A novel frond injection method against coconut black headed caterpillar opisina arenosella walker

A field study was conducted in coconut at farmer’s field in Halebudanuru village in Mandya district, Karnataka during 2017-2018. The frond injection, a novel method of insecticide application was evaluated against the black headed caterpillar Opisina arenosella Walker. The insecticides evaluated include: imidacloprid 17.8% SL, acetamiprid 20% SP, clothianidin 50% WG, thiacloprid 21.7% SC, emamectin benzoate 5% SG, spinosad 45% SC, cartap hydrochloride 50% SP and standard check monocrotophos 36% SL. Among these, it was observed that cartap hydrochloride 50%SP and monocrotophos 36% SL gave 100% mortality; all other treatments also gave significant mortality over control. The frond injection method advocated now is an easy, quicker and accurate method, without any secondary infection/ damage to the frond tissues.