EVALUATION OF DIFFERENT BIORATIONAL PEST MANAGEMENT APPROACHES FOR THE MANAGEMENT RED PUMPKIN BEETLE (Aulacophora foveicollis Lucas) AND FRUIT FLY (Bactocera cucurbitae) IN CUCUMBER CROP AND THEIR ECONOMIC ANALYSIS

Experiment on the evaluation of different biorational pest management approaches against major insect pest of cucumber was carried out under field condition at Hazara Agriculture Reseach Station (HARS) Abbottabad, Khyber Pukhtunkhawa- Pakistan. The experiment comprised of 11 treatments (modules) including control. M1 (Water pepper + Bakyan + Laser), M2 (Basil oil + Neem oil + laser), M3 (Bakyan extract + Basil oil + Laser), M4 (Bakyan extracts + Neem oil + Laser), M5 (Water pepper + Neem oil + Laser), M6 (Water pepper + Basil oil + Laser), M7 (Lambda cyhalonthrin + Neem oil + laser), M8 (Lambda cyhalonthrin + Basil oil + laser), M9 (Lambda cyhalonthrin + water pepper + Laser), M10 (Lambda cyhalonthrin + Bakyan + Laser) and M11 (Control) followed Randomize Complete Block Design with three replications.  Results revealed that all the tested modules were found better than control in reducing red pumpkin beetle and fruitfly infestation with increased cucumber yield. However, among the tested modules, Lambda cyhalothrin based modules were found the most effective in reducing Red pumpkin beetle population in 1st (1.14-1.44 beetle plant-1) and 2nd spray application (0.72 -1.06 beetle plant-1) with lowest number of infested leaves and  leaf perforation by red pumpkin beetle  (3.76-4.06) and (2.86- 3.20) respectively. Results further revealed that Lambda cyhalothrine based modules were recorded with lowest fruit fly infestation (8.79 – 10.04 %), with lowest fruit fly ovipositor marks (0.76- 0.86) and   highest cucumber yield (7955.6 – 8622 kg ha-1) and hence consequently led towards the improved quality of the cucumber.  Furthermore, M5 (Water pepper + Basil oil + Laser) and M4 (Bakyan extracts + Neem oil + Laser) were found the most cost effective modules having the highest cost benefit ratio (1:26.75 and 1:25.21) respectively.  It is concluded that red pumpkin beetle  and fruit fly can better be managed by spraying Lamda cyhalothirn and 2nd spray of tested botanical and 3rd spray of Laser at 14 days interval is recommended for sustainable management of major insect pest of cucumber.