Field Evaluation of Organophosphorus Insecticides, Chlorpyrifos and Fungal Bio-Pesticides, Beauveria bassiana Towards the Sugar Beet Moth Scrobipalpa ocellatella (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) and Studying their Effect on the Population Size of the Associated Arthropod Predators in the Egyptian Sugar Be

Abstract

The sugar beet productions are generally threatened by the sugar beet moth Scrobipalpa ocellatella causing enormous yield loss. The current study was done to evaluate the effectiveness of one of the traditional insecticides (Chlorpyrifos) and the fungal-based bio-pesticides (Biossiana®) against the sugar beet moth during the two successive growing seasons (2020-2021) and to investigate their safety in the associated arthropod predators in Kafr El-Sheikh Governorate. The dose recommended by the Egyptian agricultural ministry was used to apply the tested pesticides. Results showed that the tested Chlorpyrifos induced a high reduction percentage in the size population of S. ocellatella as well as for the arthropod predators associated with the pest through the two seasons of investigation while the tested bio pesticides product based on entomopathogenic B. basssiana (Biossiana®) Caused maximum reduction percentage for S. ocellatella that reaches 92.9 % in both seasons. When compared to untreated areas, Tac® was effective against the S. ocellatella larvae population after the initial treatment and three days later, causing 77.03 and 83.05% respectively. The obtained results showed that the tested Biossiana® lower reduction percentage for the arthropod predators associated with the pest compared to the untreated area in addition to the ability of the arthropod predators to compensate for their effect. Therefore, it is considered that farmers in Egypt can effectively utilize Tac® and Biossiana® as a part of integrated pest management. Programs. Biossiana® might be an excellent alternative that could be used in IPM control programs with no considerable hazards to associated arthropod predators.