Efficacy of three different insecticides on maize stem borer (Chilo partellus) under controlled conditions
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63147/krjs.v5i2.205Keywords:
Maize stem borer Insecticide efficacy Dinotefuran Leaf-dip bioassay Crop protectionAbstract
Maize is the third most important crop after rice and wheat in Pakistan. It is used extensively for food production as well as in sectors like animal feed and biofuels. Several factors are responsible for decreasing maize yield but one of the main factors are insect pest especially Maize Stem Borer Chilo partellus (Pyralidae; Lepidoptera) a serious sorghum and maize pest that reduces yields by 26.7% to 80.4%, poses a serious threat to its production. While the pest bores into the stem of adult plants, decreasing productivity, it destroys the shoot of new plants, resulting in a "dead heart." We tested the effectiveness of three commercially available insecticides to assess control methods: pyrifluquinazon (20% WG, Jaffer Agro Services Pvt. Ltd., Pakistan); lufenuron (Match 50 EC, Syngenta, Pakistan); and dinotefuran (20% SG, Kanzo Ag Pvt. Ltd., Pakistan). Larvae were exposed to treated leaves in petri dishes using a leaf-dip bioassay, and mortality was noted every 24 hours for three days. Pyrifluquinazon was the least effective of the three, exhibiting only 24% mortality at the maximum concentration (62.5 μg/ml) after 72 hours. With a death rate of 36% after 72 hours, dinotefuran was the most effective, followed by lufenuron at 28%. The effectiveness of lufenuron drastically decreased at lower dosages. These findings suggest that, out of all the pesticides tested, dinotefuran is the most effective.
References
Abid, M., Saleem, M., Mushtaq, F., Abbas, Z., Khan, M., Ahmed, D., Javaid, M., Cheema, A., & Ramzan, M. (2021). Life cycle of Chilo partellus (Crambidae: Lepidoptera) on maize under laboratory conditions. Egyptian Academic Journal of Biological Sciences. A, Entomology, 14(3), 65–68. https://doi.org/10.21608/eajbsa.2021.193359
Akhtar, N., Tahir, H. M., Azizullah, A., Ali, A., Fajar, R., Muzamil, A., Fathy, R., Mohamed, H. O., & Abbas, D. (2024). Survey and seasonal abundance of major insect pests in the maize fields of Punjab, Pakistan. In Review. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-4301820/v1
Ali, A., & Beshir, A. (n.d.). Economic impact of maize stem borer (Chilo partellus) attack on livelihood of maize farmers in Pakistan.
Bhuvaneswari, K., Mani, M., Suganthi, A., & Manivannan, A. (2022). Novel insecticides and their application in the management of horticultural crop pests. In Trends in Horticultural Entomology (pp. 419–454).
Chouraddi, M., & Mallapur, C. (n.d.). Assessment of crop loss and economic injury level of maize stem borer, Chilo partellus (Swinhoe). Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies.
Corbel, V., Duchon, S., Zaim, M., & Hougard, J.-M. (2004). Dinotefuran: A potential neonicotinoid insecticide against resistant mosquitoes. Journal of Medical Entomology, 41(4), 712–717. https://doi.org/10.1603/0022-2585-41.4.712
Gelbic, I., Adel, M., & Hussein, H. (2011). Effects of nonsteroidal ecdysone agonist RH-5992 and chitin biosynthesis inhibitor lufenuron on Spodoptera littoralis (Boisduval, 1833). Open Life Sciences, 6(5), 861–869. https://doi.org/10.2478/s11535-011-0046-4
Ghosh, A., Samanta, A., & Chatterjee, M. L. (2014). Dinotefuran: A third generation neonicotinoid insecticide for management of rice brown planthopper. African Journal of Agricultural Research, 9(8), 750–754. https://doi.org/10.5897/AJAR2013.7054
GoP. (2024). Economic survey of Pakistan 2022–2023. Finance Division, Government of Pakistan, Economic Advisor’s Wing. http://www.finance.gov.pk
Gul, H., Rahman, S., Shahzad, A., Gul, S., Qian, M., Xiao, Q., & Liu, Z. (2021). Maize (Zea mays L.) productivity in response to nitrogen management in Pakistan. American Journal of Plant Sciences, 12(8), 1173–1179. https://doi.org/10.4236/ajps.2021.128081
Islam, T., Das, G., & Ali, M. (2015). Efficacy of lufenuron, a chitin synthesis inhibitor on the mortality of Spodoptera litura (Fabricius) under laboratory conditions. Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies, 3(3), 480–483.
