Browsing by Author "Smitha, M S"

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Baseline susceptibility of rice brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens stal(Hemiptera : Delphacidate) to selected insecticides
(Department of Agricultural Entomology, College of Agriculture, Vellanikkara, 2025-02-06) Akshay Krishna; Smitha, M S
The development of insecticide resistance in insect pests is one of the major problems in the field of pest management. Data on baseline susceptibility to insecticides must be generated to track the evolution of resistance among different pest populations. This knowledge is vital for developing successful insecticide resistance management (IRM) strategies that aim to delay the resistance evolution and prolong the useful life of an insecticide. A comprehensive understanding of the biochemical mechanisms contributing to the shift in susceptibility is essential for ensuring the long-term sustainability of insecticide applications. In light of this, the present investigation entitled “Baseline susceptibility of rice brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens Stal (Hemiptera: Delphacidae) to selected insecticides” was carried out during 2022-2024 at the Department of Agricultural Entomology, with the objective of monitoring baseline susceptibility of Nilaparvata lugens to selected insecticides and studying the biochemical mechanism responsible for the change in susceptibility to insecticides. The BPH populations were collected from three major rice-growing tracts of Kerala, viz., Kuttanad in Alappuzha district, Alagappanagar in Thrissur district, and Pattambi in Palakkad district. A population maintained in the glasshouse since 2006 was procured from the Indian Institute of Rice Research (IIRR), Hyderabad. Another population, which was maintained without any pesticide exposure since 2005 at the Rice Entomology Section, Zonal Agricultural Research Station (ZARS), Mandya, was also procured to keep as a susceptible population. The collected populations were assigned respective codes, viz., KTD, TCR, PTB, HYD, and MND, and maintained separately on the rice variety, TN1, without any pesticide exposure, in a polyhouse at 29°C temperature and humidity of 75 per cent. Information on BPH outbreaks, insecticides used, and usage patterns was gathered from farmers in the sampling locations through personal inquiry. An intensive application of various insecticides, mainly imidacloprid and thiamethoxam, in doses higher than the recommended ones, was practiced in all the sampling fields. Newer molecules such as pymetrozine and triflumezopyrim were also used in the Kuttanad area. In the rice-growing regions of the Thrissur district, farmers switched to dinotefuran and reported it to be effective. In certain rice-growing regions of Pattambi, pymetrozine was also used. The laboratory bioassays were performed against imidacloprid 17.8 SL (Tatamida), thiamethoxam 25 WG (Actara), clothianidin 50 WG (Dantotsu), dinotefuran 20 SG (Token), afidopyropen 50 DC (Sefina), flonicamid 50 WG (Ulala), and pymetrozine 50 WG (Chess) to determine the median lethal concentrations (LC50). The resistance ratio (RR) was assessed by comparing the LC50 values with that of the laboratory susceptible population. All the populations of N. lugens displayed a significant shift in LC50 with respect to MND population, and were resistant to imidacloprid and thiamethoxam based on the test for the hypothesis of equality. The LC50 value for imidacloprid ranged from 150.79 ppm in KTD to 41.89 ppm in HYD, compared to 4.04 ppm in MND. The KTD population had the highest RR of 37.25-fold, followed by the TCR (31.92-fold) and PTB (24.77-fold) populations. With respect to thiamethoxam, the LC50 value ranged between 119.90 ppm in KTD (30.19-fold RR) and 79.87 ppm in HYD (20.11-fold RR), in contrast to 3.97 ppm in MND. A significant shift in susceptibility to clothianidin was recorded with KTD, TCR, and PTB populations with respective RRs of 3.35-, 2.20- and 1.36-fold. In the assay with dinotefuran, the hypothesis of equality was rejected for only KTD and TCR populations with respective LC50 values of 7.14 ppm and 6.11 ppm, as against 2.62 ppm in MND. The LC50 value for afidopyropen ranged from 1.50 ppm in KTD to 0.97 ppm in HYD, compared to 0.44 ppm in MND. According to the test for the hypothesis of equality, only KTD population showed a significant shift of 3.63-fold. However, all the populations were susceptible to flonicamid according to the test for the hypothesis of equality. A significant shift in susceptibility to pymetrozine was recorded with LC50 values ranging between 234.28 ppm in KTD and 81.70 ppm in HYD as against 40.48 ppm in MND population. The activity of detoxifying enzymes was quantified and compared with that of the susceptible population to examine the role of detoxifying enzymes in the shift in susceptibility to insecticides. The PTB, HYD, KTD, and TCR populations have shown 2.55-, 1.91-, 1.84-, and 1.62-fold increases in carboxylesterase (CarE) activity, respectively. Significantly higher titers of cytochrome P450 (Cyt P450) activity were displayed by KTD and TCR population, with 5.43-fold and 4.04-fold increase respectively. The Cyt P450 activity of PTB (1.70-fold) and HYD (1.55-fold) populations were on par. The relative activity of glutathione S-transferase (GST) was the highest in PTB (5.19-fold), followed by 5.00-fold in HYD, 3.49-fold in TCR, and the least in KTD (2.85) population. The research study revealed a shift in susceptibility and the development of resistance to some selected insecticides among the populations of N. lugens, and the result was confirmed with the test for the hypothesis of equality. The possible role of detoxifying enzymes in the shift in susceptibility was also established.
