EVALUATION OF NEW SYNTHETIC INSECTICIDES AGAINST AFRICAN BOLLWORM, Helicoverpa armigera (HUBNER) (LEPIDOPTERA: NOCTUIDAE) ON CHICKPEA IN AMBO DISTRICT OF ETHIOPIA

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is one of the most important pulse crops that play a vital role in human diet. One of the major insect pest attacking chickpea crop is African bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera (Hub.) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Ethiopia. The Laboratory experiment was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of new insecticides at Ambo University, Guder Mamo mezemir Campus and the field experiment was conducted at Amaro kebele, Ambo District, West Shoa zone of the Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia during main cropping seasons in 2020/2021.The treatment had three replicates and entire set up was arranged in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) in field and CRD in the laboratory. The laboratory study was showed percent mortality of larva were achieved with shark 2.5% EC, Vayego SC 200 , Benezer plus 38.5% EC, Focus 5% EC and Belt SC480 (96.67,100.0, 100.0, 100.0 and 100.0%), respectively. At field, minimum & maximum mortality percentage recorded in three round spray caused mean percent mortality belt SC 480 the highest per cent of mortality were recorded (63.71-100.0%) followed by Benezer plus 38.5%EC (53.86 -100.00%), Focus 5% EC (57.08-95.28%), Shark 2.5% EC (55.50-100.0%) and Vayego SC 200 (44.97-100%). The lowest pod damage was observed in treated plot with Belt SC480 (0.44%) as compared to control plot (9.00%. The highest yield also obtained from Belt SC480 treated plot (2.89 Ton/ha) and the lowest yield obtained from control plot (1.78 Ton/ha). The overall percentages of yield losses were 1.92-38.46% if the field was not treated with synthetic insecticides. Further research should focus on the effectiveness of these chemical insecticides under different ecology of Ethiopia and can be incorporated into the integrated management of H. armigera.