99 1 Senior Scientist (kuldeep.ipm@gmail.com), 2 Senior Scientist (rkpatelicar@gmail.com), 3 Principal Scientist (amrendra14d@ gmail.com), 4 Principal Scientist (pandeynrcb@yahoo.com), 6 Director (nrclitchi@yahoo.co.in). 5 Principal Scientist (pvreddy@ iihr.ernet.in), ICAR-IIHR, Bengaluru. Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences 87 (11): 1515–8, November 2017/Article Integrated management of litchi fruit and shoot borer (Conomorpha sinensis) using insect growth regulators under subtropics of Bihar KULDEEP SRIVASTAVA 1 , R K PATEL 2 , AMRENDRA KUMAR 3 , S D PANDEY 4 , P V R REDDY 5 and VISHAL NATH 6 ICAR-National Research Centre on Litchi, Mushahari, Muzaffarpur, Bihar 842 002 Received: 25 February 2017; Accepted: 18 July 2017 ABSTRACT A feld trial was conducted consecutively for two years at ICAR-National Research Centre on Litchi to develop Insect Growth Regulators based (IGRs) approaches for managing the litchi fruit and shoot borer (Conopomorpha sinensis; Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae) a major pests of litchi causing economical loss. Studies revealed that T4 - novaluron 10 EC 0.015% recorded least infestation (9.62% and 4.70%) during early and mid stage which is closely followed by T2- difubenzuron 25 WP 0.03% (9.87% and 5.73%). However, at harvest stage, T2 recorded the lowest borer infestation (12.39%) followed by T4 (13.67%) against highest borer infestation (59.35%) in control. Further, highest reduction of borer infestation over control was noticed in T4 (53.25% and 73.56%) followed by T2 (52.04% and 73.99%) during early stage and mid stage, respectively. At harvest stage, most of the treatments showed more than 75% effcacy on reduction in borer infestation over control. The highest reduction in borer infestation was found in T2 (80.65%) followed by T4 (77.50%). The least infested fruit (2.11 kg/tree) and highest healthy fruit (16.38 kg/ tree) was recorded with T2 followed by T1 (14.99 kg/tree), T5 (14.46 kg/tree) and T4 (13.99 kg/tree) against lowest (4.14 kg/tree) in control. Similarly, reduction in fruit infestation over control calculated on weight basis was also highest in T2 (78.77%) followed by T1 (75.79%), T5 (73.85%) and T4 (73.33%). Key words: IGRs, IPM, Litchi fruit and shoot borer, Insect-pests Litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn) is an important subtropical evergreen fruit crop belonging to family Sapindaceae. It has high nutritive value and refreshing taste. Litchi fruit is consumed as fresh and processed into various value added products like canned, RTS, wine, nuts, etc. (Kumar et al. 2015). It is now an important commercial fruit crop in India due to its high market demand and export potential. Cultivation of litchi is widely spread in eastern India (Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, and NE region) which provides livelihood opportunities to millions of people in the region. This crop is also gaining momentum in Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu, Punjab, Odisha and non-traditional areas of southern states (Kerala, Karnataka and Maharashtra), owing to its high economic returns and ever increasing demand in the domestic markets. The litchi growers are facing serious threats of several insect-pests, viz. fruit and shoot borer, litchi mite, bark eating borer, leaf folder, litchi looper, litchi weevils etc, which causes severe loss to the growers as reported by various workers (Kumar et al. 2011, Srivastava and Nath 2015, Srivastava et al. 2015a). Among insect-pests, litchi fruit and shoot borer, Conopomorpha sinensis (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae) is one of the major threat to litchi growers, causing severe losses to fruit as well as young shoots, to the tune of 24- 48% and 7-70%, respectively (Srivastava et al. 2016a). The insects (larvae) damage the newly emerged shoot during September- October resulting in failure of shoot to bloom. Further, it punctures the peduncle of fruits (both developing as well as mature) during April-May resulting to severe loss through early fruit drop and appearance of excreta/larvae, when fruit is cut/opened after ripening (Kumar et al. 2014, Srivastava et al. 2016a). Like other crops, insecticides particularly organophosphates and carbamates are most powerful and widely accepted tool for the control of pests in litchi but, however, excessive reliance on insecticides has posed several adverse effects such as buildup of pest resistance to insecticide, outbreak of secondary pests, harmful to non target organisms, health hazards and problems related to environmental pollution. Hence, judicious use of insecticides and use of insecticides with selective action are recommended in insect management practices. Insect growth regulators (IGRs) are very well ft in integrated pest management programme, due to selective action, less hazardous and does not contaminate to the food chain in the environment (Kuldeep and Shri Ram 2004, Kuldeep et al. https://doi.org/10.56093/ijas.v87i11.75735