Biology and management of root mealybug on banana cultivars
(Department of Agricultural Entomology, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2007) Smitha, M S; Maicykutty P Mathew
Biology and predatory potential of rhynocoris marginatus (FAB.) (hemiptera: reduviidae) on insect pests of cowpea
(Department of Agricultural Entomology, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2018) Femi Mohasina, M; Smitha, M S
Insect pests form major threat to cowpea cultivation often causing a yield loss of 30 – 60 per cent. Even though insecticides are the most popular tools for pest management in cowpea their application throughout the crop period is not economically, socially and ecologically advisable. Biological control methods could be an option to reduce the insecticide load on the crop that is often constrained by lack of natural enemies that can effectively control several pests at a time. Members of the predatory family Reduviidae are gaining increased attention due to their broad host range as well as high density responsiveness. Rhynocoris marginatus belonging to the subfamily Harpactorinae of the family Reduviidae (Order: Hemiptera) has been found promising in managing a wide range of insect pests in various legume crop ecosystems. This predator reportedly has preference to lepidopteran caterpillars followed by nymphs and adults of hemipterans, two major insect groups regularly occurring in cowpea. In this context, the work on “Biology and predatory potential of Rhynocoris marginatus (Fab.) (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) on insect pests of cowpea” was carried out in the Department of Agricultural Entomology, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara. The project aimed to study the biology and predatory potential of R. marginatus on leaf eating caterpillar of cowpea, Spodoptera litura (Fab.); to evaluate the predatory potential of R. marginatus on Aphis craccivora (Koch) and S. litura under caged condition and to study the field efficiency of R. marginatus against insect pests of cowpea. The egg stage recorded an average incubation period of 6.80 ± 0.91 days. It took 32.90 ± 1.81 days to complete nymphal development in five instars. Adult female lived longer than male. The preoviposition period was 14 ± 1.30 days and during the oviposition period of 66.13 ± 6.27 days, it laid 8.60 ± 0.97 batches of egg mass with mean fecundity of 377.20 ± 45.52 eggs. The predatory potential of second, third, fourth and fifth nymphal instars and adult were studied on third instar larvae of S. litura at prey densities, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 prey/ predator. Predation had strong correlation with the prey density and stage of the predator. When the number of prey killed by the predator was plotted against the prey density a Holling’s type II functional response curve was obtained. The predatory potential was also assessed against cowpea aphid, A. craccivora and leaf eating caterpillar, S. litura on caged cowpea plants. The third instar nymph of R. marginatus was released on cowpea plants in cages artificially infested with aphid and compared with control. Aphid population in predator released cages were significantly less than that in control. The predator was able to kill all the released third instar larvae of S. litura completely within four days. Field evaluation was carried out by releasing the predator at 30, 50 and 70 days after sowing of the crop. The release of the predator significantly reduced the aphid population on cowpea. The infestation by pod borer Maruca vitrata (Fab.) and pod bug, Riptortus pedestris (Fab.) were negligible. However, the number of pods damaged by pod bug was comparatively less in predator released field. At the same time, the predator had no impact on the population of coccinellid predators in the field.
