in plants Imparts resistance against

1. DIMBOA (Dihydroxy methyl Against European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis
benzoxazin)
2. Gossypol (Polyphenol) Helicoverpa armigera (American bollworm)
3. Sinigrin Aphids, Myzus persicae
4. Cucurbitacin Cucurbit fruit flies
5. Salicylic acid Rice stem borer

Physical factors in antibiosis

Thick cuticle, glandular hairs, silica deposits, tight leaf sheath, etc.

c. Tolerance
Ability to grow and yield despite pest attack. It is generally attributable to plant
vigour, regrowth of damaged tissue, to produce additional branches, compensation by
growth of neighbouring plants.

Use of tolerance in IPM

- Tolerant varieties have high ETL - require less insecticide
- Apply less selection pressure on pests. Biotype development is less

HPR in IPM
- HPR is a very important component of IPM
- Selection and growing of a resistant variety minimise cost on all other pest
management activities
Compatibility of HPR in IPM
a. Compatability with chemical control
- HPR enhances efficacy of insecticides
- Higher mortality of leaf hoppers and plant hoppers in resistant variety compared
to susceptible variety
- Lower concentration of insecticide is sufficient to control insects on resistant
variety
b. Compatibility with biological control
- Resistant varieties reduce pest numbers - thus shifting pest: Predatory (or
parasitoid) ratio favourable for biological control. e.g. Predatory activity of mirid
bug Cyrtorhinus lividipennis on BPH was more on a resistant rice variety IR 36
than susceptible variety IR 8
- Insects feeding on resistant varieties are more susceptible to virus disease (NPV)
c. Compatibility with cultural method
- Cultural practices can help in better utilization of resistant varieties. e.g. Use of
short duration, pest resistant plants effective against cotton boll weevil in USA.
Examples of resistant varieties in major crops

Pest Resistant varieties

Rice Yellow stem borer TKN 6, Paiyur 1
Brown planthopper (BPH) CO 42, IR 36, IR 64
Green leaf hopper (GLH) IR 50, Ptb 2, CO 46
Sugarcane Early shoot borer (ESB) CO 312, CO 421, CO 661,
Internode borer CO 975, CO 7304
Top shoot borer CO 745, CO 6515
Cotton American bollworm Abhadita
Spotted bollworm Deltapine
Stem weevil MCU 3, Supriya
Leaf hopper MCU 5, K 7, K 8
Sorghum Earhead bug K tall
Jasmine Eriophyid mite Pari Mullai

Advantages of HPR as a component in IPM

Specificity: Specific to the target pest. Natural enemies unaffected
Cumulative effect: Lasts for many successive generations
Eco-friendly: No pollution. No effect on man and animals
Easily adoptable: High yielding insect resistant variety easily accepted and adopted by
farmers. Less cost.
Effectiveness: Res. variety increases efficacy of insecticides and natural enemies
Compatability: HPR can be combined with all other components of IPM
Decreased pesticide application: Resistant varieties requires less frequent and low
doses of insecticides
Persistence: Some varieties have durable resistance for long periods
Unique situations: HPR effective where other control measures are less effective
e.g. a. When timing of application is critical
b. Crop of low economic value
c. Pest is continuously present and is a single limiting factor

Disadvantages of HPR
Time consuming: Requires from 3-10 years by traditional breeding programmes to
develop a res. variety.
Biotype development: A biotype is a new population capable of damaging and
surviving on plants previously resistant to other population of same species.
Genetic limiation: Absence of resistance genes among available germination
Lecture 7: BIOLOGICAL CONTROL - DEFINITION - HISTORY AND
DEVELOPMENT - CLASSICAL EXAMPLES - FACTORS GOVERNING
BIOLOGICAL CONTROL

Biological control
Definition
The study and utilization of parasitoids, predators and pathogens for the
regulation of pest population densities.
Biological control can also be defined as the utilization of natural enemies to
reduce the damage caused by noxious organisms to tolerable levels.
Biological control is often shortened to biocontrol.

History and development of biological control and classical examples of biological

control

Antient times - In China Pharoah’s ant Monomorium pharaonis was used to control
stored grain pest. Red ant Oecophylla spp. used to control foliage
feeding caterpillar.
Year 1762 - ‘Mynah’ bird imported from India to Mauritius to control locust.
1770 - Bamboo runways between citrus trees for ants to control
caterpillars.

1888 - First well planned and successful biological control attempt

made

- During 1888 citrus industry in California (USA) seriously threatened by cottony

cushion scale, Icerya purdian
- Chemical treatments not known at that time
- Mr. C.V. Riley, a prominent entomologist suggested that the scale inset originated
from Australia and natural enemy for the scale from Australia should be
introduced into USA
- Mr. Albert Koebele was sent to Australia
- He found a beetle called Vedalia (Rodolia cardinalis) attacking and feeding on
seeds
- Vedalia beetle (Rodolia cardinalis) was imported in November 1888 into USA
and allowed on scale infested trees
- Within a year spectacular control of scale insect achieved
- Even till date this beetle controls the scale insect
- After this successful attempt of biological control many such introduction of
natural enemies were tried.
1898 - First introduction of natural enemy into India

1898 - A coccinellid beetle, Cryptolaemus montrouzieri was imported into India

from Australia and released against coffee green scale, Cocus viridis.
Even today it is effective against mealybugs in South India.
1920 - A parasitoid Aphelinus mali introduced from England into India to control
Woolly aphid on Apple, Eriosoma lanigerum.
1929-31 - Fodolia cardinalis imported into India (from USA) to control cottony
cushion scale Icerya purchasi on Wattle trees.
1958-60 - Parasitoid Prospatella perniciosus imported from China
1960 - Parasitoid Aphytis diaspidis imported from USA
Both parasitoids used to control Apple Sanjose scale Quadraspidiotus
perniciosus
1964 - Egg parasitoid Telenomus sp. imported from New Guinea to control Castor
semilooper Achaea janata
1965 - Predator Platymeris laevicollis introduced from Zanzibar to control coconut
Rhinoceros beetle, Oryctes rhinoceros

History, development, classical examples of biocontrol

Till 1988
At global level 384 importations made against 416 species of insect pests. Out of
them
164 species (39.4%) - Completely controlled
75 species - Substantially controlled
15 species - Partially controlled
- Regional Station of Commonwealth Institute of Biological Control (CIBC)
established at Bangalore in 1957
- Presently Project Directorate of Biological Control (PDBC) Bangalore looks after
Biocontrol in India.

Factors affecting biological control

1. Tolerance limit of crop to insect injury - Successful in crops with high tolerance
limit
2. Crop value - Successful in crops with high economic value
3. Crop duration - Long duration crops highly suitable
4. Indigenous or Exotic pest - Imported NE more effective against introduced pest
5. If alternate host available for NE, control of target pest is less
6. If unfavourable season occurs, reintroduction of NE required
7. Presence of hyperparasites reduces effectiveness of biocontrol
8. Tritrophic interaction of Plant-Pest-Natural enemy affects success of biocontrol,
e.g. Helicoverpa parasitization by Trichogramma more in timato than corn
9. Use of pesticides affect natural enemies
10. Selective insecticides (less toxic to NE required)
11. Identical situation for successful control does not occur

Qualities of an effective natural enemy

1. Adaptable to the environmental condition
2. Host specific (or narrow host range)
3. Multiply faster than the host (with high fecundity)
4. Short life cycle and high female : male ratio
5. High host searching capacity
6. Amenable for easy culturing in laboratory
7. Dispersal capacity
8. Free from hyper parasites
9. Synchronise life cycle with host

Three major techniques of biological control

1. Conservation and encouragement of indigenous NE
Defined as actions that preserve and increase NE by environmental
manipulation. e.g. Use of selective insecticides, provide alternate host and refugia for
NE.

2. Importation or Introduction
Importing or introducing NE into a new locality (mainly to control introduced
pests).

3. Augmentation
Propagation (mass culturing) and release of NE to increase its population.
Two types,
(i) Inoculative release: Control expected from the progeny and subsequent
generations only.
(ii) Inundative release: NE mass cultured and released to suppress pest directly
e.g. Trichogramma sp. egg parasitoid, Chrysoperla carnia predator

ROLE OF PARASITOIDS AND PREDATORS IN IPM

- Parasitoids and predators may be used in Agriculture and IPM in three ways.
They are
i) Conservation
ii) Introduction
iii) Augmentation - (a) Inoculative release, (b) Inundative release
- Since biological control is safe to environment, it should be adopted as an
important component of IPM.
- Biological control method can be integrated well with other methods namely
cultural, chemical methods and host plant resistance (except use of broad
spectrum insecticides)
- Biological control is self propagating and self perpetuating
- Pest resistance to NE is not known
- No harmful effects on humans, livestock and other organisms
- Biological control is virtually permanent
- Biological agents search and kills the target pest

MICROBIAL CONTROL
- It is a branch of biological control
- Defined as control of pests by use of microorganisms like viruses, bacteria,
protozoa, fungi, rickettsia and nematodes.
I. VIRUSES
Viruses coming under family Baculoviridae cause disease in lepidoptera
larvae. Two types of viruses are common.
NPV (Nucleopolyhedro virus) e.g. HaNPV, SlNPV
GV (Granulovirus) e.g. CiGV

Symptoms
Lepidopteran larva become sluggish, pinkish in colour, lose appetite, body
becomes fragile and rupture to release polyhedra (virus occlusion bodies). Dead larva
hang from top of plant with prolegs attached (Tree top disease or “Wipfelkrankeit”)
II. BACTERIA
Spore forming (Facultative - Crystalliferous)
2 types of bacteria Spore forming (Obligate)
Non spore forming

i. Spore forming (Facultative, Crystelliferous)

The produce spores and also toxin (endotoxin). The endotoxin paralyses gut
when ingested e.g. Bacillus thuringiensis effective against lepidopteran. Commercial
products - Delfin, Dipel, Thuricide
ii. Spore-forming (Obligate)
e.g. Bacillus popilliae attacking beetles, produce ‘milky disease’
Commercial product - ‘Doom’ against ‘white grubs’
iii. Non-spore forming
e.g. Serratia entomophila on grubs
III. FUNGI
i. Green muscardine fungus - Metarhizium anisopliae attack coconut rhinoceros
beetle
ii. White muscardine fungus - Beaveria bassiana against lepidopteran larvae iii.
White halo fungus - Verticillium lecanii on coffee green scale.

