Evaluation of the efficacy of some biological insecticides for controlling damage and conserving the parasitoids of grape berry moth, Lobesia botrana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) in Urmia vineyards

The grape berry moth, Lobesia botrana is the key pest of the vineyards of Iran. In this study, the efficacy of some bio-insecticides was evaluated for controlling damage of the grape berry moth and conservation of its larval parasitoids. Evaluated treatments were BTK (Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki), Neem Azal (Azadirachtin A EC1%), mixture of BTK and Neem Azal, Bio1 (Matrine), Basudin and control treatment. The experiment was carried out in a complete randomized block design with 4 replications in a vineyard located in Urmia. Evaluation of treatments efficacy was carried out 7 and 14 days after spraying by using two indices, the percentage of the bunch infestation and the number of larval nest per 100 bunches. According to the results, there was significant difference among treatments at 1% probability level. The highest efficacy was observed in treatments of Basudin and Bio1, without significant difference between them. Percentages of the bunch infestation were 7.50% and 6.75% and number of larval nest per 100 bunches were 11.75 and 12.00 in Basudin and Bio1 treatments, respectively. Neverthles, BTK with 34.5% bunch infestation and 64.75 larval nest/100 bunches had the least effect on pest control. Moreover, total percentages of larval parasitism were 9.6, 12.8, 13.9, 14.3, 0, and 14.6 in BTK, Neem Azal, BTK Neem Azal, Bio1, Basudin, and unsprayed control treatment, respectively. According to the obtained results, Bio1 insecticide can be recommended for controlling grape berry moth with the least undesired effects on larval parasitoids.