20098-- Kuldeep Sharma

Indian Journal of Entomology Online published (Preview) DoI No.:

A NOVEL FROND INJECTION METHOD AGAINST BLACK HEADED CATERPILLAR ARENOSELLA WALKER

Kuldeep Sharma*, T Shivashankar1 and Sandeep Kumar1

Department of Entomology, Rajasthan College of Agriculture, Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology, Udaipur 313001 1Department of Agricultural Entomology, College of Agriculture, V C Farm Mandya, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru 571405 *Email: [email protected] (*corresponding author)

ABSTRACT

A field study was conducted in coconut at farmer’s field in Halebudanuru village in Mandya district, Karnatakaduring 2017-2018.The frond injection, a novel method of insecticide application was evaluatedagainst the black headed caterpillar Opisinaarenosella Walker. The insecticides evaluated include: imidacloprid 17.8% SL, acetamiprid 20% SP, clothianidin 50% WG, thiacloprid 21.7% SC, emamectin benzoate 5% SG, spinosad 45% SC, cartap hydrochloride 50% SP and standard check monocrotophos 36% SL. Among these, it was observed that cartap hydrochloride 50%SP and monocrotophos 36% SL gave 100% mortality; and all other treatments alsogave significant mortality over control. The present frond injection method is an easy, quicker and accurate method, without any secondary infection/ damage to the frond tissues.

Key words: Frond injection, insecticide administration, coconut, Opisinaarenosella, cartap hydrochloride, monocrotophos, larval mortality

Coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) palm is cultivated but also evaluates anovel method of administration, i.e., across the globe, and being a perennial, it harbours frond injection against O. arenosella. many / other . Among the foliage pests, the seriouspestis the black headed caterpillar MATERIALS AND METHODS Opisinaarenosella Walker (: Oecophoridae) The study was conducted in a farmer’s field at (Thippeswamyet al., 2008). Mohan et al. (2010) Halebudanuru village in Mandya district (12º 32’ observed that the nut yield of infested palms could be N, 76º 53’E, 690 masl) during 2017-18. The study reduced by as much as 45.4% in the year following site consisted of 8-10 years old 200 coconut palms, severe incidence and also that the number of of which 50 palms infested with O. arenosella were flower bunches and could be reduced by 21 and selected, with the field laid out in randomized block 13.8%, respectively. The management options against design (RBD). There were ten treatments with five this include topical sprays and systemic application replications, each consisting of five coconut palms, with (root administration and trunk injection method) of one frond/ tree considered as a replication. Insecticides insecticides.Several studies have been undertaken for evaluated include: imidacloprid 17.8% SL, acetamiprid its management deploying methods viz., spraying of 20% SP, clothianidin 50% WG, thiacloprid 21.7% SC, insecticides, using biopesticides, and root feeding with emamectin benzoate 5% SG, spinosad 45% SC, cartap monocrotophos (Pushpalatha, 1986); and stem injection hydrochloride 50% SP and monocrotophos 36% SL. using soluneem (Shivashankar, 1999). Monocrotophos These were administered by frond injection method; has been effectively exploited against this pest in the details of dilutions are given in Table 1. For frond the coconut growing areasof the world. However, injection, a middle frond was selected and the upper monocrotophos beingPreview an organophosphate has been surface of its base being the site of injection. Injection banned in many countriesand restricted for use in . was by inserting syringe loadedwith insecticide Hence, there is a need to identify equally effective solution. Hand drill machine with 0.3 cm of diameter alternatives, and those which are least toxic to the non- drill bit was used to make a hole at 45o to a depth of target fauna. The present study not only focuses on this 1.5 cm. The syringe loaded with insecticide solution 2 Indian Journal of Entomology Online published (Preview) 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 5 6 emerged Parasitoid 2 3 2 1 2 2 0 0 18 20 Adult emerged emergence S.D.) (Mean ± (mg) 0.00 ± 0.00 ± 27.46 ± 5.12 28.28 ± 4.55 25.93 ± 4.23 24.78 ± 5.61 26.18 ± 3.15 28.28 ± 2.79 40.00 ± 6.60 Pupal weight 40.68 ± 10.07 5 6 4 4 4 4 0 0 Pupation, pupal weight, adults and parasitoids 23 26 leaflets infested Pupae/ 30 * 0.05 0.14 O. arenosella 15 DAT 0.64 ± 0.30 0.76 ± 0.17 0.52 ± 0.23 0.68 ± 0.23 0.80 ± 0.32 0.64 ± 0.26 0.00 ± 0.00 ± 1.08 ± 0.36 1.16 ± 0.48 * 0.07 0.19 7 DAT 2.28 ± 0.67 2.48 ± 0.33 1.60 ± 0.32 1.68 ± 0.36 2.08 ± 0.54 1.44 ± 0.26 0.00 ± 0.00 ± 3.60 ± 0.32 3.72 ± 0.46 * 0.07 0.19 (Mean ± S.D.) 3 DAT Larvae/ infested leaflet 0.08 ± 0.11 2.76 ± 0.26 2.96 ± 0.43 1.72 ± 0.48 1.88 ± 0.30 2.72 ± 0.64 2.02 ± 0.15 0.12 ± 0.18 3.80 ± 0.32 3.96 ± 0.78 - - NS : Day before treatment; DAT: Day after treatment : Day before treatment; DAT: 0 DBT 3.40 ± 0.42 3.20 ± 1.10 3.20 ± 1.26 3.24 ± 1.16 3.56 ± 0.33 3.52 ± 0.56 3.16 ± 0.43 3.60 ± 0.32 3.48 ± 0.41 3.44 ± 0.38 - 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 10.00 ± 10.00 ± 10.00 ± 10.00 ±

