~ 1224 ~ Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry 2019; 8(5): 1224-1227 E-ISSN: 2278-4136 P-ISSN: 2349-8234 JPP 2019; 8(5): 1224-1227 Received: 10-07-2019 Accepted: 15-08-2019 Banka Kanda Kishore Reddy Ph.D., Scholar, Department of Agricultural Entomology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India Ambily Paul Assistant Professor, Department of Entomology, Kerala Agricultural University, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India Correspondence Banka Kanda Kishore Reddy Ph.D., Scholar, Department of Agricultural Entomology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India Field efficacy of insecticide mixtures against the pod borer and leaf eating caterpillar in cowpea Banka Kanda Kishore Reddy and Ambily Paul Abstract Efficacy of insecticide mixtures viz., chlorantraniliprole 8.8% + thiamethoxam 17.5% SC @ 150 g a.i. ha - 1 , lambda cyhalothrin 4.6% + chlorantraniliprole 9.3% ZC @ 30 g a.i. ha -1 , thiamethoxam 12.6% + lambda cyhalothrin 9.5% ZC @ 27.50 g a.i. ha -1 , beta cyfluthrin 8.49%+ imidacloprid 19.81% SC @ 15.75+36.70 g a.i. ha -1 , flubendiamide 19.92% w/w + thiacloprid 19.92% w/w SC @ 48+48 g a.i. ha -1 against the spotted pod borer, Maruca vitrata and leaf eating caterpillar, Spodoptera litura Fab. infesting cowpea was studied at Vegetable farm, Kalliyoor, Thiruvananthapuram during August - November 2017. Lambda cyhalothrin 4.6% + chlorantraniliprole 9.3% ZC @ 30 g a.i ha -1 , thiamethoxam 12.6% + lambda cyhalothrin 9.5% ZC @ 27.5 g a.i ha -1 and chlorantraniliprole 8.8% + thiamethoxam 17.5% SC @ 150 g a.i ha -1 were found superior in the management of M. vitrata and S. litura over other treatments. Keywords: Insecticide mixtures, cowpea, M. vitrata, S. litura Introduction Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata subsp. sesquipedalis (L.) Verdc.), generally termed as yard long bean is the most widely adapted, versatile and nutritious grain legume crop in tropical and sub- tropical countries. As many as 21 insect pests of different groups are recorded damaging the cowpea crop from germination to maturity (Sardhana and Verma, 1986) [1] . and most of the pests appeared simultaneously in the crop especially at the pod bearing stage. M. vitrata and S. litura are the most dangerous and potential pests creating considerable damage to the crops. M.vitrata infesting flowers and pods causing a loss due to pod damage alone goes 42 to 80 per cent (Halder and Srinivasan, 2011) [2] . The newly hatched larvae of S.litura feeds gregariously from lower surface of the leaves and causing heavy damage to the leaves, shoots, stems. Farmer resorts to spray single insecticides against each pest with short interval resulting in insecticide resistance and bio magnification of insecticides and forcing them to use higher dose of insecticides. Invention of pesticide mixture with two or more single insecticides having different mode of action paved the way to solve the above problem. Mixtures of insecticides provide technical advantages for controlling pests in a broad range of settings, typically by increasing the level of target pest control and/or broadening the range of pests controlled (IRAC, 2018) [3] . Recent reports revealed that the pest has developed resistance to the single insecticides which are repeatedly using from long times. Materials and Methods Field experiment: The experiment was conducted at Farmers field in Kalliyoor, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala during August - November, 2017 in RBD with three replications. The new generation insecticide mixtures and single insecticides were sprayed at their recommended doses in cowpea as and when 10 per cent infestation of all pests was noticed. No second spray was given since there is no reoccurrence of pest complex. The details of the treatments were presented in Table.1. Table 1: Insecticide mixtures selected for the field experiment Insecticide mixture Trade name Dosage (g a.i. ha -1 ) T1- Chlorantraniliprole 8.8% + thiamethoxam 17.5% SC Voliumflexi 150 T2- Lambda cyhalothrin 4.6% + chlorantraniliprole 9.3% ZC Ampligo 30 T3- Thiamethoxam 12.6% + lambda cyhalothrin 9.5% ZC Alika 247 27.50 T4- Beta cyfluthrin 8.49% + imidacloprid 19.81% SC Solomon 15.75+36.70 T5- Flubendiamide 19.92% + thiacloprid 19.92% SC Belt expert 48+48 T6- Hand mixing of Chlorantraniliprole 18.5% SC +thiamethoxam 25% WG (1:1) - Farmer’s practice - -- T7- Chlorantraniliprole18.5% SC (check) Coragen 30 T8- Thiamethoxam 25% WG (check) Arrow 30 T9- Control