Braconid(Hymenoptera:Braconidae) fauna in rice ecosystems of central Kerala
(Department of Agricultural Entomology, College of Agriculture, Vellanikkara, 2024-08-14) Vismaya Sarangi, A S; Smitha, M S
Rice (Oryza sativa L.) an annual grass, serves as the staple food for over 65 per cent of the world's population. It supports a rich and diverse fauna of insect pests and natural enemies, and thus maintains a sustainable ecosystem. Biodiversity in agricultural land has received growing attention as it plays a significant role in agro ecosystem function by keeping the pest populations under check. Any imbalance in the diversity generally causes pest outbreak. The over-reliance on insecticides is documented as one of the main reasons for loss of diversity of beneficial organisms like parasitic hymenopterans. Among hymenopteran parasitoids, Braconidae (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonoidea), the second largest parasitoid family, plays a vital role in controlling insect pests in rice ecosystem. They comprise primary or secondary parasitoids that exhibit a broad host range and gregarious mode of parasitism, making them valuable ally in biological control programs targeting lepidopteran insect pests of rice. No concerted effort has been made on documenting hymenopteran parasitoids in rice ecosystems of Kerala. The present study entitled "Braconid (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) fauna in rice ecosystems of central Kerala", was carried out during 2022-23 with the objective to document the braconid fauna in rice ecosystems; assess the relative diversity of braconids under different crop management practices and study the influence of weather parameters on the population. A purposive survey was carried out for one crop season (mundakan) from December to May in order to collect parasitoid samples from rice ecosystems. Samples were collected from two rice fields; one represented an ecosystem managed as organic and the other, managed in accordance with the package of practices recommendations, Kerala Agricultural University (POP, KAU) selected in Thrissur and Palakkad districts. Four different methods, viz., yellow pan traps placed on bund, yellow pan traps erected in field at canopy level, net sweeping and host rearing were employed to collect the samples. The study recorded 413 braconid specimens belonging to 15 subfamilies and 29 genera. The subfamilies included Alysiinae, Aphidiinae, Braconinae, Cheloninae, Euphorinae, Gnamptodontinae, Homolobinae, Hormiinae, Macrocentrinae, Meteorinae, Microgastrinae, Opiinae, Orgilinae, Pambolinae and Rogadinae. Bracon, Stenobracon, genus nr. Scutibracon, Tropobracon, Amyosoma, Aspidobracon, Leiophron, genus nr. Townesilitus, Gnamptodon, Homolobus, Hormius, Macrocentrus, genus nr. Zele, Apanteles, Glyptapanteles, Dolichogenidea, Exoryza, Cotesia, Opius, Phaedrotoma, Indiopius, genus nr. Diachasmimorpha, Phaenodus, Aleiodes, Binodoxys, Promicrogaster, Chelonus, Orgilonia and Aphaereta were the genera recorded in the present study. The study investigated the abundance and distribution of braconids in rice ecosystems under different crop management practices. The most abundant subfamily was Microgastrinae, which made up 55.1 and 54.8 per cent of the total population respectively in Thrissur and Palakkad districts. In Thrissur district, 91 braconid specimens under six subfamilies were recorded from organically managed field and 136 braconid specimens under five subfamilies from field under POP, KAU. In Palakkad district, 84 braconids belonging to 12 subfamilies were recorded from the organic field and 102 braconids under eight subfamilies from field under POP, KAU. Certain subfamilies, viz., Alysiinae and Rogadinae in Thrissur district, and Aphidiinae, Euphorinae, Gnamptodontinae, Homolobinae, Hormiinae and Pambolinae in Palakkad district were collected exclusively from field under organic management. Similarly, Cheloninae in Thrissur district, and Macrocentrinae and Meteorinae in Palakkad district were solely collected from field under POP, KAU. The average number of braconids collected per day was higher in yellow pan traps placed on bund (3.60 ± 2.719) followed by yellow pan traps erected in field at crop canopy level (2.26 ± 2.787), and sweep netting (0.74 ± 0.991). Comparison of braconid populations in rice ecosystems under various crop management practices showed no significant difference in the mean population size. However, diversity indices under different systems differed amongst fields. In Thrissur district, the braconid fauna was found to be more diverse and evenly distributed in rice field managed as per POP, KAU, as evidenced from higher Simpson's diversity index, Shannon-Wiener index, and Pielou's evenness index compared to organic field. In contrast, Margalef’s index indicated that the field had a higher richness. However, compared to POP, KAU managed field, organic field had greater diversity, richness and evenness indices in Palakkad district. A comparison of ecosystems using beta diversity analysis indicate that there is less similarity (31.6%) between fields in the Palakkad district and a moderate level of similarity (50%) between fields in the Thrissur district. The relationship between weather parameters and the population dynamics of braconid fauna was studied. In Thrissur district, significant positive correlation was found with bright sunshine hours of the previous week, while, significant negative correlations were established with evening relative humidity of the previous week and minimum temperature of the previous day. In Palakkad district, the braconid population and wind speed of the previous day showed strong positive correlation, while, morning relative humidity of the previous week showed a negative correlation. The research study revealed a rich diversity of braconid fauna in the rice ecosystems of central Kerala. It also revealed strong relationship between environmental factors and the population dynamics of braconids in rice ecosystems as well as the role of crop management practices in the diversity of braconid fauna. Further studies on the role of braconid parasitoids in managing insect pests of rice with host-parasitoid relationship, impact of climate change on distributpion and abundance, and conservation measures for long term plant protection may help in the development of more sustainable and efficient pest management strategy in rice ecosystems.