Other Microbs: Protoza, Nematodes

Limitations of biocontrol technique

- Complete control not achieved - Slow process
- Subsequent pesticide use restricted
- Expensive to culture many NE
- Requires trained man power
Lecture 8 CHEMICAL CONTROL - DEFINITION - HISTORY AND
DEVELOPMENT - TOXICITY PARAMETERS - IDEAL QUALITIES OF AN
INSECTICIDE

Chemical Control: Management of insect pests using chemical pesticides is termed

as chemical control.
Pesticides: Chemicals which are used to kill pests
History of insecticide development
Year Chemicals
900 - Arsenites in China (Inorganic compound)
1690 - Tobacco used in Europe (Plant/natural product)
1787 - Soaps used in Europe
1867 - Paris Green in US
1874 - DDT synthezized by Zeidler
1883 - Bordeau in France
1925 - Dinitro compounds (First synthetic organic insecticide)
1932 - Thiocyanates
1939 - DDT insecticidal property discovered by Paul Muller of Switzerland.
Paul Muller awarded Nobel Prize in 1948 for discovering insecticidal
property of DDT
1941 - BHC in France and UK (in 1942) (BHC is presently called as HCH)
1944 - Parathion (Organo phosphate) discovered by Gerhard Schrader in
Germany
1945 - Chlordane (Cyclodian compound) in Germany
1947 - Carbamate insecticides in Switzerland
1962 - Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring appears (US) (This is not a chemical. The
book ‘ Silent Spring’ created awareness about ill effects of pesticides)
1967 - First JH mimic (Juvenile Hormone mimic) used in US (Insect growth
regulator)
1970 - Development of synthetic pyrethroids (UK) (Fast degradation) (Effective
at very low doses)
1980 - Discovery of avermectins (derived from bacteria). Effective at low dose.
Fast degradation.
1990 - Discovery of newer groups like (1) Neonicotinoids (Imidacloprid),
similar to natural nicotin, (2) Spinosyns (e.g. Spinosad) derived from
actinomycet

TOXICITY PARAMETERS
Toxicity of a given chemical to an organism can be measured using various
parameters as listed below.
1) LD50 or Median lethal dose
LD50 is defined as the amount of insecticide per unit weight which will kill
505 of the particular organism or insect. LD50 usually expressed as mg/kg body
weight or g/larva or adult insect.

2) LC50 or Median lethal concentration

Defined as the concentration of insecticide required to kill 50% of the given
organism or insect. This is used when the exact dose per insect is not known, but the
concentration is known.
LC50 is expressed in PPM (1/1,000,000) or Percentage (1/100)

3) LT50 (Median lethal time)

LT50 is defined as the time required to kill 50% of the population at a certain
dose or concentration.
LT50 expressed in hours or minutes. LT50 is used in field studies and also for
testing insect viruses (NPV).

4. KD50: Median knockdown dose Dose of insecticide or time required to

5. KT50: Median knockdown time knockdown 50% of the insects

KD50 and KT50 are used for evaluating synthetic pyrethroids against insects.

6. ED50: Median effectivedose These terms are used to express the

7. EC50: Median effective concentration effectiveness of insect growth
regulators (IGR)

ED50 and EC50 are defined as the dose or concentration of the chemical (IGR)
required to affect 50% of population and produce desired symptoms in them.

Toxicity terms used to express the effect on mammals

1. Acute toxicity : Toxic effect produced by a single dose of a toxicant

2. Chronic toxicity : Toxic effects produced by the accumulation of small
amounts of the toxicant over a long period of time
3. Oral toxicity : Toxic effect produced by consumption of pesticide orally
4. Dermal toxicity : Toxic effect produced when insecticide enters through
skin
5. Inhalation toxicity : Toxic effect produced when poisonous fumes of
insecticide are inhaled (fumigants)
 Other terms : Acute oral, Acute dermal, Acute inhalation toxicity, etc.

Ideal Qualities of an Insecticide

An ideal insecticide should posses the following qualities
Kill the target insect effectively and quickly
Be less toxic to natural enemies
Be less toxic to honey bees, soil microorganisms
Be less toxic to fishes and mammals
Less hazardous and less toxic during handling or accidental consumption by human
beings
Quickly degradable in environment and should be less persistent (Residues should be
very less)
Should not cause resurgence of the target insect (i.e. Increase in population of target
insect) e.g. Chlorpyriphos causes resurgence of BPH on rice.
Should not cause outbreak of secondary pest on a minor pest by killing the natural
enemies
Should have a complex mode of action against which resistance development will
take more time. e.g. Azadirachtin from neem tree has complex action
Should have a longer storage life or shelf life
It is advantageous to select an insecticide which can kill a relatively broad spectrum of
target pests
It should be cost effective (High benefit/Cost ratio) and safe to use (High benefit/Risk
ratio)

Various generations of insecticides

Generation Year Compounds

1. First generation insecticide 1939-1942 BHC and DDT
2. Second generation insecticide 1944-1947 Organophosphates and Carbamate
3. Third generation insecticide 1967 Hormonal insecticides, JH mimic
insect growth regulators
4. Fourth generation insecticide 1970s Synthetic pyrethroids
 Lecture 9 PESTICIDES GROUPS

Groups of pesticides : The pesticides are generally classified into various groups
based on pest organism against which the compounds are used, their chemical nature,
mode of entry and mode of action.

1. Based on organisms
a) Insecticides : Chemicals used to kill or control insects (eg.) endosulfan,
malathion

b) Rodenticides : Chemicals exclusively used to control rats (eg.) Zinc

phosphide

c) Acaricides : Chemicals used to control mites on crops / animals (eg.)

Dicofol
d) Avicides : Chemicals used to repel the birds (eg.) Anthraquionone

e) Molluscicides : Chemicals used to kill the snails and slugs (eg.) Metaldehyde
f) Nematicides : Chemicals used to control nematodes (eg.) Ethylene
dibromide
g) Fungicides : Chemicals used to control plant diseases caused by fungi
(eg.) Copper oxy cholirde
h) Bactericide : Chemicals used to control the plant diseases caused by
bacteria (eg.) Streptomycin sulphate
i) Herbicide : Chemicals used to control weeds (eg.) 2,4, - D

2. Based on mode of entry

a) Stomach poison : The insecticide applied in the leaves and other parts of the
plant when ingested, act in the digestive system of the insect and bring about
kill (eg.) Malathion.
b) Contact Poison : The toxicant which brings about death of the pest species by
means of contact (eg.) Fenvalerate.
c) Fumigant : Toxicant enter in vapour form into the tracheal system (respiratory
poison) through spiracles (eg.) Aluminium phosphide
d) Systemic poison : Chemicals when applied to plant or soil are absorbed by
foliage (or) roots and translocated through vascular system and cause death of
insect feeding on plant. (eg.) Dimethoate.

3. Based on mode of action

a) Physical poison : Toxicant which brings about kill of one insect by exerting a
physical effect (eg.) Activated clay.
b) Protoplasmic poison : Toxicant responsible for precipitation of protein (eg.)
Arsenicals.
c) Respiratory poison : Chemicals which inactivate respiratory enzymes (eg.)
hydrogen cyanide.
d) Nerve poison : Chemicals inhibit impulse conduction (eg.) Malathion.
e) Chitin inhibition : Chemicals inhibit chitin synthesis (eg.) Diflubenzuron.
4. Based on chemical nature
Classification based on chemical nature of insecticides

Pesticides

I. Inorganic II. Organic

pesticides pesticides

a.Petroleum b. Animal c. Plant d. Synthetic

oils origin origin organic
compiunds

1.Organo 2 Cyclodiene 3 Organo 4 Carba- 5 Synthetic 6 Miscell-

chlorine . compounds . phos- . mates . pyrethroids . aneous
phates groups
I.Inorganic pesticides
Inorganic chemicals used as insecticides
Eg. Arsenic, Fluorine, Sulphur, lime sulphur (Insecticides) zinc phosphide
(Rodenticide)

II.Organic pesticides
Organic compounds (constituted by C, H, O and N mainly)
Hydrocarbon oil (or) Petroleum oil – eg. Coal tar oil, kerosine etc.,
Animal origin insecticides – eg. Nereistoxin extracted from marine annelids –
commercially available as cartap, padan.
Plant origin insecticides : Nicotine from tobacco plants, pyrethrum from
Chrysanthemum flowers, Rotenoids from roots of Derris and Lonchocarpus
Neem – azadirachtin, Pongamia glabra, Garlic etc.,
Synthetic organic compounds : These organic chemicals are synthetically produced in
laboratory.

i. Chlorinated hydrocarbon (or) organochlorines

Eg. DDT, HCH, Endosulfan, Lindane, Dicofol (DDT, HCH banned)
ii. Cyclodienes
Eg. Chlordane, Heptachlor (Banned chemicals)
iii Organophosphates : (Esters of phosphoric acid)
.
Eg. Dichlorvos, Monocrotophos, Phospamidon, Methyl parathion, Fenthion,
Dimethoate, Malathion, Acephate, Chlorpyriphos
iv. Carbamates: (Derivatives of carbamic acid)
Eg. Carbaryl, Carbofuran, Carbosulfan
v. Synthetic pyrethroids ; (Synthetic analogues of pyrethrum)
Eg. Allethrin, Cypermethrin, Fenvalerate
vi. Miscellaneous compounds
Neonicotinoids (Analogues of nicotine) eg. Imidacloprid Spinosyns
(Isolated from actinomycetes) eg. Spinosad Avermectins (Isolated
from bacteria) eg. Avermectin, Vertimec Fumigants : Eg. Aluminium
phosphide, Hydrogen cyanide, EDCT
Lecture 20 THE INSECTICIDES ACT, 1968

An act to regulate the import, manufacture, sale, transport, distribution and use of
insecticides with a view to prevent risk to human beings on animals and for matters connected
therewith.

