FIELD EVALUATION OF DIFFERENT INSECTICIDES AGAINST WHEAT APHIDS an‎d THEIR NATURAL ENEMIES IN PAKISTAN

Nine insecticides were evaluated against three wheat aphid species (RhopalosiphumpadiL., SchizaphisgraminumRond. and SitobionavenaeF.) and theirCoccinellid predators at recommended field doses under field conditions during wheat growing season 2012-13. The insecticides were malathion (Malathion®), carbosulfan (Advantage®), imidacloprid(Confidor®), thiamethoxam (Actara®), pymetrozine (Plenum®), aliphatic hydrocarbons+mineral oil (Diver®), azadirachtin+salannin (Neemosal®), mineral oil (Foliol®), bifenthrin (Talstar®) at recommended field doses, i.e.,1235 ml, 1235 ml, 198 ml, 60gm, 988, 494 ml, 2470 ml, 4940 ml and 618 ml, respectively. Malathion, bifenthrin and thiamethoxam effectively reduced the population of S. graminumwhile bifenthrin and imidacloprid were more effective against S. avenae. All the insecticides were more effective against R. padithan for S. graminumand S. avenae. However, bifenthrin, malathion, imidacloprid, thiamethoxam, pymetrozine and carbosulfan significantly lowered the population of R. padi. Aliphatic hydrocarbons+mineral oil, azadirachtin+salannin and mineraloil could not significantly lower the population of S. graminumand S. avenae. Imidacloprid proved to be effective against all aphid species yet it was the safest against coccinellids. Thiamethoxam showed the maximum decrease in coccinellid populations followed by malathion, pymetrozine and carbosulfan.