The effect of biological control agents in controlling the larval stages of Spodoptera littoralis in Basra Governorate

Abstract

The study was conducted in the laboratories of the College of Agriculture, University of Basrah, to determine the biological effect of Belthirul WP Bacillus thuringiensis pesticide on Spodoptera littoralis, which poses a serious threat to tomato production worldwide because it can cause significant crop losses. The results showed significant differences between the rates of effect of the concentrations of the biopesticide Belthirul WP on the first larval stage of S. littoralis, as the highest effect rate was recorded at a concentration of 4 g/L, reaching 54.03%, followed by the effect rate of the concentration of 3 g/L, reaching 46.57%, and the lowest effect was at a concentration of 2 g/L, reaching 24.99%. The results also showed significant differences between the rates of effect of the concentrations of the biocide Belthirul WP on the sixth larval stage of S. littoralis, as the highest rate of effect was at a concentration of 4 g/L, reaching 34.26%, followed by the rate of effect of a concentration of 3 g/L, reaching 30.09%, and the lowest rate of effect was at a concentration of 2 g/L, reaching 15.00%. As for the rate of effect of days, the results showed significant differences between the highest rate of effect after 7 days of treatment, reaching 42.53%, and the lowest rate of effect after one day of treatment, 7.41%.