Salient features of the Insecticides Act

Compulsory registration of the product at the Central level and licenses for manufacture,
formulation and sale at state level.
Inter – departmental / ministerial / organizational co-ordination is achieved by a high level
advisory board “Central Insecticides Board” with 24 members (to be raised to 29 by an
amendment) drawn from various fields having expert knowledge of the subject.
“Registration Committee” to look after the registration aspects of all Insecticides.
Establishment of enforcement machinery like Insecticide Analysts and Insecticide Inspectors
by the Central or State Government.
Establishment of Central Laboratory
Power to prohibit the import, manufacture, and sale of pesticides and also confiscate the
stocks. The offences are punishable and size and other penalties are prescribed.
Both the Central and State Governments are empowered to make rules, prescribe forms and
fees.

The Central Insecticides Board (CIB)

The Central Insecticides Board advices on matters relating to:

The risk to human beings or animals involved in the use of insecticides and the safety
measures necessary to prevent such risk.
The manufacture, sale, storage, transport, distribution of insecticides with a view to ensure
safety to human beings and animals.

Board members

The Director General Health Services ➜ Chairman

The Drugs Controller, India
The Plant Protection Adviser to the Government of India
The Director General, ICAR
The Director General, ICMR

Totally 24 members – others from various other fields such as BIS, Animal
husbandry, Pharmacology, Fisheries, Wild life etc.,

The Registration Committee (RC)

RC comprises a Chairman and five members. Among them are:

1. Deputy Director General, Crop Sciences, ICAR-Chairman

2. Drugs Controller, India
3. Plant Protection Adviser to the Government of India

Role of RC

To register insecticides after scrutinizing them with regard to efficacy and safety.
Registration of Insecticides

When applied for registration, the RC allots a registration number within a period of 12
months.
When pesticide registered for first time in India, provisional registration for two years given
initially. After data generation full registration allowed.

The Central Insecticides Laboratory (CIL)

CIL carrys out the analysis relating to insecticide registration and other matters.

Insecticide Inspectors

Central or State Government appoints person called Insecticide Inspector who is

empowered.

a. To enter and search premises

b. To stop the distribution or sale or use of insecticide
c. Take samples of insecticide and send for analysis

The Insecticides Rules, 1971

There are nine chapters in the insecticide rule, 1971 relating to the functions of CIB,
RC, CIL, grant of licenses, packing, labelling, first aid, antidate protective clothings etc.,

Insecticide residues and waiting period

Residues
The toxicant that remains in the environment (like soil, water, plant harvested
produce, etc.) after the application of insecticides. The duration of retension is called
persistence.
- Only 1% of the pesticide applied to crop reaches the target. The remaining 99%
contaminate soil, water, air, food, forage, etc.
- When surveyed in India 20% of market samples of food commodities were having
residues above legal MRL (maximum residue limits).
- 37% of milk samples contaminated with DDT above MRL (0.05 mg/kg)
- Due to contamination the dietary intake of DDT and HCH are above ADI
(acceptable daily intake) in India.
- Waiting period must be observed which is the minimum period allowed between
time of application of pesticide and harvest of commodities in order to allow the
toxicant residue level to come below MRL.

The following are some examples of waiting period of some chemicals in a

few important crops
Crop Insecticide and Dose Waiting period (days)
1. Chillies Dicofol 0.05% 1
Quinalphos 0.05% 8
2. Tomato Phosalone 0.05% 3
Quinalphos 0.05% 5
3. Brinjal Phosalone 0.05% 2
Endosulfan 0.07% 3
Aldicarb 1 kg a.i./ha 60
Role of pesticides in IPM
1. Pesticide should be applied only based on the need, i.e. if pest reaches ETL.
2. It should be judiciously combined with other components of IPM and pesticides
should be used as last resort.
3. When pest population approaches ETL, insecticides are the only means of
preventing economic damage.
4. Insecticides are available in easy and ready to use packings.
5. Easy to apply and large area can be covered.
6. A range of insecticides are available depending on crop, insect and nature of
damage.
7. Pesticides which are cost effective (High benefic/cost ratio) and safe (High
benefit/risk ratio) should be used in IPM.
 Lecture 21: PHEROMONES

Semiochemicals are chemical substances that mediate communication

between organisms. Semiochemicals maybe classified into Pheromones (intraspecific
semiochemicals) and Allelochemics (interspecific semiochemicals).

Pheromones are chemicals secreted into the external environment by an

animal which elicit a specific reaction in a receiving individual of the same species.
Pheromones are volatile in nature and they aid in communication among insects.

Pheromones are exocrine in origin (i.e. secreted outside the body). Hence they
were earlier called as ectohormones. In 1959, German chemists Karlson and
Butenandt isolated and identified the first pheromone, a sex attractant from silkworm
moths. They coined the term pheromone. Since this first report, hundreds of
pheromones have been identified in many organisms. The advancement made in
analytical chemistry aided pheromone research.

Based on the responses elicited pheromones can be classified into 2 groups

a) Primer pheromones: They trigger off a chain of physiological changes in

the recipient without any immediate change in the behaviour. They act through
gustatory (taste) sensilla. (eg.) Caste determination and reproduction in social insects
like ants, bees, wasps, and termites are mediated by primer pheromones. These
pheromones are not of much practical value in IPM.

b) Releaser pheromones: These pheromones produce an immediate change in

the behaviour of the recipient. Releaser pheromones may be further subdivided based
on their biological activity into

Sex pheromones
Aggregation pheromones
Alarm pheromones
Trail pheromones

Releaser pheromones act through olfactory (smell) sensilla and directly act on
the central nervous system of the recipient and modify their behaviour. They can be
successfully used in pest management programmes.

1) Sex pheromones are released by one sex only and trigger behaviour
patterns in the other sex that facilitate in mating. They are most commonly released
by females but may be released by males also. In over 150 species of insects, females
have been found to release sex pheromones and about 50 species males produce.
Aphrodisiacs are substances that aid in courtship of the insects after the two sexes are
brought together. In many cases males produce aphrodisiacs.

Major differences between male and female produced pheromones are listed
below.

Sl.
Properies Female sex pheromone Male sex pheromone
No
1. Range Acts at a long range. Attracts Acts at a short distance
males from long distance
2 Role of other Play less role Visual and auduitory stimuli
stimuli play major role
3. Action elicited Atrracts and excites males to Lowers females resistance to
in the other sex copulate mating
4. Importance in More important Less important
IPM

Insect orders producing sex pheromones

Lepidoptera, Orthoptera, Dictyoptera, Diptera, Coleoptera, Hymenoptera,

Hemiptera, Neuroptera and mecoptera. In Lepidoptera, sex pheromonal system is
highly evolved.

Pheromone producing glands:

In Lepidoptera they are produced by eversible glands at the tip of the

abdomen of the females. The posture shown during pheromone release is called
‘calling position’. Aphrodisiac glands of male insects are present as scent brushes (or
hair pencils) at the tip of the abdomen (eg. Male butterfly of Danaus sp.).
Andraconia are glandular scales on wings of male moths producing aphrodisiacs.

Pheromone reception:

Female sex pheromones are usually received by olfactory sensillae on male

antennae and males search upwind, following the odour corridor of the females. In
pheromone perceiving insects, the antennae of male moths are larger and greatly
branched than female moths to accommodate numerous olfactory sensilla.

Chemical nature of sex pheromones

In general pheromones have a large number of carbon atoms (10-20) and high
molecular weight (180 – 300 daltons). Narrow specificity and high potency are two
attributes which depend on long chain carbon atoms and high molecular weight. But since
pheromones are volatile their molecular weights cannot be very high as they cannot be
carried by wind.

Butenandt and his coworkers in 1959 isolated 12mg of pheromone from the abdomen
of half a million virgin females of silkworm. They named the pheromene as Bombykol.
The chemical name is 10,12 – hexadeca dienol. It is a primary alcohol.

