Management of the common cutworm, Spodoptera litura in onion field with sex pheromones and nucleopolyhedrovirus (NPV)

Issue Date

10-2013

Abstract

Insecticide misuse in vegetable production is well documented in Central Luzon. Previous studies showed that this could be attributed to the lack of surveillance and monitoring tools for an effective timing of interventions. Pesticide misuse results in higher production cost, killing of non-target organisms, exposure of farmers to hazard, and negative effect on the environment. Due to its easily observable damage to the plant, S. litura is considered by farmers as an important insect pest of onion. Nuclear polyhedrosis virus (NPV) was earlier isolated from the larva of S. litura and being mass produced in the laboratory. A study was conducted in farmer's fields in Sto. Domingo and Guimba, Nueva Ecija to determine if moth catches in sex pheromone-baited traps could be used as guide for effective timing of NPV application against s. litura in onion field. There were 4 treatments, replicated 4 times. Two peaks in moth catches were recorded in Sto. Domingo and three peaks in Guimba. Treatment 1 was farmer's practice meaning the fields was sprayed three times in Sto. Domingo and four times in Guimba. In treatment 2, NPV was applied at five days after peak and repeated two days later treatment 3, NPV was applied at seven days after peak and repeated after two days treatment 4 was sprayed with NPV every week. Mean number of damaged leaves recorded over the cropping period was lowest in treatments 1 and 2. Yield was also highest in insecticide-treated 2 plots. Results indicated that using sex pheromone traps as an indicator for effective timing of NPV intervention is comparable to spraying insecticide three to four times as gauged by number of damaged leaves and crop yield. The use of sex pheromone-baited trap for monitoring adult population of S.litura for effective NPV application is safe, economical and can possibly reduce or eliminate insecticide misuse in onion production.

Source or Periodical Title

The Philippine Entomologist

ISSN

0048-3753

Volume

27

Issue

2

Page

200-201

Document Type

Article

Frequency

semi-annually

Language

English

En – AGROVOC descriptors

SPODOPTERA LITURA; NUCLEAR POLYHEDROSIS VIRUS; SEX PHEROMONES; SEX ATTRACTANTS; BIOLOGICAL CONTROL; INSECTICIDES; PHEROMONE TRAPS; PESTS OF PLANTS

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