UTTAR PRADESH JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY

The bean aphid, Aphis craccivora Koch, is one of the major pests of hyacinth bean (Lablab purpureus L.). An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of selected components of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) against A. craccivora infestation and their effects on bean yield. Admire 200 SL (Imidacloprid) was used as a chemical insecticide, crude tobacco leaf extract as a botanical pesticide (1:10 w/v), larvae of Coccinella transversalis as a biological control agent, and kerosinized ash as a natural control product; these treatments were applied in two rounds. Pre-treatment data on aphid infestation were recorded 1 day before treatment, and post-treatment data were recorded at 1, 3, 7, and 20 days after each treatment. Bean yield was harvested and recorded separately for each treatment plot and sowing date. Across all three sowing dates, the lowest aphid infestation and highest bean yield were obtained from plots treated with two rounds of insecticide (T₁), followed by plots treated with a first-round application of insecticide plus a second-round application of botanical extract (T₂), plots receiving first- and second-round releases of natural enemies (T_3), plots receiving a first-round release of natural enemies and a second-round application of botanical extract (T_4), and plots treated with a first-round application of kerosinized ash plus a second-round application of botanical extract (T₅). The lowest yield and highest aphid infestation were recorded in the control plots treated with two rounds of plain water spray (T₆).