The following are some of the female sex pheromones identified in insects

Sl. No. Name of the Insect Pheromone

1. Silkworm, Bombyx mori Bombykol
2. Gypsy moth, Porthesia dispar Gyplure, disparlure
3. Pink bollworm ,Pectinophora gossypiella Gossyplure
4. Cabbage looper, Trichoplusia ni Looplure
5. Tobacco cutworm, Spodoptera litura Spodolure, litlure
6. Gram pod borer, Helicoverpa armigera Helilure
7. Honey bee queen, Apis sp. Queen’s substance

Examples of male sex pheromones

Cotton boll weevil, Anthonomas grandis, Coleoptera

Cabbage looper, Trichoplusia ni, Lepidoptera
Mediterranean fruitfly, Ceratitis capitata, Diptera.

Multi-component pheromone system : If the pheromone of an insect is composed of only

one chemical compound we call it monocomponent pheromone system. Pheromones of some
insects contain more than one chemical compound. In this case we call it as multi-
component pheromone system. The sex pheromone of two different species may contain
same chemical compounds but the ratio of the compounds may vary. This brings about
species specificity.

Pest Management With Sex Pheromones

Synthetic analogues of sex pheromones of quite large No. of pests are now available
for use in Pest management. Sex pheromones are being used in pest management in three
different ways.
a) In sampling and detection (Monitoring)
b) To attract and kill (Mass trapping)
c) To disrupt mating (Confusion or Decoy method)
a) In sampling and detection (Monitoring) :
Pheromones can be used for monitoring pest incidence/ outbreak in the
following ways.
Lecture 22 : STERIITY METHODS - DEFINITON - PRINCIPLES -
METHODS - REQUIREMENTS AND LIMITATIONS

Sterility method - Definition

Control of pest population achieved by releasing large number of sterilised
male insects, which will compete with the normal males and reduce the insect
population in subsequent generation.

It is usually referred as SIT (Sterile insect technique) or SIRM (Sterile insect

release method)

Sterile insect release method is a genetic control method. This is also called
Autocidal control since insects are used against members of their own species.

E.F. Knipling in 1937 in South East USA used the SIRM technique to control
the screw wormfly (Cochliomyia nominivorax) a serious livestock pest.

The sterile to fertile male ratio, called S:F ratio is important, as the reduction
in reproductive potential of natural population depends on S:F ratio.

The mating with the sterile males will produce inviable or sterile eggs.

Trend of hypothetical population subjected to SIRM

Assumption
1. Female:Male ratio 1:1
2. 1 female produces 5 females as off spring in one generation

No.of females No.of sterile No.of Ratio sterile No. of

Generation without males females to normal fertile
releases released releases(9:1) males females
1. 1,000,000 9,000,000 1,000,000 9:1 100,000
2. 5,000,000 9,000,000 500,000 18:1 26,316
3. 25,000,000 9,000,000 131,579 68:1 1,907
4. 125,000,000 9,000,000 9,535 944:1 10
5. 625,000,000 9,000,000 50 180,000:1 0

In suitable circumstances sterile male release method (SIRM) can be more

effective, compared to insecticide application.
Comparison of SIRM with insecticide - Trend of hypothetical population

Generation No. of females No. of females with No. of females with

with no treatment sterile release (9:1) insecticide (90% kill)
1. 1,000,000 1,000,000 1,000,000
2. 5,000,000 500,000 500,000
3. 25,000,000 131,579 250,000
4. 125,000,000 9,535 125,000
5. 625,000,000 50 62,500
6. 3,125,000,000 0 31,250

SIRM technique can also be used after insecticide application which will be
more effective.

Circumstances for using this method

1. Against well established pest when their population density is low
2. Against newly introduced pest
3. Against isolated population as in island
4. Combined with cultural and chemical methods

Methods of sterilizatoin
1. Chemosterilants: Any chemical which interfere with the reproductive capacity of
an insect.
a. Alkylating agents
They inhibit nucleic acid synthesis
inhibit gonad development
produce mutagenic effect
(e.g.) TEPA, Chloro ethylamine

b. Antimetabolites
Chemicals having structural similarity to biologically active substances. They
interfere with nucleic acid synthesis. e.g. 5-Fluororacil, Amithopterin

Methods of sterilization - continued

II. Irradiation
Irradiation done by exposing insects to , , radiations, X rays and neutrons.
Of these, -radiation by 60CO (cobalt) with its half-life of 60 years is the most
common method.
Irradiation causes following sterility effects in insects
Infecundity Aspermia
Inability to male
Dominant lethal mutation

Radiation dose required for different species and stages for sterilization
(expressed as rads - radiation absorbed dose).
Insect Stage Dose
Housefly 2-3 day pupae 3000 rads
Screw worm 5 day pupae 2500 rads
1 day adult 5000 rads

Sterilizing natural population

In this method, instead of releasing sterilised males into the field, a chemosterilant is
sprayed in field like insecticide. The chemosterilant sterilizes both male and female. These
do not produce offspring-equivalent to killing them.

Bonus effect: The bonus effect of this method is that the sterilized males mate with
normal females and reduce their reproductive capacity.

Chemosterilants used are TEPA, HEMPA, BISULFAN, etc.

Requirements for SIRM

1. A method inducing sterility without impairing sexual behaviour of insects.

2. Mass rearing of the insects
3. Information on population density and its rate of increase
4. The released insects must not cause damage to the crops, livestock or human beings
5. Good intermingling of released and natural population
6. Releasing sterilized insects when the wild population is abundant
7. This method is effective against newly introduced pest or isolated insect
population as in island.
8. There should be high sterile to fertile (S:F) ratio for quicker control.

Limitations of SIRM
1. Not effective against insects which are prolific breeders
2. Sterilizing and mutagenic effect of chemosterilants and irradiation cause problem in
higher animals and man (Carcinogenic and mutagenic)
Lecture 23: INSECT GROWTH REGULATORS

Insect Growth Regulators (IGRs) are compounds which interfere with the
growth, development and metamorphosis of insects. IGRs include synthetic analogues
of insect hormones such as ecdysoids and juvenoids and non-hormonal compounds
such as precocenes (Anti JH) and chitin synthesis inhibitors.

Natural hormones of insects which play a role in growth and development are

1. Brain hormone: The are also called activation hormone(AH). AH is secreted

by neuro secretory cells (NSC) which are neurons of central nervous system
(CNS). It’s role is to activate the corpora allata to produce juvenile hormone
(JH).
2. Juvenile hormone (JH): Also called neotinin. It is secreted by corpora allata
which are paired glands present behind insect brain. Their role is to keep the
larva in juvenile condition. JH I, JH II, JH III and JH IV have been identified
in different groups of insects. The concentration of JH decreases as the larva
grows and reaches pupal stage. JH I, II and IV are found in larva while JH III
is found in adult insects and are important for development of ovary in adult
females.
3. Ecdysone: Also called Moulting hormone (MH). Ecdysone is a steroid and is
secreted by Prothoracic Glands (PTG) present near prothoracic spiracles.
Moulting in insects is brought about only in the presence of ecdysone.
Ecdysone level decreases and is altogether absent in adult insects.

IGRs used in Pest management

a) Ecdysoids: These compunds are synthetic analogues of natural ecdysone. When

applied in insects, kill them by formation of defective cuticle. The development
processes are accelerated bypassing several normal events resulting in integument
lacking scales or wax layer.

b) Juvenoids (JH mimics) : They are synthetic analogues of Juvenile Hormone

(JH). They are most promising as hormonal insecticides. JH mimics were first
identified by Williams and Slama in the year 1966. They found that the paper
towel kept in a glass jar used for rearing a Pyrrhocoris bug caused the bug to die
before reaching adult stage. They named the factor from the paper as ‘paper
factor’ or ‘juvabione’. They found that the paper was manufactured from the
wood pulp of balsam fir tree (Abies balsamea) which contained the JH mimic.

Juvenoids have anti-metamorphic effect on immature stages of insect. They

retain status quo in insects (larva remains larva) and extra (super numerary)
 moultings take place producing super larva, larval-pupal and pupal-adult
intermediates which cause death of insects. Juvenoids are larvicidal and ovicidal
in action and they disrupt diapause and inhibit embryogenesis in insects.

Methoprene is a JH mimic and is useful in the control of larva of hornfly, stored

tobacco pests, green house homopterans, red ants, leaf mining flies of vegetables
and flowers

c) Anti JH or Precocenes: they act by destroying corpora allata and preventing JH

synthesis. When treated on immature stages of insect, they skip one or two larval
instars and turn into tiny precocious adults. They can neither mate, nor oviposit
and die soon. Eg. EMD, FMev, and PB (Piperonyl Butoxide)

d) Chitin Synthesis inhibitors: Benzoyl phenyl ureas have been found to have the
ability of inhibiting chitin synthesis in vivo by blocking the activity of the enzyme
chitin synthetase. Two important compounds in this category are Diflubenzuron
(Dimilin) and Penfluron. The effects they produce on insects include

Disruption of moulting
Displacement of mandibles and labrum
Adult fails to escape from pupal skin and dies
Ovicidal effect.

Chitin sysnthesis inhibitors have been registered for use in many countries and
used successfully against pests of soybean, cotton, apple, fruits, vegetables, forest
trees and mosquitoes and pests of stored grain

IGRS from Neem : Leaf and seed extracts of neem which contains azadirachtin as
the active ingredient, when applied topically causes growth inhibition, malformation,
mortality and reduced fecundity in insects.

