Insecticide Resistance in Spodoptera litura (FABRICIUS)

Insects are the most dominant species on earth with significant mechanisms for survival of the fittest to the changing evolutionary pattern. Pesticides belonging to different chemistries like organophosphates, carbamates and synthetic pyrethroids extensively used by the farmers for managing the insect pests have led to resistance development due to selection pressure. With the progress of time line, the number of insects known to be resistant to different insecticides also increased in alarming rate. S. litura commonly known as tobacco caterpillar or armyworm or Indian leaf worm or cluster caterpillar is a polyphagous insect pest causing more than 26-100 % yield loss in South Asia. Insecticide resistance is one of the most important phenomena that threaten sustainable pest management programmes. Hence, it is important to monitor and detect resistance at its budding level so as to implement appropriate measures to restrain its increase. Hence, this investigation is proposed to assess the extent of insecticide resistance in S. litura and to suggest measures for resistance management and to develop Good Agricultural Practices.