Sustainable pest management approach against the hog plum leaf beetle, Podontia 14-punctata Linn. (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

Abstract

Abstract Background The hog-plum, locally known as “amra”, is a deciduous perennial tree with thick succulent leaves and it grows all over the country, but the quality fruits are produced only in the southern districts of Bangladesh. Its cultivation is seriously hampered by hog-plum leaf beetle or 14 spotted leaf beetle, Podontia 14-punctata Linn. (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). In most of the cases, insecticidal spray is not effective for controlling this pest as pupation completed in the soil. Therefore, the present study was carried out under both laboratory and field conditions to develop environment friendly sustainable management approaches against the hog-plum beetle. Results Laboratory test revealed that spraying with green pesticide spinosad (Success® 2.5% SC) at hog-plum leaflet and drenching with microbial pesticide Metarhizium anisopliae + Trichoderma harzianum + Beauveria bassiana + Trichoderma viride (Lycomax, Russell IPM) causes 75.00% larvae, 72.22% adults and 51.85% pupal mortality,, respectively. Some pest management approaches were developed based on the laboratory results, they were verified in field, during the two successive fruiting seasons 2018 and 2019. Field study indicated that approach 1: Hand picking + trunk banding with packaging tape + soil drenching with lycomax, Russell IPM + spraying of spinosad treated trees offered lowest leaf and fruit infestation; even though trunk banding with packaging tape did not show any effect to control this pest. Fruit yield was also increased 39.04–39.66% in approach 1 imposing hog-plum trees compared to control. Conclusion The study showed that without banding of the hog-plum trunk, hand picking + soil drenching with microbial pesticides, lycomax, Russell IPM + spraying of spinosad might be sustainable and environment friendly pest management approach against P. 14-punctata.