Field Release Performance of Chrysoperla Carnea for Population Management of Sucking Insect Pests of Cotton

Chrysoperla carnea egg cards in cotton field were released for two years for population management of sucking insect pests of cotton. Releases were made at the rate of 40 cards per acre, starting from the first week of June when crop was five weeks old and continued at fortnightly interval up to the end of September. On over-all basis C. carnea caused pest population reduction of more than 40-75% of different insect pests. In first year release, reduction was 76%, 86%, 39% and 52% of aphid, jassid, thrip and whitefly population, respectively. While, results of second year study showed that the predator caused 75%, 80%, 62% and 45% pest population reduction of aphid, jassid, thrip and whitefly, respectively. Whereas, in second-year of study, C. carnea larvae were released in field cage cotton plants which caused pest population reduction of 19.5%, 31.18% and 40.23% by 1st, 2nd and 3rd instars of C. carnea, respectively.