Braconid(Hymenoptera:Braconidae) fauna in rice ecosystems of central Kerala
(Department of Agricultural Entomology, College of Agriculture,Vellanikkara, 2024-08-14) Vismaya Sarangi, A S.; Smitha, M S
Rice (Oryza sativa L.) an annual grass, serves as the staple food for over 65 per cent of the world's population. It supports a rich and diverse fauna of insect pests and natural enemies, and thus maintains a sustainable ecosystem. Biodiversity in agricultural land has received growing attention as it plays a significant role in agro ecosystem function by keeping the pest populations under check. Any imbalance in the diversity generally causes pest outbreak. The over-reliance on insecticides is documented as one of the main reasons for loss of diversity of beneficial organisms like parasitic hymenopterans. Among hymenopteran parasitoids, Braconidae (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonoidea), the second largest parasitoid family, plays a vital role in controlling insect pests in rice ecosystem. They comprise primary or secondary parasitoids that exhibit a broad host range and gregarious mode of parasitism, making them valuable ally in biological control programs targeting lepidopteran insect pests of rice. No concerted effort has been made on documenting hymenopteran parasitoids in rice ecosystems of Kerala. The present study entitled "Braconid (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) fauna in rice ecosystems of central Kerala", was carried out during 2022-23 with the objective to document the braconid fauna in rice ecosystems; assess the relative diversity of braconids under different crop management practices and study the influence of weather parameters on the population. A purposive survey was carried out for one crop season (mundakan) from December to May in order to collect parasitoid samples from rice ecosystems. Samples were collected from two rice fields; one represented an ecosystem managed as organic and the other, managed in accordance with the package of practices recommendations, Kerala Agricultural University (POP, KAU) selected in Thrissur and Palakkad districts. Four different methods, viz., yellow pan traps placed on bund, yellow pan traps erected in field at canopy level, net sweeping and host rearing were employed to collect the samples. The study recorded 413 braconid specimens belonging to 15 subfamilies and 29 genera. The subfamilies included Alysiinae, Aphidiinae, Braconinae, Cheloninae, Euphorinae, Gnamptodontinae, Homolobinae, Hormiinae, Macrocentrinae, Meteorinae, Microgastrinae, Opiinae, Orgilinae, Pambolinae and Rogadinae. Bracon, Stenobracon, genus nr. Scutibracon, Tropobracon, Amyosoma, Aspidobracon, Leiophron, genus nr. Townesilitus, Gnamptodon, Homolobus, Hormius, Macrocentrus, genus nr. Zele, Apanteles, Glyptapanteles, Dolichogenidea, Exoryza, Cotesia, Opius, Phaedrotoma, Indiopius, genus nr. Diachasmimorpha, Phaenodus, Aleiodes, Binodoxys, Promicrogaster, Chelonus, Orgilonia and Aphaereta were the genera recorded in the present study. The study investigated the abundance and distribution of braconids in rice ecosystems under different crop management practices. The most abundant subfamily was Microgastrinae, which made up 55.1 and 54.8 per cent of the total population respectively in Thrissur and Palakkad districts. In Thrissur district, 91 braconid specimens under six subfamilies were recorded from organically managed field and 136 braconid specimens under five subfamilies from field under POP, KAU. In Palakkad district, 84 braconids belonging to 12 subfamilies were recorded from the organic field and 102 braconids under eight subfamilies from field under POP, KAU. Certain subfamilies, viz., Alysiinae and Rogadinae in Thrissur district, and Aphidiinae, Euphorinae, Gnamptodontinae, Homolobinae, Hormiinae and Pambolinae in Palakkad district were collected exclusively from field under organic management. Similarly, Cheloninae in Thrissur district, and Macrocentrinae and Meteorinae in Palakkad district were solely collected from field under POP, KAU. The average number of braconids collected per day was higher in yellow pan traps placed on bund (3.60 ± 2.719) followed by yellow pan traps erected in field at crop canopy level (2.26 ± 2.787), and sweep netting (0.74 ± 0.991). Comparison of braconid populations in rice ecosystems under various crop