Hormone mimics from other living organisms: Ecdysoids from plants

(Phytoecdysones) have been reported from plants like mulberry, ferns and conifers.
Juvenoids have been reported from yeast, fungi, bacteria, protozoans, higher animals
and plants.

Advantages of Using IGRs

Effective in minute quantities and so are economical

Target specific and so safe to natural enemies
Bio-degradable, non-persistent and non-polluting
Non-toxic to humans, animals and plants
Disadvantages

Kills only certain stages of pest

Slow mode of action
Since they are chemicals possibility of build-up of resistance
Unstable in the environment

ANTIFEEDANTS

Antifeedants are chemicals that inhibit feeding in insects when applied on the foliage
(food) without impairing their appetite and gustatory receptors or driving (repelling)
them away from the food. They are also called gustatory repellents, feeding deterrents
and rejectants. Since do not feed on trated surface they die due to starvation.

Groups of antifeedants

Triazenes: AC 24055 has been the most widely used triazene which is a oduorless,
tasteless, non-toxic chemical which inhibit feeding in chewing insects like
caterpillars, cockroaches and beetles.

Organotins. They are compounds containing tin. Triphenyl tin acetate is an important
antifeedants in this group effective against cotton leaf worm, Colarado potato
beetle, caterpillars and grass hoppers

Carbamates: At sublethal doses thiocarbamates and phenyl carbamates act as

antifeedants of leaf feeding insects like caterpillars and Colarado potato beetle.
Baygon is a systemic antifeedants against cotton boll weevil.

Botanicals: Antifeedants from non-host plants of the pest can be used for their
control The following antifeedants are produced from plants.

Pyrethrum: Extracted from flowers of Chrysanthemum cinerarifolium acts as

antifeedants at low doses against biting fly, Glossina sp.
Neem: Extracted from leaves and fruits of neem (Azadirachta indica) is an
antifeedant against many chewing pests and desert locust in particular
Apple factor: Phlorizin is extracted from apple which is effective against non-
apple feeding aphids.
Solanum alkaloids: Leptine, tomatine and solanine are alkaloids extracted
from Solanum plants and are antifeedants to leaf hoppers.
Miscellaneous compounds: Compounds like copper stearate, copper resinate,
mercuric chloride and Phosphon are good antifeedants.

Mode of action: Antifeedants inhibit the gustatory (taste) receptors of the mouth
region. Lacking the right gustatory stimulus the insect fails to recognize the trated leaf
as food. The insect slowly dies due to starvation.

Advantages:

Affect plant feeders, but safe to natural enemies

Pest not immediately killed, so natural enemies can feed on them
No phytotoxicity or pollution
Disadvantages
Only chewing insects killed and not sucking insects
Not effective as sole control measure, can be included in IPM

INSECT ATTRACTANTS

Chemicals that cause insects to make oriented movements towards their source
are called insect attractants. They influence both gustatory (taste) and olfactory
(smell) receptors.

Types of Attractants:
1. Pheromones: Pheromones are chemicals secreted into the external environment
by an animal which elicit a specific reaction in a receiving individual of the
same species.
2. Food lures : Chemical present in plants that attract insect for feeding. They
stimulate olfactory receptors.

List of natural and synthetic food lures

Insects Lure
Natural
Pests of cruciferae Isothiocyanates from seeds of cruciferae
Onion fly (Hylemya antiqua) Propylmercaptan from onions
Bark beetle Terpenes from barks
Housefly Sugar and molasses
Synthetic
Oriental fruitfly (Dacus dorsalis) Methyl eugenol
Melon fruitfly (Dacus cucurbitae) Cuelure
Mediterranean fruitfly Trimedlure
(Ceratitis capitata)
 3. Oviposition lures: These are chemicals that govern the selection of suitable
sites for oviposition by insects. For example extracts of corn attracts
Helicoverpa armigera for egg laying on any treated surface.

Use of Attractants in IPM

Insect attractants are used in 3 ways in pest management

a) Sampling and monitoring pest population

b) Luring pests to insecticide coated traps or poison baits

Examples of poison baits

For biting insects: Moistened Bran + molasses) + insecticides
For sucking insects : Sugar solution + insecticide
For fruitflies: Trimedlure/ Cuelure/ Methyl eugenol + insecticides
For cockroaches: Sweet syrup + white or yellow phosphorus
For sweet-loving ants : Thallous sulphste + sugar + honey + glycerine +
water
For meat loving ants : Thallous sulphate + peanut butter

c) in distracting insects from normal mating, aggregation, feeding or oviposition

The female insects if lured to wrong plants for egg laying, the emerging larva will
starve to death

Advantage of using attractants is that they are specific to target insects and NE not
affected. But they cannot be relied as the sole method of control and can only be
included in IPM as a component.

INSECT REPELLENTS
Chemicals that induce avoiding (oriented) movements in insects away from
their source are called repellents. They prevent insect damage to plants or animals
by rendering them unattractive, unpalatable or offensive.
Types of repellents
1. Physical repellents : Produce repellence by physical means
a) Contact stimuli repellents: Substances like wax or oil when applied on leaf
surface changes physical texture of leaf which are disagreeable to insects
b) Auditory repellents: Amplified sound is helpful in repelling mosquitoes.
c) Barrier repellents: Tar bands on trees and mosquito nets are examples.
d) Visual repellents: Yellow light acts as visual repellents to some insects.
e) Feeding repellents: Antifeedants are feeding repellents. They inhibit feeding.
 2. Chemical repellents:
a) Repellents of Plant origin: Essentials oils of Citronella, Camphor and
cedarwood act as repellents. Commercial mosquito repellent ‘Odomos’ uses
citronella oil extracted from lemongrass, Andrpogon pardus as repellent.

Pyrethrum extracted form Chrysanthemum is a good repellent and has been used
against tsetse fly, Glossina morsitans.

b) Synthetic repellents: Repellents synthetically produced.

List of important synthetic repellents

Insects Repellents
Mosquito, blood suckers Dimethyl pthalate
Mites (chiggers) Benzyl benzoate
Crawling insects Trichlorobenzene
Phytophagous insects Bordeaux mixture
Wood feeders Pentachlorophenol
Fabric eaters Naphthalene or mothballs
Bees Smoke

Uses of repellents:
They can be applied on body to ward off insects
Used as fumigants in enclosed area.
Used as sprays on domestic animals
To drive away insects from their breeding place.

BIORATIONAL CONTROL
Controlling insects using chemicals that affect insect behaviour, growth or
reproduction, is called biorational control.
Insect Growth Regulator,
Chitin synthesis inhibitor,
JH analogues, Anti JH,
Moulting hormone,
Pheromones All these methods are included in
Allelochemics Biorational method of control
Attractant, Repellent,
Antifeedant,
Chemosterilant,
Sterile male release
 They are called biorational agents in pest control, because of their selective nature
in killing only the target insects without affecting non target organisms.
Lecture 24 PESTICIDE APPLICATION METHODS

The desired effect of a pesticide can be obtained only if it si applied by an

appropriate method in appropriate time. The method of application depends on nature
of pesticide, formulation, pests to be managed, site of application, availability of
water etc.

1. Dusting : Dusting is carried out in the morning hours and during very light air
stream. It can be done manually or by using dusters. Some times dust can be
applied in soil for the control of soil insects. Dusting is cheaper and suited for dry
land crop pest control.

2. Spraying : Spraying is normally carried out by mixing EC (or) WP formulations

in water. There are three types of spraying.

Spray Droplet Area Equipment used

fluid (litre size covered
per acre) per day
a) High volume spraying 200-400 150 2.5 ac Knapsack, Rocker
sprayers
b) Low volume spraying 40-60 70-150 5.6 ac Power sprayer, Mist
blower
c) Ultra low volume 2-4 lit. 20-70 20 ac ULV sprayer,
spraying Electrodyn sprayer

3. Granular application : Highly toxic pesticides are handled safely in the form
of granules. Granules can be applied directly on the soil or in the plant parts.
The methods of application are

a) Broadcasting : Granules are mixed with equal quantity of sand and

broadcasted directly on the soil or in thin film of standing water. (eg.)
Carbofuran 3G applied @ 1.45 kg/8 cent rice nursery in a thin film of water
and impound water for 3 days.

b) Infurrow application : Granules are applied at the time of sowing in furrows

in beds and covered with soil before irrigation. (eg.) Carbofuran 3G applied @
3 g per meter row for the control of sorghum shootfly.

c) Side dressing : After the establishment of the plants, the granules are applied
a little away from the plant (10-15 cm) in a furrow.
d) Spot application : Granules are applied @ 5 cm away and 5 cm deep on the
sides of plant. This reduces the quantity of insecticide required.

e) Ring application : Granules are applied in a ring form around the trees.

f) Root zone application : Granules are encapsulated and placed in the root
zone of the plant. (eg.) Carbofuran in rice.

g) Leaf whorl application : Granules are applied by mixing it with equal

quantity of sand in the central whorl of crops like sorghum, maize, sugarcane
to control internal borers.

h) Pralinage : The surface of banana sucker intended for planting is trimmed.

The sucker is dipped in wet clay slurry and carbofuran 3G is sprinkled (20-40
g/sucker) to control burrowing nematode.

4. Seed pelleting/seed dressing : The insecticide mixed with seed before sowing
(eg.) sorghum seeds are treated with chlorphyriphos 4 ml/kg in 20 ml of water
and shade dried to control shootfly. The carbofuran 50 SP is directly used as
dry seed dressing insecticide against sorghum shootfly.

