Comparative bio-efficacy of different insecticides on major sucking pests of Bt-cotton

The field evaluation of various insecticides on major sucking pests of Bt-cotton during the 2022-23 season demonstrated significant reductions in pest occurrence across all treatments compared to the control. However, the efficacy varied depending on the insecticide used. Among all the treatments, Flonicamid 50 WG proved highly effective in managing all the sucking pests by recording lowest incidence of thrips (8.44/ 3 leaves), leaf hopper (5.43/ 3 leaves), aphid (3.64/ 3 leaves) and whitefly (3.29/ 3 leaves) with highest cotton yield (19.41 q/ha), net returns (53,540 `/ha) and B: C ratio (1.85) as compared to all other treatments. In addition, other promising alternatives such as Dinotefuran 20 SG, Spinetoram 11.7 SC, and Diafenthiuron 50 WP for combating thrips, Dinotefuran 20 SG and Spinetoram 11.7 SC for addressing leaf hoppers, and Pyriproxyfen 10 EC, Diafenthiuron 50 WP, and Dinotefuran 20 SG can be utilized for managing aphids and whiteflies in Bt- cotton. Utilizing these findings to optimize the selection and application of insecticides can enable growers to more effectively control pest pressures, thereby enhancing both the productivity and quality of Bt-cotton crops. Overall, Flonicamid 50 WG emerged as the most cost-effective option, underscoring its potential as a key solution for managing sucking pests in Bt-cotton cultivation.