Natural Control Strategies of Bihar Hairy Caterpillar (Spilarctia obliqua Walker) in Moriculture
Jasmeena Qadir *
Department of Sericulture, Poonch campus, University of Jammu, 185101 (J&K), India.
Tajamul Islam
Department of Sericulture, Government Degree College (Boys) Sopore, 193201 (J&K), India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Chemical control strategy poses serious health and environmental risk and solves the pest problems in fields temporarily. More resilient and sustainable approaches to manage pests are the need of hour. Increasing implementation of biological approaches viz., biopesticides, biostimulants and pheromones is important for sustainable agriculture and Integrated Pest Management (IPM). Bihar hairy caterpillar (Spilarctia obliqua walker) is the major defoliator of economic crop, mulberry in sericulture which causes significant crop losses every year. The management of pests by chemicals may prove dangerous for silkworms due to presence of even little toxicity to chemicals. The natural enemies of S. obliqua and their use in management is eco-friendly, economic and with negligible health hazards. Throughout this article, significance of natural enemies of S. obliqua and their potential role in management of the pest is discussed.
Keywords: Bacillus thuringienis, botanicals, baculoviruses, parasitoid, predator, pest control, Spilarctia obliqua