Islam, T., Das, G., & Ali, M. (n.d.). Efficacy of lufenuron, a chitin synthesis inhibitor on the mortality of Spodoptera litura (Fabricius) under laboratory conditions. Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies.
Kennett, D. J., Prufer, K. M., Culleton, B. J., George, R. J., Robinson, M., Trask, W. R., Buckley, G. M., Moes, E., Kate, E. J., Harper, T. K., O’Donnell, L., Ray, E. E., Hill, E. C., Alsgaard, A., Merriman, C., Meredith, C., Edgar, H. J. H., Awe, J. J., & Gutierrez, S. M. (2020). Early isotopic evidence for maize as a staple grain in the Americas. Science Advances, 6(23), eaba3245. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aba3245
Khadioli, N., Tonnang, Z. E. H., Muchugu, E., Ong’amo, G., Achia, T., Kipchirchir, I., Kroschel, J., & Le Ru, B. (2014). Effect of temperature on the phenology of Chilo partellus (Swinhoe) (Lepidoptera, Crambidae); simulation and visualization of the potential future distribution of C. partellus in Africa under warmer temperatures through the development of life-table parameters. Bulletin of Entomological Research, 104(6), 809–822. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007485314000601
Mahmoud, M. A., AbdElrahman, I. E., Zedan, O. A. A., Abdel-Rahman, Y. A., Saba, R. M., Laban, G. F. A., & Ibrahim, I. S. (2022). Effect of three insect growth regulators on certain biological aspects of the lesser grain borer, Rhyzopertha dominica (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae). Brazilian Journal of Biology, 82, e267629. https://doi.org/10.1590/1519-6984.267629
Mohyuddin, A. I., & Attique, M. R. (1978). An assessment of loss caused by Chilo partellus to maize in Pakistan. PANS, 24(2), 111–113. https://doi.org/10.1080/09670877809411600
Muhammad Salman, H., Khurshied Ahmed, K., Nida, U., & Ijaz Rasool, N. (2024). Efficacy of different concentrations of insect growth regulators (IGRs) on maize stem borer infestation. IgMin Research, 2(2), 66–72. https://doi.org/10.61927/igmin147
Nabeel, M., Javed, H., & Mukhtar, T. (2018). Occurrence of Chilo partellus on maize in major maize growing areas of Punjab, Pakistan. Pakistan Journal of Zoology, 50(1), 317–323. https://doi.org/10.17582/journal.pjz/2018.50.1.317.323
Neupane, S., & Subedi, S. (2019). Life cycle study of maize stem borer (Chilo partellus Swinhoe) under laboratory condition at National Maize Research Program, Rampur, Chitwan, Nepal. Journal of Agriculture and Natural Resources, 2(1), 338–346. https://doi.org/10.3126/janr.v2i1.26099
Orhun, G. E., Onsekiz, Ç., & Orhun, G. E. (2013). Maize for life. International Journal of Food Science and Nutrition Engineering, 3(2), 13–16. https://doi.org/10.5923/j.food.20130302.01
Overholt, W., Songa, J., Ofomata, V., & Jeske, J. (2000). The spread and ecological consequences of the invasion of Chilo partellus (Swinhoe) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) in Africa. In E. Lyons & S. Miller (Eds.), Invasive species in Eastern Africa: Proceedings of a workshop held at ICIPE, 5–6 July 1999 (pp. 52–58). ICIPE Science Press.