5. Seedling root dip : It is followed to control early stage pests (eg.) in rice to
control sucking pests and stem borer in early transplanted crop, a shallow pit
lined with polythene sheet is prepared in the field. To this 0.5 kg urea in 2.5
litre of water and 100 ml chlorpyriphos in 2.5 litre of water prepared
separately are poured. The solution is made upto 50 ml with water and the
roots of seedlings in bundles are dipped for 20 min before transplanting.

6. Sett treatment : Treat the sugarcane setts in 0.05% malathion for 15 minutes
to protect them from scales. Treat the sugarcane setts in 0.05% Imidacloprid
70 WS
@ 175 g/ha or 7 g/l dipped for 16 minutes to protect them from termites.

7. Trunk/stem injection : This method is used for the control of coconut pests
like black headed caterpillar, mite etc. Drill a downward slanting hole of 1.25
cm diameter to a depth of 5 cm at a light of about 1.5 m above ground level
and inject 5 ml of monocrotophos 36 WSC into the stem and plug the hole
with cement (or) clay mixed with a fungicide. Pseudo stem injection of
banana, an injecting gun or hypodermic syringe is used for the control of
banana aphid, vector of bunchy top disease.
8. Padding : Stem borers of mango, silk cotton and cashew can be controlled by
this method. Bark of infested tree (5 x 5 cm) is removed on three sides leaving
bottom as a flap. Small quantity of absorbant cotton is placed in the exposed
area and 5-10 ml of Monocrotophos 36 WSP is added using ink filler. Close
the flap and cover with clay mixed with fungicide.
9. Swabbing : Coffee white borer is controlled by swabbing the trunk and
branches with HCH (BHC) 1 per cent suspension.

10. Root feeding : Trunk injection in coconut results in wounding of trees and
root feeding is an alternate and safe chemical method to control black headed
caterpillar, eriophyid mite, red palm weevil. Monocrotophos 10 ml and equal
quantity of water are taken in a polythene bag and cut the end (slant cut at 45)
of a growing root tip (dull white root) is placed inside the insecticide solution
and the bag is tied with root. The insecticide absorbed by root, enter the plant
system and control the insect.

11. Soil drenching : Chemical is diluted with water and the solution is used to
drench the soil to control certain subterranean pests. (eg.) BHC 50 WP is
mixed with water @ 1 kg in 65 litres of water and drench the soil for the
control of cotton/stem weevil and brinjal ash weevil grubs.

12. Capsule placement : The systemic poison could be applied in capsules to get
toxic effect for a long period. (eg.) In banana to control bunchy top vector
(aphid) the insecticide is filled in gelatin capsules and placed in the crown
region.

13. Baiting : The toxicant is mixed with a bait material so as to attract the insects
towards the toxicant.
a) Spodoptera : A bait prepared with 0.5 kg molasses, 0.5 kg carbaryl 50 WP
and 5 kg of rice bran with required water (3 litres) is made into small pellets
and dropped in the field in the evening hours.
b) Rats : Zinc phophide is mixed at 1:49 ratio with food like popped rice or
maize or cholam or coconut pieces (or) warfarin can be mixed at 1:19 ratio
with food. Ready to use cake formulation (Bromodiolone) is also available.
c) Coconut rhinoceros beetle : Castor rotten cake 5 kg is mixed with
insecticide.

14. Fumigation : Fumigants are available in solid and liquid forms. They can be
applied in the following way.
a) Soil : To control the nematode in soil, the liquid fumigants are injected by
using injecting gun.
b) Storage : Liquid fumigants like Ethylene dibromide (EDB), Methyl bromide (MB),
carbon tetrachloride etc. and solid fumigant like Aluminium phosphide are
recommended in godowns to control stored product pest.
c) Trunk : Aluminium phosphide 7f to I tablet is inserted into the affected
portion of coconut tree and plugged with cement or mud for the control of red palm weevil
Lecture 25 : PESTICIDE COMPATIBILITY
- In pest control treatment, two or more pesticides, fungicides or even fertilizers are
sprayed or applied in the same operation to minimize cost of labour.
- Before mixing two different chemicals, their physical and chemical properties
should be well understood.
- Incompatible pesticides should not be mixed. Only compatible pesticides can be
mixed.

Incompatability of pesticides may be of following types

a. Chemical incompatibility
Chemical compounds in the two pesticides react with the another producing a
different compound, reducing the pesticidal activity of the pesticides (Degradation of
active ingredient).

b. Biological incompatibility (Phytotoxic incompatibility)

The mixed product exhibit phytotoxic action, which independantly is not
phytotoxic.

c. Physical incompatibility
The physical form of the pesticides change, and one of them become unstable
or hazardous for application (agglomeration, phase separation, explosive reaction,
etc.).

HAZARDS CAUSED BY PESTICIDES

The adverse effect caused by pesticides to human beings during manufacture,
formulation, application and also consumption of treated products is termed as the
hazard.
Pesticide hazard occurs at the time of
a. Manufacturing and formulation
b. Application of pesticides
c. Consumption of treated products

Examples of hazards caused by pesticides

1. In Kerala, in 1953, 108 people died due to parathion poisoning
2. ‘Bhopal Gas Tradedy’ in 1984 at Bhopal where the gas called Methyl isocyanate
(MIC) (an intermediate involved in manufacture of carbaryl) leaked killing 5000
people and disabling 50,000 people. Totally 2,00,000 persons were affected.
Long term effects like mutagenic and carinogenic effects are felt by survivors.
3. Cases of Blindness, Cancer, Liver and Nervous system diseases in cotton growing
areas of Maharashtra where pesticides are used in high quantity.
4. Psychological symptoms like anxiety, sleep disturbance, depression, severe head
ache in workers involved in spraying DDT, malathion regularly.
5. Endosulfan - causing problem due to aerial spraying in cashew in Kerala - recent
controversy - yet to be studied in detail.

Safe handling of pesticides

1. Storage of pesticides :
a) Store house should be away from population areas, wells, domestic water
storage, tanks.
b) All pesticides should be stored in their original labeled containers in tightly
sealed condition.
c) Store away from the reach of children, away from flames and keep them under
lock and key.

2. Personal protective equipment

a) Protective clothing that covers arms, legs, nose and head to protect the skin.
b) Gloves and boots to protect hands and feet.
c) Helmets, goggles and facemask to protect hair, eyes and nose.
d) Respirator to avoid breathing dusts, mists and vapour.

3. Safety in application of pesticides

Safe handling of pesticides (Fig.68) involves proper selection and careful
handling during mixing and application.
a) Pesticide selection : Selection of a pesticide depend on the type of pest,
damage, losses caused, cost etc.
b) Safety before application :
i. Read the label and leaflet carefully.
ii. Calculate the required quantity of pesticides.
iii. Wear protective clothing and equipment before handling.
iv. Avoid spillage and prepare spray fluid in well ventilated area.
v. Stand in the direction of the wind on back when mixing pesticides.
vi. Do not eat, drink or smoke during mixing.
vii. Dispose off the containers immediately after use.
c) Safety during application
i. Wear protective clothing and equipment.
ii. Spray should be done in windward direction.
iii. Apply correct coverage.
iv. Do not blow, suck or apply mouth to any spray nozzle.
v. Check the spray equipment before use for any leakage.

d) Safety after application

i. Empty the spray tank completely after spraying.
 ii. Avoid the draining the contaminated solution in ponds, well or on the
grass where cattle graze.
iii. Clean the spray equipment immediately after use.
iv. Decontaminate protective clothing and foot wear.
v. Wash the hands thoroughly with soap water, preferably have a bath.
vi. Dispose off the containers by putting into a pit.
vii. Sprayed field must be marked and unauthorized entry should be
prevented.

First aid : In cane of suspected poisoning; call on the physician immediately. Before
calling on a doctor, first aid treatments can be done by any person.

Swallowed poison
i. During vomiting, head should be faced downwards.
ii. Stomach content should be removed within 4 h of poisoning.
iii. To give a soothing effect, give either egg mixed with water, gelatin, butter,
cream, milk, mashed potato.
iv. In case of nicotine poisoning, give coffee or strong tea.

Skin contamination
i. Contaminated clothes should be removed.
ii. Thoroughly wash with soap and water.
Inhaled poison
i. Person should be moved to a ventilated place after loosing the tight cloths.
ii. Avoid applying frequent pressure on the chest.
III. Antidotes and other medicine for treatment in pesticide poisoning

S.No. Antidote / Medicine Used in poisoning due to

1. Common salt (Sodium chloride) Stomach poison in general

2. Activated charcoal (7g) in warm Stomach poison in general

Magnesium oxide (3.5g) water
Tannic acid (3.5g)

3. Gelatin (18 g in water) or Flour or milk Stomach poison in general

power (or) Sodium thiosulphate

4. Calcium gluconate Chlorinated insecticide, Carbon

tetrachloride, ethylene dichloride,
Mercurial compound
 5. Phenobarbital (or) Pentobarbital Stomach poison of chlorinated
intravenous administration hydrocarbon insecticides

6. Sodium bicarbonate Stomach poison of

organophosphate compounds

7. Atropine sulphate (2-4 mg Organophosphate Compounds

intramuscular / intravenous
administration) or PAM (Pyridine-Z
aldoxime-N-methliodide)

8. Atropine sulphate (2-4 mg Carbamates

intramuscular / intravenous
administration)

9. Phenobarbital Synthetic pyrethoid

10. Potassium permanganate Nicotine, Zinc phosphide

11. Vitamin K1 and K2 Warfarin, Zinc phosphide

13. epinephrine Methlyl bromide

14. Methyl nitrite ampule Cyanides

Impact of Pesticides in Agroecosystem

The following are some problems caused by pesticides in agro-eco system
1. Pesticide residues
2. Insecticide resistance
3. Insect resurgence and secondary pest outbreak
4. Toxicity to non target organism

1. Pesticide residues
The pesticide that remains in the environment after application causes
problems to humans and non-target organisms (Already dealt in theory - Read) e.g.
Residues of DDT, HCH in milk, vegetable above MRL.

