Vol. 10, Special Issue 8 (2021)

Author(s):
MD Aniyaliya, JP Patel, PB Patel and NP Trivedi

Abstract:
Among the important bio agents, the most promising bio agents against O. arenosella are larval parasitoids Bracon hebetor, Goniozus nephantidis, pupal parasitoid Brachymeri anosatoi and anthocorid predator Cardiastethu sexiguus. Goniozus nephantidisor. G. nephantidis is a natural enemy that has been used to effectively control opisina arenosella walker in India and Sri Lanka. For mass rearing of G. nephantidis back-headed caterpillar (Opisina arenosella Walker) and rice moth (Corcyra cephalonica Stainton) could be used as hosts. Activity period of larval parasitoid, Goniozus sp. was observed from 3^rd week of August to 4^th week of October. There was significant reduction in the population of O. arenosella after third to sixth releases in treated palms, when compared to control palms. The larval parasitoids treatment (G. nephantidis) had more impact to reduce black headed caterpillar population as compared to predators Cardiostethus exiguus and control.