Prasanna, B. M., Bruce, A., Beyene, Y., Makumbi, D., Gowda, M., Asim, M., & Parimi, S. (2022). Host plant resistance for fall armyworm management in maize: Relevance, status and prospects in Africa and Asia. Theoretical and Applied Genetics, 135(11), 3897–3916. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00122-022-04160-3
Radwan, E., & Taha, H. (2017). Efficacy of certain pesticides against larvae of tomato leafminer, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae). Egyptian Academic Journal of Biological Sciences. C, Physiology and Molecular Biology, 9(1), 81–95. https://doi.org/10.21608/eajbsc.2017.13675
Rekha, R., Sekhar, S., Prabhuraj, A., Hosamani, A. C., & Khan, H. (2017). Bioassay of insecticides against okra leafhopper Amrasca biguttula biguttula (Ishida). International Journal of Plant Protection, 10(2), 364–368. https://doi.org/10.15740/HAS/IJPP/10.2/364-368
Salama, M., Barakat, D., & Ibrahim, E.-D. (2022). Effectiveness and persistence of some synthetic insecticides and their nanoformulation against whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) and aphids (Aphis craccivora) on fennel plants and soil. Egyptian Journal of Chemistry. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.21608/ejchem.2022.155631.6717
Shah, T. R., Prasad, K., & Kumar, P. (2015). Studies on physicochemical and functional characteristics of asparagus bean flour and maize flour. In G. C. Mishra (Ed.), Conceptual framework & innovations in agroecology and food sciences (1st ed., pp. 103–105). Krishi Sanskriti Publications.
Smith, H., Nagle, C., MacVean, C., & McKenzie, C. (2016). Susceptibility of Bemisia tabaci MEAM1 (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) to imidacloprid, thiamethoxam, dinotefuran and flupyradifurone in South Florida. Insects, 7(4), 57. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects7040057
Spalthoff, C., Salgado, V. L., Balu, N., David, M. D., Hehlert, P., Huang, H., Jones, J. E., Kandasamy, R., Knudsen, G. A., Lelito, K. R., Machamer, J. B., Nesterov, A., Tomalski, M., Wahl, G. D., Wedel, B. J., & Göpfert, M. C. (2023). The novel pyridazine pyrazolecarboxamide insecticide dimpropyridaz inhibits chordotonal organ function upstream of TRPV channels. Pest Management Science, 79(5), 1635–1649. https://doi.org/10.1002/ps.7352
Sunamura, E., Tamura, S., Taki, H., Sato, H., Shoda-Kagaya, E., & Urano, T. (2021). Efficacy of two neonicotinoid insecticides against invasive wood borer Aromia bungii larvae in dietary toxicity test. Insects, 12(7), 592. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects12070592
Sylvain, N. M., Manyangarirwa, W., Tuarira, M., & Onesime, M. K. (2015). Effect of lepidopterous stemborers, Busseola fusca (Fuller) and Chilo partellus (Swinhoe) on maize (Zea mays L) yield: A review. International Journal of Innovative Research and Development, 4(1), 258–266.
Ullah, I., Ali, M., & Farooqi, A. (2010). Chemical and nutritional properties of some maize (Zea mays L.) varieties grown in NWFP, Pakistan. Pakistan Journal of Nutrition, 9(11), 1113–1117.
Van Den Berg, J., Prasanna, B. M., Midega, C. A. O., Ronald, P. C., Carrière, Y., & Tabashnik, B. E. (2021). Managing fall armyworm in Africa: Can Bt maize sustainably improve control? Journal of Economic Entomology, 114(5), 1934–1949. https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/toab161
Wen, Z., Feng, J., Zhu, B., Xu, W., Xu, F., Tan, H., Chu, D., & Guo, L. (2023). Pyrifluquinazon baseline susceptibility and inhibition of tomato chlorosis virus transmission by Bemisia tabaci. Pest Management Science, 79(10), 3520–3528. https://doi.org/10.1002/ps.7532
WHT, T. (1932). New species of African Heterocera. Entomologist, 65, 1241–1249.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Muhammad Zeeshan Khalid, Muhammad Tayyab Abbas, Huzaifa Nauman, Rashid Azad, Shah Zaib Noor, Muhammad Muazzam, Muhammad Naeem, Nabeel Shafiq, Muhammad Faizan, Waqar Jaleel
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
This work is licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0
