Laboratory evaluation and field application of bacterial and fungal insecticides on the citrus flower moth,Prays citri miller (Lep., hyponomeutidae) in lime orchards in Egypt

Abstract

The efficacy of two commercial products of Bactospeine and Bio-fly onPrays citri of lime trees was studied under laboratory and field conditions throughout the two seasons of 1996 and 1997. Laboratory results indicated that the pathogenic effect of Bactospeine,Bacillus thuringiensis (Berliner) was higher than that of Bio-fly,Beauveria bassiana in spite of the latter was applied with higher doses. Bactospeine at the rate (2 cc/1 l.w.) effected on the larvae more than on the adults, that treatment reduced no. of eggs/female by 81.70% and decreased the larval infestation by 90.08%. Bio-fly at the highest concentration (4 cc/1 l.w.) reduced the infestation with the eggs, the larvae and the pupae by 65.83%, 68.45% and 72.55%, respectively. Advanced effects of bacterial and fungal treatments on the final reduction rates ofP. citri infestation were recorded. Field applications revealed that two sprays with Bactospeine or Bio-fly gave good control ofP. citri more than one spray. Bactospeine at the rate (2 cc/1 l.w.) and Biofly at the rate (4 cc/1 l.w.) reduced the infestation by (89.82–93.43%) and (76.32–78.83%), respectively. In all cases, higher doses of bioinsecticides produced potentiation effects of infestation reduction. It is recommended that two sprays of Bactospeine at a rate (2cc/1 l.w.) are adequate effective to reduce the population of P. citri in lime orchards during the main flowering period of trees without need of chemical insecticides.