Compatibility of Neem Oil and Different Entomopathogens for the Management of Major Vegetable Sucking Pests

Efficacy of different entomopathogenic microorganisms viz ., Beauveria bassiana, Metarhizium anisopliae, Verticillium lecanii, Pseudomonas fluorescens and plant origin insecticide i.e., neem oil were tested alone and their 1:1 combination with neem oil against major sucking insect pests of vegetables. Among the entomopathogens V. lecanii was found most promising against solenopsis mealy bug ( Phenacoccus solenopsis), black bean aphid ( Aphis craccivora) and mustard aphid ( Lipaphis erysimi) followed by B. bassiana where as M. anisopliae was shown highly effective against both 6 ± 1 days old nymphs and adults of red cotton bugs ( Dysdercus cingulatus ). However, neem oil was the most effective biopesticides against all these sucking pests. The per cent mortality were changed in time dependent manner and the lowest median lethal time (LT 50 ) for neem oil against P. solenopsis, A. craccivora, L. erysimi and nymphs and adults of D. cingulatus were 93.71, 60.88, 60.78, 70.08, 90.02 h, respectively. Combinations of these entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) and neem oil (1:1) had lower LT 50 values than each of their individual indicating the compatibility among them.