Maheswari P creator Krishnakumar R (Guide) text xx Vellayani Department of Agricultural Entomology, College of Agriculture 2003 9999 monographic und

print

An experiment was conducted in the Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani to find the effectiveness of plant products and sterile insect technique to contain red palm weevil in coconut. As a part of the experiment, survey was conducted 111 the red palm weevil infested tracts of Thiruvananthapuram district between June 2001- February 2002 to find out the extent of damage caused by red palm weevil. The data collected during the survey revealed that, the infestation of red palm weevil was highest in coastal area than that in inland areas; The percentage infestation was higher during June and less during February months. Also the infestation was higher in palms upto 7 years old. The results on the study of the effect of plant products to contain red palm weevil showed that apple extract of Anacardium occidentale 10% was the best treatment which caused highest mortality of red palm weevil. Also leaf extract of Thevetia neriifolia , seed oil of A. indica and seed oil of Samadera indica had shown considerable repellency of red palm weevil under laboratory conditions. In the case of sterile insect technique, gamma radiation at 1.5 Krad was found to be the best treatment as it caused considerable sterility as well as higher longevity of irradiated insects. The irradiated insects should be exposed to 6 virgin females for the duration of 12 days before releasing in the field to nullify the effect of initial fertility of unaffected sperms in the irradiated insects. The studies also revealed that there were repeated mating in red palm weevil and the sperms transferred during the recent mating only aids fertilization. To counteract the competition by wild males to mate with females, the irradiated males should be flooded in the field with a ratio of 10 irradiated male insects per normal male in the field. In conclusion the experiment reveals the overall efficiency of plant products and sterile insect technique to manage red palm weevil in coconut. Msc 632.6 MAH/EF https://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810153870 https://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810153870 140128 20220905110422.0