The present study was aimed to study the bioefficacy of botanical extracts against the pod borers, spotted pod borer, M. vitrata and pea blue butterfly, L. boeticus in blackgram. The field experiments I and II were carried out at Kunnathur, Tirupur district of Tamil Nadu, India and at the Eastern farm of PAJANCOA and RI, Karaikal, India, respectively, during the period from September 2020 to May 2021. Considering the significance of eco-friendly pest management, the objective of this study was to test some natural and commercial botanical insecticides against the pests of blackgram. The experimental results revealed that chlorantraniliprole 18.5 SC at 100 ml/ ha reduced the infestation of spotted pod borer (7.53 and 8.35 %) and pea blue butterfly (8.03 and 8.07 %) with the reduction over control of 59.31 and 55.38 % and 56.77 and 57.98 %, respectively. Among the botanicals, garlic and chilli extract 5% reduced the infestation of spotted pod borer (8.34 and 9.67 %) and pea blue butterfly (8.67 and 9.24 %) with the reduction over control of 54.96 and 48.36% and 53.35 and 51.89 %, respectively. The population of predatory coccinellids and spiders were high in untreated check, and on par with garlic and chilli extract 5%, followed by five leaf extract 10% and bitter apple and devil pepper leaf extract 10% in both the experiments. From these findings, it was concluded that among the botanical insecticides garlic and chilli extract 5 % was the most effective, safety to natural enemies and economic over the other treatments, may be incorporated in the pest management strategies followed against the borer pests of blackgram.

Blackgram, blackgram borer pests, botanical insecticides, bioefficacy of botanical extracts, pests of blackgram, spotted pod borer in blackgram, pea blue butterfly management

It was concluded that chlorantraniliprole 18.5 SC at 100 ml/ ha was found effective to borer pests of blackgram and among botanical treatments, garlic and chilli extract at 5 per cent was found to be effective in reducing the damage of spotted pod borer and pea blue butterfly. Botanical extracts did not have any negative impact on the population of predatory coccinellids and spiders after spraying.

C. Praveenkumar and M. Kandibane (2022). Bioefficacy of Botanical extracts against Blackgram Borer Pests and Safety to their Natural Enemies. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 14(4a): 168-173.