effect of some botanicals and agrochemicals on the cotton leafworm and their non target effects on the mulberry silkworm, bombyx moril

The present investigation was carried out to find out alternative safe and less expensive control agents against the cotton leafworm. The side effects of such agents on the mulberry silkworm was also evaluated. Green leaves of cotton, datura, halfa, water hyacinth and mulberry were offered to the cotton leafworm larvae as host plants starting from the 4th instar upto the end of larval stage. The extracts of the two plants were experimented on the mulberry silkworm by feeding 4th and 5th instar larvae on mulberry leaves dipped in the extracts dilutions. Larval duration was prolonged while female fecundity was decreased (87.0 – 328.33 eggs/female). On the contrary, clear improvement was detected in cocoon weight (0.850g). Cocoon shell weight, silk ratio, silk filament length and weight were significantly increased as well, meanwhile silk filament size was insignificantly affected. Chlorpyrifos-methyl was used as a references (a traditional insecticides).