UTTAR PRADESH JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY

Chilo partellus (Swinhoe, 1885) is the major notorious pest that are infesting and demanding the maize crop in India and globally. It resulting 15-55% of crop loss and infested corn-cob resulting 25-50% of economical loss. Now a day’s the population of Chilo partellus is increasing rapidly and application of insecticide and pesticides are resulting not so effective in control of said pest. To understand reason behind it, this study has been done in two different (1^st controlled by hand picking method, 2^nd not controlled by hand picking method) maize farming piece of land about 2500m² each. Use seed type was HQPM-1 and the application of insecticides implicated (Chlorantraniliprole 18.5% and Emamectinbenzote 5SG 200 ml/ha -Foliar Application, Azadirachtin 1500 ppm – Foliar with Soil application). The research revealed that the Chilo partellus were completed its life cycle in 30-38 days. Most of the said pest lay eggs near whorl of plant and newly hatched larvae enter in tassel tube or corn–cob by boring whorl. After entering in tassel tube or corn- cob they remain safe against application of insecticide, pesticide and predation pressure. After completing larval growth and development pupation also occurs inside tassel–tube or corn-cob. It provides a safe place of survival for C. partellus. The condition of survival inside tassel–tube or corn–cob resulting non- effective application of insecticides and population increase of C. partellus in maize farming areas. In the controlled piece of land in addition with application of insecticides hand picking method was applied and total 374 larvae (1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th, 5^th in star), 63 pupae of Chilo partellus and 94 larvae (2^nd, 4^th 5^th in star) of Spodoptera litura were eradicated in whole experimental duration. The minimum number of larvae was 2^nd the maximum number of larvae was 10 in each tassel–tube or corn-cob husk. In the 2^nd piece of land only application of insecticide is used and it resulting infested corn-cob, plant mortality, plant stem damage and low market value or produced maize crop.