after 48 hr 8.60 ± 1.34 9.20 ± 1.10 8.40 ± 1.52 7.00 ± 1.22 7.20 ± 0.84 Table 1. Insecticides absorptionand their effect on 1. Insecticides absorptionand their effect Table - volume (Mean ± S.D.) 7.60 ± 2.51 9.20 ± 1.10 7.20 ± 1.92 5.40 ± 0.55 5.60 ± 0.89 5.80 ± 0.84 after 24 hr Absorption out of injected 10.00 ± 0.00 10.00 ± 0.00 10.00 ± 0.00

Preview- - 1 1 10 10 0.5 0.2 0.02 0.01 frond 10 ml/ Dilution (%) each Treatments Imidacloprid 17.8% SL Acetamiprid 20% SP Clothianidin 50% WG Thiacloprid 21.7% SC Emamectin Benzoate 5% SG Spinosad 45% SC Monocrotophos 36 % SL Cartap hydrochloride 50 % SP Check-1 (Water) Check-2 (Control) F S.Em ± CD@ 5% 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. S. 10. No. NS- non-significant; *Significant (p=0.05); S.D.- Standard deviation; DBT A novel frond injection method against coconut black headed caterpillar 3 Kuldeep Sharma et al. was placed into injection hole just after making hole in of injection site on the coconut frond; age of the coconut between 9 am to 11 am during September, 2017 when palm; and weather factors. In case of coconut palms the the majority of larvae of O. arenosella were in early rate of absorption through xylem vessels isrelated to instars and were actively feeding on green tissue. The the age. The relative abundance of vascular bundles in syringe (12 ml) loaded with 10 ml of insecticide solution coconut palms increases with increasing age (Meylan, was placed into each hole and the hole was sealed with 1978). Palm stem xylem, phloem, and even parenchyma wax to avoid leakage.The syringe was covered with cells remain alive for the life of the palm, which can polythene cover to avoid the entry of inert material, be hundreds of years in some (Tomlinson and with the time of inserting hole and imposing injection Huggett, 2012). When the syringe loaded with the noted down in each replication. appropriately diluted insecticide formulation is plugged into the incision, a very unique micro environment is The observations on absorption of insecticide created in which the diluted insecticide formulation is solution was recorded after 24 and 48 hr of imposing directly fed into the vascular bundles. In coconut palm, syringe into the coconut frond.The observations on though the vascular bundles are unified with different the number of live larvae of O. arenosella were made types of tissues, it is believed that a major portion of from randomly selected five infested leaflets from the insecticide solution is taken by the xylem vessels. each replication including check-1 and check-2, a day The complete absorption of insecticides by fronds can before injection (pre-treatment counts), 3, 7 and 15 be comparable to petiolar wells method used by Parera days after injection (post-treatment counts). After 25 et al. (1989). days of imposing treatments when larvaegets pupated, 30 infested leaflets were clipped from each treatment The results on the efficacy of insecticides given and the observations on number of pupae, pupal in Table 1 reveal that the pretreatment count of live weight, adult emergence and parasitoid emergencewere larvae ranged from 3.16 to 3.60 larvae/ infested analysed fromcollected pupae in the infested leaflets. leaflet, reduced after 3 days of treatments. It was the Each collected was weighed and kept for adult and least in monocrotophos 36% SL (0.08 larvae) treated parasitoid emergence. In each treatment, the number fronds followed by cartap hydrochloride 50% SP (0.12 of emerged adult and parasitoids from reared pupae larvae), compared to highest larval counts in check-1 were recorded. The fate of injected holes on fronds (3.80 larvae) and check-2 (3.96 larvae).The complete was observed at different intervals from drilling for reduction was observed with monocrotophos 36% any secondary infections by pathogen or mechanical SL and cartap hydrochloride 50% SP after 7 days of damage. A total of 45 fronds (45 injected holes on injection, and these results continued after 15 days fronds) were observed up to six months from drilling. of treatments. The maximum mortality observed in The visual observations such as oozing from the injected monocrotophos is in agreement with Kanagaratnam holes, softening of tissues, secondary infection by and Pinto (1985) when monocrotophos @ 10 ml/ palm pathogens etc. at different intervals were observed. The injected to coconut palm.Shivashankar (1999) using data obtained were analyzed statistically to know the syringe method of application of monocrotophos 36% efficacy of insecticides with ANOVA. SL @ 5 and 15 ml/ palm also achieved 100% mortality.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Neonicotinoids are known for their efficacy against a range of lepidopteran pests (Peter et al., The results on absorption of different dilutions of 2011), and in the present study clothianidin 50% WG, insecticides injected toPreview coconut fronds are presented in imidacloprid 17.8% SL, acetamiprid 20% SP and Table 1. The quickest absorptionby the coconut fronds thiacloprid 21.7% SC gave significant mortality of was observed with monocrotophos 36% SL (10.00 ml) larvae of O. arenosella. Imidacloprid thiamethoxam followed by cartap hydrochloride 50% SP (10.00 ml) with Oryctesagamemnonarabicus in date palms by three and check-1 (water) (10.00 ml) within 24 hr. However, methods viz., direct spray, trunk injection and drench at after 48 hr, the absorption of different insecticides was off season showed that trunk injection was more effective imidacloprid 17.8% SL (8.60 ml), clothianidin 50% WG (Khalaf and Alrubeai, 2016). However, neonicotinoids (8.40 ml), emamectin benzoate 5% SG (7.20 ml) and are not effective as frond or stem injection against thiacloprid 21.7% SC (7.00 ml). These differences in O. arenosella. The efficacy of emamectin benzoate absorption studiescan be attributed to: potential of active in this study corroborates