2. Insecticide resistance
Insecticide resistance is the development of an ability to tolerate a dose of
insecticide, which would prove lethal (kill) to majority of the individuals of the same
species.

This ability is due to the genetic change in pest population in response to

pesticide application.
Insecticide resistance in insect pests in India

Name of pest Common name Insecticides to which resistant

1. Aphis craccivora Aphid Carbamates, OP, Cypermethrin,
2. Bemesia tabaci Whitefly Endosulfan, Monocrotophos

3. Helicoverpa armigera Cotton boll worm OP, Synthetic pyrethroid,

Bacillus thuringiensis
4. Plutella xylostella Diamond back Abamectin, Bt, OP compounds
moth on cabbage,
cauliflower

Simple resistance : Insect develops resistance only against the insecticide to

which
it is exposed
Cross resistance : Insect develops resistance not only to exposed insecticide but
also to other related insecticides to which it is not exposed.

Pest Resurgence
Tremendous increase in pest population brought about by insecticides despite
good initial reduction in pest population at the time of treatment.
Insecticides lead to pest resurgence in two ways.
After initial decline, resistant population increase in large numbers
Killing of natural enemies of pest, cause pest increase
e.g. Quinalphos, phorate - Cause resurgence of BPH in rice
Carbofuran - Leaf folder in rice

Secondary pest outbreak

Application of a pesticide against a major pest, kills the natural enemies of
minor or secondary pest. This causes the outbreak of a secondary pest.
e.g. Use of synthetic pyrethroids against bollworms in cotton killed natural enemies
of whitefly causing an outbreak of whitefly which was a minor pest till then.

Toxicity of non-target organisms

i. Natural enemies : Predators and parasitoids are killed loading to pest

outbreak
ii. Bee toxicity : Bees are important pollinators. Killing bees reduce
crop productivity
iii. Soil organisms : Soil organisms like microbes, arthropods, earthworm,
 etc. are required for maintaining soil fertility. These
are killed by some pesticides e.g. DDT, HCH
iv. Fishes : Pesticides from treated surface run off to nearby lakes
and kill the fishes

Hence while choosing an insecticide it should be safe (causing less harm) to these
organisms.

Specific IPM practices for rice and cotton. Biotechnology in pest

management.
Lecture 26: IMPACT OF GLOBAL WARMING ON PESTS

What is global warming?

SUN Earth reflects some solar energy

as infrared radiation

Green house gases

Infra red radiation from earth

reflected back to earth by green
house gases. This increases the
Solar radiation temperature of earth and lower
falls on earth atmosphere. This is called
surface. Earth global warming or greenhouse
absorbs and effect
gets heated up EARTH

- Warmth from sun heats the surface of the earth

- Earth absorbs most of the energy but reflects back some energy in the form of
infra red radiation
- Greenhouse gases (e.g. CO2, Methane, CFC (Chloro Fluoro Carbon), Nitrous
oxide) present in atmosphere trans the infrared radiation and reflects back to earth
- This reflected energy falls on earth and also lower atmosphere and keeps it
warmer (Heats the earth’s surface)
This is called global warming or green house effect.

Effect of global warming on world and agriculture

- Increase in overall temperature on earth (e.g.) Earth’s surface temperature has
increased 1.4oF in lst one century (Forecast: 5oF rise in next century)
- Change in climate tremendously
- Melting of ice in Polar region
- Increase in seas level and submerging of coastal areas
- Flooding and intense down pours
- Drought in warmer regions

Impact of global warming on pest status

1. Due to change in climate, temperature and water availability, the farmers may
change the type of crops grown.
2. Due to increase in temperature, there can be outbreak of certain insect pests and
diseases.
3. In forest areas there will be a shift in tree species and also pest species.
4. In agriculture lands since cropping pattern is changed new crops to suit the
climate is introduced and new pests are also introduced.
5. When water availability is less, crops will be raised as rainfed. It will be difficult
to take up control measures without water.

Sources of green house gases

Developed countries : Emission from Automobiles and factories contain CFCs
Developing countries : Deforestation causes rise in CO2 level Methane gas
from paddy fields and livestock Nitrous oxide from
‘N’ based fertilizer
Lecture 27: INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT - HISTORY, PRINCIPLES
AND STRATEGIES RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DIFFERENT
COMPONENTS AND ECONOMICS

History of Integrated Pest Management

- Michelbacher and Bacon (1952) coined the term “integrated control”

- Stern et al. (1959) defined integrated control as “applied pest control which
combines and integrates biological and chemical control”
- Geier (1966) coined the term “pest management”
- Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ, 1972) gave the term “Integrated Pest
Management”
- Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO, 1967) defined IPM as “a pest
management system, that, in the context of associated environment and population
dynamics of the pest species, utilizes all suitable techniques and methods in as
compatible a manner as possible and maintains pest populations at levels below
those causing economic injury”
- In 1989, IPM Task Force was established and in 1990. IPM Working Group
(IPMWG) was constituted to strengthen implementation of IPM at international
level.
- In 1997, Smith and Adkisson were awarded the World Food Prize for pioneering
work on implementation of IPM.

Principles and strategies of Integrated Pest Management

I. Monitoring insect pests and natural enemies

Pest surveillance and forecasting are essential tools in IPM which help in
making management decision.

II. Concepts of injury levels

ETL (Economic threshold level) and EIL (Economic injury level) concepts are
followed to reduce the use of insecticide and their impact on environment.

III. Integration of pest control tactics

Proper choice of compatible tactics and blending them so that each component
complements the other.
The strategy of applying pest management tactics is similar to that of human
medicine.
i.e. Preventive practice
Curative practice
Preventive methods of IPM include the following
a. Natural enemies
b. Host plant resistance
c. Cultural control
d. Legal control (Plant Quarantine)

Curative methods of IPM include the following

a. Physical and mechanical methods
b. Inundative method releasing biocontrol agents
c. Chemical insecticides, IGR

- Preventive methods can be used, irrespective of the level of pest incidence. It can
be followed as a routine, even if the pest is at a low level.
- Curative methods have to be followed only when the pest attains economic
threshold level (ETL).
Integration of different components of IPM
There are two steps involved
i. Selection of appropriate method
ii. Integration of pest control method

i. Selection method: It could be preventive (prophylactic) or curative.

While selecting the method, it should possess following features:
a. It should be ecofriendly and cause minimum adverse effect on agro-eco system
a. There should not be any conflict between the methods
b. The methods should be least expensive

Integration of tactics
- Integrating management tactics is not simply adding a number of these tactics to
form a program.
- Actual integration involves proper choice of compatible tactics and blending them
so that each complements the other.
e.g. (1) Host plant resistance can be easily blended with crop sanitation
(2) Insecticide control is compatible with other preventive methods
(3) It is difficult to blend natural enemy release with others like pesticides
- Integration of tactics, requires interdisciplinary approach.
- A knowledge of other subjects like, nematology, plant pathology, microbiology,
crop and farm management also required when we go upward in level of
integration.
Relationship among different components of IPM
Prophylactic or preventive measures Pest surveillance Cultural
control Pest forecasting and Host
plant resistance Decision making Legal
control, Natural enemies

IPM

When
Curative measures pest
Mechanical and Physical methods reaches
Chemical control, IGR, etc. ETL
Inundative release of biocontrol agents

ECONOMICS OF INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT

An Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programme can be successful only if reduces
cost on control measures, or increases crop yield (or both) and also reduce environmental
pollution and health hazards.

The following are some examples of successful IPM programmes worldwide

1. In Philippines, in 1993, IPM farmers obtained 4.7 to 62% higher rice yield and reduced
pesticide use by 15% compared to non-IPM.
2. In India in 1995, IPM farmers obtained 6.2 to 42.1% increased rice yield, and
reduced pesticide use by 50% compared to non-IPM farmers.
3. In India on cotton crop, adoption of IPM technology resulted in 73.7 and 12.4%
reduction in the number of insecticide sprays against sucking pests and
bollworms. In spite of reduction in pesticide sprays 21-27% increase in seed cotton
yield was obtained in IPM areas compared to non-IPM. Natural enemy population also
increased 3 folds.
4. In Thailand in 1993 adoption of IPM technology resulted in 145% increase in net profit
in IPM fields over non-IPM fields in cruciferous vegetables.
5. IPM is useful and economical in high value, plantation crops like Coconut,
Coffee, Tea, Cashewnut and Arecanut.

