Stink bug Agonoscelis spp. (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae)-An Emerging Threat for Seed Production in Alfalfa Crop (Medicago sativa L.) and Their Successful Management

Abstract

Forages are vital constituent for sustainable agriculture because they provide feed for animals that ultimately converted into human food. Alfalfa is one of the most important forages that has highest feeding value for livestock, and seed production of alfalfa seriously affected by several factors, but seed yield loss due to stink bug attack is more as compared to other factors. Studies were conducted to control stink bug by different insecticides at Fodder Research Institute, Sargodha, Punjab-Pakistan during 2016-17. The efficacy of ten insecticides viz., acephate, dimethoate, malathion, chlorpyriphos, bifenthrin, lambdacyhalothrin, deltamethrin, acetamiprid, imidacloprid and carbosulfan were tested against stink bug, Agonoscelis spp. (Heteroptera Pentatomidae) on alfalfa, Medicago sativa L. variety SGD-2002. The mortality of stink bug was recorded one, three, five, seven, ten and fifteen days after spray. Similarly the population of pollinators was recorded before and one, three and five days after spray. From this study it had been observed that acetamiprid (81.14 %) and acephate (80.65%) had the higest mortality of stink bug and proved to be the most effective insecticides against stink bug. By spray of insecticides the population of pollinators declined one day after spray, but it had been rehabilitated three days after spray. By chemical treatment against stink bug, seed yield increased from 28.05 Kg/acre (during last four year without chemical control of stink bug) to 116 Kg/acre in 2016-17 (with chemical control). From this study it has been concluded that chemicals can be used in integrated management program of alfalfa seed production.