Biology and Management of Pomegranate Fruit Borer, Virachola isocrates (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) through Chemicals and Botanical Extracts

Abstract
| The study was conducted for the management of pomegranate fruit borer, Virachola isocrates (Fab.) to investigate the biology and infestation level under field and lab conditions. The experiment was conducted on Randomize Complete Block RCB Design with three replications. For field study, twenty-four trees of pomegranate were selected to which chemicals (cypermethrin, indoxacarb, bifenthrin, lamda-cyhalothrin) and botanicals insecticides ( Azadirachta indica , Persicaria hydropiper , Eucalyptus globulus and control (tap water) were assigned in Randomized Complete Block (RCB) Design in three replications. Influence of treatments on mean percent infestation of V. isocrates revealed that lamda-cyhalothrin resulted in lowest mean infestation (3.74±0.36) followed by bifenthrin (3.95±0.32), indoaxarb (4.35±0.28), cypermethrin (4.55±0.28), A. indica (8.00±0.50), P. hydropiper (7.56± 0.27) and E. globulus (7.04±0.70). The maximum mean percent infestation (15.57 ±1.24) was recorded from control trees. Maximum yield (16.00±0.49 ha -1 ) was obtained from lamda-cyhalothrin treated trees while minimum (7.17±0.43 ha -1 ) was recorded in the control. The developmental period of V. isocrates was completed in 34-55 days. The average length of oviposition was 8.84, the larval period was 32.22 days and an average length of pupal was 17.60 days. Adult longevity was 6.58 days. Under laboratory conditions, the highest 100% mortality was caused by lamda-cyhalothrin and cypermethrin after 72hrs followed by A. indica seed extract (81.00) and P. hydropiper (78.80) when tested under laboratory conditions. Based on the current results, it is concluded that lamda-cyhalothrin and A. indica caused high mortality under lab and field conditions, which can be included in future IPM programs.