Institutional support for IPM

International: IPMWG, FAO, CABI, ICIPE
Global IPM facility (1992) - Sponsored by FAO, UNDP, UNEP and
World Bank
National : NCIPM: National Centre for Integrated Pest Management at Faridabad
(Near Delhi) (1988) - Supports IPM in India
Lecture 28: INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT - ISSUES AND OPTIONS
ECOFRIENDLY IPM-INDIGENOUS/TRADITIONAL TECHNOLOGIES IN
IPM

Constrains in IPM have been listed by IPM task force as follows:

i. Institutional constraint
IPM requires interdisciplinary approach to solve pest problem. Lack of
coordination among different institution is a constraint. Research programme based
on farmer’s neem - is lacking.

ii. Informational constraint

Lack of information on IPM among farmers and extension worker. Lack of
training on IPM.

iii. Sociological constraint

Some farmers feel it is risky to adopt IPM compared to use of pesticides alone.
Our farmers are habituated to using more pesticides.

iv. Economic constraint

Lack of funds for training farmers and extension workers on the use of IPM.

v. Political constraint
- Vested interest associated with pesticide trade
- Pesticide subsidy by Government
These are the constraints for the implementation of IPM.

Options/strategies in IPM implementation

Acceleration of IPM implementation requires the following
i. Farmer’s participation
Farmers must be encouraged to participate in IPM and give their views.

ii. Government support

Government can remove subsidies on pesticides and allot more fund for IPM
implementation.

iii. Legislative measures

Suitable legislation (law) may be passed for adopting IPM by all farmers (IPM
will be successful only if adopted on community basis).

iv. Improved institutional infrastructure

National level institution for implementation of IPM is a must. Data base on
role of biotic and abiotic factors on pest population, crop yield are required.
v. Improved awareness
Awareness should be created at all levels on IPM i.e. Policy makers, farmers,
consumers and general public. NGOs (Non Governmental Organisation) should be made
aware of the advantages of IPM.

Ecofriendly IPM

- IPM which lays more importance on environmental safety. All methods except the
use of chemical insecticides are encouraged.
- ‘Organic farming’ is a new concept where no chemical pesticide or fertilizer is
used in agriculture.
- Ecofriendly IPM may be followed in organic farming
- Ecofriendly IPM uses methods like biological control, behavioural method,
physical, cultural and mechanical methods.
- Here more stress is given to environmentally sustainable pest management.

Indigenous/Traditional technologies in IPM

The following are some examples of traditional technologies in IPM
i. Cultural methods: (a) Farm level (b) Community level
- which were originally practiced by farmers.
Examples: Already covered in previous classes.
ii. Physical and mechanical methods originally followed by farmers
e.g. (a) Use of storage bins, treatment of stored grain with vegetable oil etc., to ward
off storage pest.
(b) Tanjore bow trap for rats
Other examples can also be quoted.
iii. Farmers’ wisdom on pest control tactics as follows
e.g. (a) Use of scare crows to ward off bird pests
(b) Use of ‘Kavankal’ to ward off birds
(c) Use of ‘Pachakavya’ a mixture of cowdung, with other ingredients has been
tried as a pest control agent - Research is ongoing.
(d) Use of chilli mash and garlic juice spray against rice earhead bug

Many other similar techniques are followed by farmers. Research has to be done
to prove their usefulness in IPM.
Lecture 29: IPM (Integrated Pest Management) for Rice
1. Avoid use of excess nitrogenous fertilizer which induces BPH and leaf folder
2. Remove/destroy stubbles after harvest
3. Trim field bunds and keep field free from weeds
4. Control irrigation by intermittent draining to manage BPH (Alternate wetting and
drying of field)
5. Avoid close planting, especially in BPH and leaf folder prone areas/seasons
6. Provide rogue spacing of 30 cm at every 2.5 m interval to take up plant protection
operation
7. Use light traps to monitor incidence of pests
8. Avoid resurgence inducing chemicals against BPH like Methyl parathion and
quinalphos
9. Remove stem borer egg masses by dipping off tip of rice seedling during
transplanting
10. Select and use resistant varieties against major pests
11. Manage caseworm by passing rope on crop and draining water
12. Release egg parasitoid Trichogramma japonicum on 30 and 37th day after planting
against stem borer
13. Release egg parasitoid T. chilonis and bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis against leaf
folder
14. Use of Neem Seed Kernel Extract 5% (NSKE 5%) or Neem oil 2% against
Earhead bug
15. Use insecticides as need based application if pest reaches ETL

S.No. Pest (on rice) ETL

1. Thrips 25/5 passes of wet palm
2. Stem borer 10% Dead heart or 2% white ear
3. Gall midge 10% Silver shoot
4. Leaf folder 10% leaf damage (at vegetative stage)
5% leaf damage (at Bootleaf stage)
5. GLH 5/hill at vegetative stage, 10/hill flowering stage, 2/hill in
RTV endemic areas
6. BPH (Brown 1/tiller; 2/tiller when spider present at 1/hill
Plant Hopper)
7. Earhead bug 5 bugs/100 panicle - Flowering stage
16 bugs/100 panicle - Milky stage
IPM FOR COTTON

1. Selection and use of resistant/tolerant varieties against major pests

2. Use of light trap to monitor hoppers, bollworms, cutworm
3. Use of pheromone traps for monitoring/mass trapping bollworms
4. Collection and destruction of infested plant parts, squares and bolls
5. Growing trap crop (e.g.) Castor for Spodoptera litura
6. Manual collection and removal of egg masses of S. litura
7. Hand picking of bollworm larvae
8. Use of insect viruses SlNPV and HaNPV against Spodoptera litura and
Helicoverpa armigera respectively
9. Avoid ratoon and double cotton crop
10. Avoid staking of stalks in the field
11. Synchromise sowing time at village level
12. Follow crop rotation with unrelated crops
13. Removal of alternate hosts
14. Judicious use of nitrogen and water to manage hoppers and white flies
15. Use of yellow sticky traps for whiteflies
16. Observe IRM (Insecticide Resistance Management) practices like
a. Treat seeds with Imidacloprid 7.5 g/kg seed of cotton to manage early stage
sucking pests
b. Use of predators like Chrysoperla carnea
c. Use of egg parasitoid Trichogramma sp. against bollworms
17. Apply insecticides only based on need, when pest population/damage reaches
ETL

S.No. Cotton pest ETL

1. Leaf hopper/thrips 50 nos./50 leaves (or 1/leaf)
2. Whitefly 5 nymphs/leaf
3. Bollworms 10% damage of reproductive parts
4. Stem weevil 10% infested plants
5. Spodoptera litura 8 egg masses/100 m row
Lecture 30 : BIOTECHNOLOGY IN PEST MANAGEMENT
Use of molecular biology techniques for the management of insect pests. The
following are some strategies.

1. Wide hybridization: This technique involves transfer of genes from one species
to other by conventional breeding. The genes for resistance are transferred from a
different species. e.g. WBPH resistant gene has been transferred to Oryza sativa
from O.officinalis.
2. Somaclonal variability: The variation observed in tissue culture derived
progeny. e.g. Somaclonal variants of sorghum resistant to Spodoptera litura has
been evolved.
3. Transgenic plants: Transgenic plants are plants which possess one or more
additional genes. This is achieved by cloning additional genes into the plant
genome by genetic engineering techniques. The added genes impart resistance to
pests.

Transgenic plants have been produced by addition of one or more following

genes.

a. Bt endotoxin from Bacillus thuringiensis

b. Protease inhibitors
c. -Amylase inhibitors
d. Lectins
e. Enzymes

c. Bt endotoxin gene: The gram positive bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis produces a

crystal toxin called (delta) endotoxin.
The endotoxin is a stomach poison and kills the lepidopteran insects if
consumed.

The gene (DNA fragment) responsible for producing endotoxin is isolated

from Bt and cloned into plants like cotton, potato, maize, etc. to produce Transgenic
cotton, etc.
Transgenic Bt plants Target insect pests
1. Cotton Bollworms, S. litura
2. Maize European corn borer
3. Rice Leaf folder, stem borer
4. Tobacco, Tomato Cut worms
5. Potato, Egg plant Colarado potato beetle
b. Protease inhibitors (PI) gene
Insects have proteases in their gut which are enzymes helping in digestion of
protein. Protease inhibitors are substances inhibit the proteases and affect digestion in insects.
The protease inhibitor gene are isolated from one plant and cloned into another to
produce transgenic plants.
e.g. Transgenic apple, rice, tobacco containing PI. e
e.g. Cowpea trypsin inhibitor (CpTI) is a PI isolated from cowpea and cloned into
tobacco. This transgenic tobacco is resistant to Heliothis virescens.

c. -Amylase inhibitor gene

-Amylase is a digestive enzyme present in insects for digestion of
carbohydrate. -Amylase inhibitor, affect digestion in insects.

Transgenic tobacco and tomato expressing -amylase inhibitor have been

produced which are resistant to Lepidopteran pests.

d. Lectins genes
Lectins are proteins that bind to carbohydrates. When insect feed on lectins, it binds
to chitin in peritrophic membrane of midgut and prevents uptake of nutrients. e.g.
Transgenic tobacco containing pea lectin gene is resistant to H. virescens

e. Enzyme genes
Chitinase enzyme gene, and cholesterol oxidase gene have been cloned into plants
and these show insecticidal properties.

PYRAMIDING GENES
Engineering transgenic crops with more than one gene to get multi-
mechanistic resistance is called pyramiding of genes. e.g.
1. The CpTi gene and pea lectin gene were cloned to produce a tranagenic tobacco.
2. Transgenic potato which express lectin and bean chitinase have been produced.

Potentials/Advantages of Biotechnology in IPM

1. Slow development of resistance against transgenic Bt, PI, lectins
2. All plant parts express toxin and so no need for insecticide spray
3. No need for continuous monitoring
4. No environmental pollution, safe to NE, non-target organism