Jordan Journal of Agricultural Sciences 7(1): 83-92, 2011

Efficacy of the insecticidal bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Berliner) (Bt) against the cereal leafminer Syringopais temperatella Led. (Lep., Scythrididae) under laboratory conditions

Abstract: The cereal leaf miner, Syringopais temperatella Led. (Lep., Scythrididae) is one of the most economical pests on wheat in Jordan. The use of chemical insecticides is neither economic nor sustainable; therefore, biological pesticides (i.e. Bacillus thuringiensis (Berliner)) are becoming an important component in crop protection. The present study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of B. thuringiensis against S. temperatella. Eight B.  thuringiensis concentrations were used against S. temperatella L₃ on wheat, and mortality was recorded at 1, 3, 5 and 7 days after spray. The results indicated that S. temperatella mortality was significantly affected by B. thuringiensis concentration and time after bacterial application. After 1, 3, 5 and 7 days of spraying, 10⁸ concentration of B. thuringiensis had significantly caused the highest mortality to the pest with 63.3, 73.1, 78.3 and 80.0%, respectively. Then the mortality percent decreased significantly until it reached 3.3, 15.6, 17.4 and 45.0% at 10¹ concentration, respectively. In conclusion, the study showed that B. thuringiensis is effective in controlling S. temperatella under laboratory conditions.