COMPARATIVE EFFICACY OF FIVE MEDICINAL PLANT EXTRACTS AGAINST ROSA INDICA INSECT PESTS AND ELABORATION OF HAZARDOUS EFFECTS ON POLLINATORS AND PREDATORS

Field evaluation of the application of botanical extracts from five medicinal plants viz., Azadirachta indica, Melia azadirach, Eucalyptus cineraceae, Momordica charantia, Calatropis cineraceae was conducted against the pest complex of Rosa indica, and pollinators and predators associated with it. Plant extracts exhibited variable responses to Thrips tabaci (L.), Helicoverpa armigera (Hub.), Syrphid flies, Apis florea (F.) and Maladera castanea (A.) population. Results unveiled that A. indica seed extract caused 77 % mortality in T. tabaci population after 72 hours of the application. A. indica seed extract and M. charantia extract killed 84.00 and 82.00 percent H. armigera population after 72 hours. M. azadirach leaf extract and A. indica leaf extract proved safer to Syrphid flies. M. azadirach and E. cineraceae leaf extract proved less effective to A. florea. Order of efficacy of botanical extracts of plants used in the experiment against M. castanea was C. cineraceae A. indica seed kernel extract M. azadirach E. cineraceae A. indica leaf extract M. charantia fruit extract after 72 hours of the treatment. Biopesticides are future of agriculture pest management. Studies suggest that these botanical extracts should be manipulated in field to control pest population.