Chemical Control of Shot-Hole Borer, Xyleborus Fornicatus EICHH. (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) in Tea

RS Walgama*, PD Senanayake, AR Abeysekera, AK Premathunge, R Perea, BS Vitana, B Sureshkumar and C De Seram

Division of Entomology, Tea Research Institute, Talawakelle

Abstrsact

Chemical control is an integral component of the IPM programme of a key pest like shot-hole borer but it needs to be truly prophylactic. The currently recommended insecticides do not offer an adequate control though use as a prophylactic measure. This study investigates the level of control achieved with fenthion and fipronil and the implications of it. These insecticides if used at the correct time can provide only about 40% control over the untreated. The reduced gallery formation results in reduction in the subsequent population numbers and minimizes impact on tea from the new generation. The phenyl pyrazole insecticide, fipronil 50 SC, had to be withdrawn from the recommendation as a result of the very low MRL value stipulated by the tea buyers, which makes it difficult to use on tea.

Key words: chemical control, population dynamics, Tea shot-hole borer

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* - Corresponding Author

Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ruhuna, Mapalana, Kamburupitiya, Sri Lanka

Copyright © 2007 by the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ruhuna

Print ISSN 1391-3646 Online ISSN 2386-1533