with those of Smitley et and non-active ingredients components; anatomic point al. (2010) with trunk injection method against green 4 Indian Journal of Entomology Online published (Preview) ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica Marsh.). Similarly, the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS efficacy of spinosad 45% SC corroborates with the results of Amalendu et al. (2010) against larvae of The authors thank the farmers Channe Gowda Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner). Trunk injection with and Chikka Sidhaiya for cooperation in using their insecticides had been evaluated against pests of apple coconut orchard, and the Department of Agricultural (Charles, 2017) and it was observed effective against Entomology, College of Agriculture, Mandya, Empoascafabae and Choristoneurarosaceana. Cartap University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru for hydrochloride is nicotinic acetylcholine receptor providing facilities. The award of ICAR-NTS (National (nAChR) channel blocker, making insects discontinue talent scholarship) to the first author is acknowledged. feeding and die of starvation (Hartley and Kidd, 1997); REFERENCES it was found most effective against Scirpophaga incertulas (Ghulam et al., 2013) and Plutellaxylostella Amalendu G, Monilal C, Agamananda R. 2010. Bio-efficacy of spinosad against tomato fruit borer (Helicoverpa armigera Hub.) (Selvaraj and Kennedy, 2017). (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and its natural enemies. Journal of Horticulture and Forestry 2(5): 108-111. The effect of insecticides on pupation, pupal Charles CC. 2017. Refining trunk injection strategies for control of foliar weight, adult and parasitoid emergenceof O. arenosella pests and disease in michigan apple orchards. Ph.D.Thesis. presented in Table 1 reveal that there were no pupae, Michigan State University, Michigan, USA. adult and parasitoid emergence with monocrotophos Ganeswara R, Ramamohan R P, Thammiraju N B, Laxinarayana K, 36% SL and cartap hydrochloride 50% SP after 25 Krishnamurthy R B H, Satyanarayana M M. 1980. Administration of systemic insecticides through root- a new method of control of days of imposing treatments. The mean pupal weight coconut black headed caterpillar, Nephantisserinopa Meyrick. (in milligram) was found lowest in thiacloprid 21.7% Indian Coconut Journal11(1): 3-5. SC (24.78 mg) compared to maximum in check-1 Ghulam H A, Tajwer S S, Abid H S, Jinjie C, Muzammil S, Mohammad (40.00 mg) and check-2 (40.68 mg). The least adult S A. 2013. Efficacy and economics of different insecticides against emergence was observed with thiacloprid 21.7% SC. No stem borers, Scirpophaga incertulas (Walker) in Rice Crop. Pakistan Journal of Zoology 45(4): 929-933. parasitoid emergence was observed in pupae collected from clothianidin 50% WG, thiacloprid 21.7% SC Hartley D, KIDD H. 1997. The agrochemicals handbook 2nd ed. Lechworth, Herts, England: The Royal Society of Chemistry pp. and emamectin benzoate 5% SG treated fronds. Such A614. adverse effects are attributed to the antifeeding or Kanagaratnam P, Pinto J L J G, 1985. Effect of monocrotophos on the poor feeding efficiency by larvae. Similar finding was eating caterpillar, Opisinaarenosella Walker, when injected reported by Shivashankar et al. (2000) with the use of into the trunk of the coconut palm. Cocos 3:9-15. soluneem insecticide against O. arenosella on coconut Khalaf M Z, Alrubeai H F 2016. Chemical control of date palm tree using syringe method. The frond injection method of borers, Oryctes spp (Coleoptera: Scrabaidae: Dynastinae). Pakistan Entomologist 38(1): 1-5. administration takes 4 to 7 min which included climbing Mccoy R E. 1977, Petiole injection of coconut palm, a method to to the palm, drillingat site of injection and placing prevent permanent trunk injury during antibiotic treatment for syringe with loaded insecticide.Similar observations by lethal yellowing. Proceedings of the Florida State Horticultural Shivashankar (1999) on the time taken is 3 min, while Society 90: 114-117. in root feeding method (Ganeswara et al., 1980) and Meylan B A. 1978, Density variation within Cocos nucifera stems. New (Pushpalatha, 1986) time taken was 38-50 min. Zealand Journal of Forestry Science 8(3): 369-383. Mohan C, Nair C P R, Kesavan N C, Rajan P. 2010. Leaf eating The effect of drilling on plant tissue after removal caterpillar (Opisinaarenosella) induced yield loss in coconut palm. of syringes at different intervals revealed that there was International Journal of Tropical Insect Science 30:132-137. no visual symptom of secondary infections by pathogen Parera P A C R, Mahindapala R, Pethiyagoda U. 1989. A technique for Previewthe application of systemic insecticides through petiolar wells in such as oozing or softening of tissues up to 6 months coconut. Cocos 7: 30-35. around the injection holes. The results of the present Peter J, Ralf N, Michael S, Alfred E. 2011. Overview of the status and study confirms those of Parera et al. (1989) that drilling global strategy for neonicotinoids. Journal of Agricultural and Food petiolar wells on fronds for administering pesticides did Chemistry 59: 2897-2908. not cause damage. There was no damages to the fronds, Pushpalatha N A. 1986. Control of coconut black headed caterpillar confirming the observations of Mccoy (1977) that such Opisinaarenosella Walker (Lepidoptera: Xyloryctidae) through root feeding with monocrotophos. M.Sc. Thesis. University of injections did not cause any permanent injury to fronds Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore. as in trunk injections. Selvaraj C, Kennedy JS. 2017. Bioefficacy of some new generation insecticides on Plutellaxylostella in and toxicity on two natural A novel frond injection method against coconut black headed caterpillar Opisina arenosella 5 Kuldeep Sharma et al.