management practices showed no significant difference in the mean population size. However, diversity indices under different systems differed amongst fields. In Thrissur district, the braconid fauna was found to be more diverse and evenly distributed in rice field managed as per POP, KAU, as evidenced from higher Simpson's diversity index, Shannon-Wiener index, and Pielou's evenness index compared to organic field. In contrast, Margalef’s index indicated that the field had a higher richness. However, compared to POP, KAU managed field, organic field had greater diversity, richness and evenness indices in Palakkad district. A comparison of ecosystems using beta diversity analysis indicate that there is less similarity (31.6%) between fields in the Palakkad district and a moderate level of similarity (50%) between fields in the Thrissur district. The relationship between weather parameters and the population dynamics of braconid fauna was studied. In Thrissur district, significant positive correlation was found with bright sunshine hours of the previous week, while, significant negative correlations were established with evening relative humidity of the previous week and minimum temperature of the previous day. In Palakkad district, the braconid population and wind speed of the previous day showed strong positive correlation, while, morning relative humidity of the previous week showed a negative correlation. The research study revealed a rich diversity of braconid fauna in the rice ecosystems of central Kerala. It also revealed strong relationship between environmental factors and the population dynamics of braconids in rice ecosystems as well as the role of crop management practices in the diversity of braconid fauna. Further studies on the role of braconid parasitoids in managing insect pests of rice with host-parasitoid relationship, impact of climate change on distributpion and abundance, and conservation measures for long term plant protection may help in the development of more sustainable and efficient pest management strategy in rice ecosystems.
Phosphorus dynamics in an ultisol
(Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2005) Smitha, M S; Sureshkumar, P
A pot culture experiment was carried out at Radiotracer laboratory of College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, using laterite soil (Ultisol), from the main campus of Kerala Agricultural University with the objectives to trace the fate of fertilizer P and to study the dynamics of P by the addition of amendments. The experiment included 13 treatments of three levels of P and four amendments and an absolute control. Amendments were added to the respective treatments and kept for wetting and drying cycles for two weeks 32P labelled KH2PO4 (32P @ 0.4mCig-1 P) was added as per the treatments. Seeds of cowpea @ 3 seeds pot -1 were sown. Application of Phosphorus at different levels significantly contributed to available P status different P fractions i.e. non occluded Al-P and Fe-P, P sorbed by carbonate, occluded P and Ca-P in a linear fashion at all the stages of crop growth i.e. just before sowing, flowering and harvesting. The amendments also contributed to the above pools. Among the amendments Pongamia leaves was found to have better influence in contributing to the above pools except for Ca-P, where lime was found to have a better influence. This was supported by the data on plant P content, where the increasing levels of P and amendments improved the plant P content at 15 DAS, flowering and at harvest. Further Ca-P fraction was dominantly contributing to the available P suggesting that applied P might get transformed to non occluded Al-P and Fe-P, occluded P as well as P sorbed by carbonate, which might be slowly transformed to Ca-P fraction probably Ca (H2PO4)2, the soluble form which is contributing to available P. It was observed that, non occluded Al-P and Fe-P was contributing to plant P as time proceeded due to solubilisation of this fraction. Application of P at increasing level and amendment significantly increased the dry weight of pods and haulm. Radioactive 32P labelled with the applied phosphorus could be traced out in the available pools and fractions of P only at just before sowing, flowering. Percentage of P derived from applied P were the highest for higher level of P and amendment sodium silicate.
