Eco-friendly management of Hadda beetle (Henosepilachna Vigintioctopunctata F.) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) using selected botanical extracts

Abstract

Brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) is a major vegetable crop grown in Sri Lanka. Insect pests are the major threat to brinjal cultivation. Hadda beetle (Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata F.) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), whis is a polyphagous pest of economically important solanaceae and cucurbitaceae family crops, is a serious insect pest of brinjal cultivation in northern Sri Lanka next to the shoot and fruit borer [1]. The adult and larval stages feed on epidermal tissues of leaves, flowers and fruits of brinjal and cause considerable economic losses [2]. Synthetic insecticides are preferred among the management strategies proposed and frequently being used by the farmers. Recently imposed government policy on organic agriculture to minimize the cumulative adverse effects agrochemicals on human and environment, pushed the farmers to use ecofriendly approaches. Therefore, the primary goal of this research was to study about the insecticidal activity and antifeedant activity of selected botanical extracts against Hadda beetle and qualitative analysis of phytochemicals present in the screened extracts.