enemies. International Journal of Agricultural Science 9(3): Smitley D R, Joseph J D, David L C. 2010. Multiple-year protection 3680-3682. of ash trees from emerald ash borer with a single trunk injection of emamectin benzoate, and single-year protection with an Shivashankar T. 1999. New syringe method of insecticide administration imidacloprid basal drench. Arboriculture and urban forestry 36(5): technique to control coconut black headed caterpillar 206-211. (Opisinaarenosella Walker). Mysore Journal of Agricultural Sciences 30(4): 301-305. Thippeswamy R, Syed S, Manjunath L, Hirevenkanagoudar L V. 2008. A study on knowledge and extent of adoption of plant protection Shivashankar T, Annadurai R S, Srinivas M, Preethi G, Sharada T B, measures in coconut crop. Karnataka Journal of Agricultural Paramashivappa, Srinivas R A, Prabhu K C, Ramadoss C S, Veeresh Sciences 21(3): 412-415. G K, Subba Rao P V. 2000. Control of coconut black headed caterpillar (Opisinaarenosella Walker) by systemic application Tomlinson P B, Huggett B A. 2012. Cell longevity and sustained primary of Soluneem- a new water-soluble neem insecticide formulation. growth in palm stems. American Journal of Botany 99: 1891-1902. Current Science 78(2): 176-179.

(Manuscript Received: March, 2020; Revised: June, 2020; Accepted: June, 2020; Online Published: August, 2020) Online published (Preview) in www.entosocindia.org Ref. No. 20098

Preview