Toxicity of insecticides to cheilomenes sexmaculata fabricius (coleoptera:coccinellidae)
(Department of Agricultural Entomology, College of Agriculture, Vellanikkara, 2021) Pavithrakumar, K; Smitha, M S
Biocontrol represents a sustainable and economically feasible way of pest management. However, under high herbivore pressure, bioagents alone are often unable to provide quick reduction of pest population, calling for insecticide based interventions. Chemical control, though designed to cause rapid mortality of target pests also adversely impact the natural enemies, leading to reduction in their growth, survival and reproduction. Hence it becomes imperative to evaluate the effects of insecticides on efficient natural biocontrol agents, to select safe insecticides and use them harmoniously. The six spotted zigzag lady beetle, Cheilomenes sexmaculata (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), is an efficient natural enemy of aphid species in various crops due to its voracious feeding habit and density responsiveness. It is very common in cowpea and plays a major regulatory role against the cowpea aphid, Aphis craccivora. However, biocontrol by C. sexmaculata is often destabilized by the indiscriminate use of insecticides. Selection of insecticides safe to C. sexmaculata requires knowledge on direct and indirect effects of insecticides on the growth and development of the predator. Hence five insecticides and a botanical that are recommended in cowpea for pest management were evaluated for their toxicity to C. sexmaculata in the laboratory as well as their impact on field efficacy of the predator. Assessment of direct lethal impact, by exposing the life stages of the predator to field doses of insecticides, revealed the highly toxic nature of dimethoate and thiamethoxam to grub, pupa and adult stages of C. sexmaculata, leading to 100.00 per cent mortality. Exposure to dimethoate caused complete mortality of eggs while thiamethoxam was harmless to eggs with only 22.50 per cent mortality. Neem oil emulsion (3%) was found harmful to the non-feeding egg and pupal stages by completely inhibiting hatching and adult eclosion. In grub and adult stage, neem oil caused a mortality of 32.5 and 50 per cent respectively. Flubendiamide and spinosad were relatively harmless to all stages, inducing 22.50 and 15.00 per cent mortality in eggs, less than 10 per cent mortality to grubs and pupae, and 12.5 per cent mortality to adults of C. sexmaculata. Exposure of first instar grubs to sub lethal doses of insecticides also revealed adverse effects on development and reproduction of the predator. While exposure todimethoate led to complete mortality of grubs, exposure to thiamethoxam and neem oil prolonged the development period by two days and reduced the oviposition period by eight and five days, respectively. Adult longevity also was reduced by 4-8 days, after exposure to these insecticides. The fecundity was also reduced to 1637.13±92.10 and 1727.13±51.75 eggs/female respectively in thiamethoxam and neem oil as compared to 2151.88±27.31 in control. In both thiamethoxam and neem oil treatments, fertility was reduced by 15.00 per cent of 1868±26.50 offsprings/female recorded in control. Flubendiamide had no influence on the development period but reduced the oviposition period by seven days and male and female longevity by four and eight days respectively. There was a reduction in fecundity and fertility by 27.00 and 14.00 per cent respectively as well. Spinosad had no significant influence on developmental period of immatures but reduced the fecundity to 1917.00±89.43 eggs/female. Evaluation of insecticides in cowpea field demonstrated the effectiveness of dimethoate and thiamethoxam in managing aphids with drastic reduction in population till 15 th day with 3.20 and 1.80 aphids/10cm twig compared to 33.88 aphids in control 15 days after spray. The plots treated with flubendiamide, neem oil emulsion and spinosad recorded 17.90, 17.35 and 17.00 aphids/10cm twig respectively at 15 DAS and were inferior to dimethoate and thiamethoxam in aphid management. However, there was a gradual increase in the predator population after third day of spray from 1.05, 1.25 and 1.20 numbers/plant to 1.90, 2.00 and 1.90 numbers/plant at 15 DAS in flubendiamide, neem oil emulsion and spinosad treatments respectively compared to control (1.55 and 2.15 numbers/plant). This indicates the safety of these insecticides to predator in field. Whereas, no predator population was observed in dimethoate and thiamethoxam treatments till 15 DAS. The study provides a measure of safety of insecticides in an IPM programme with C. sexmaculata, a promising bioagent against the key pest, A. craccivora in cowpea. The results point out the deleterious effect of dimethoate and thiamethoxam to C. sexmaculata. Botanical, neem oil is harmless to grubs but harmful to other life stages of the predator and also adversely affects growth and reproduction at sublethal doses. Flubendiamide, though harmless at field doses, alters the reproductive parameters at sublethal level. Spinosad, with only minimal reduction in fecundity, is harmless to C. sexmaculata.