Integrated control of the solitary carpenter worm,Paropta paradoxa H.-Schaeff. (Lep., Cossidae) on fig trees in Egypt

Abstract

According to the new trend of insect pests control in fruit orchards, biological in addition to mechanical control were evaluated for their efficiency on the reduction ofP. paradoxa population on fig trees during 1996, 1997 and 1998. Primary trials using the bacterial biopreparations of Delfin, Dipel and Bactospeine at the concentration of 200g/100 l. w. resulted in 81.8, 75.8 and 72.3% reduction of pest infestation, respectively. Pruning the infested branches, worming the larvae inside their tunnels and both mechanical treatments together along two successive years, reduced the infestation by 17.5, 47.4 and 57.9%, respectively. A control programme ofP. paradoxa was conducted using the techniques of pruning and worming besides spraying with bacterial insecticides at a rate of 200g/100 l.w. The performed mechanical and biological treatments together for one year gave 79.2–94.5% reduction of infestation, that reduction increased to 83.0–98.1% when these treatments were applied two years successively.