author(s)
Vikram, Lekha, H Swami, Gaurang Chhangani and Kuldeep Sharma

abstract
The field experiment was conducted to assess the botanicals and insecticide molecules for bio efficacy against predators of lac insect on ber plants (Ziziphus mauritiana Lam) at lac gene bank, Department of Entomology, Rajasthan College of Agriculture, Udaipur during Katki season 2018. The insecticidal sprays were applied at 45 days (time that coincides with the most critical stage of the predatory caterpillars) or 7-8 weeks after the inoculation of brood lac on the completion of male emergence. The first spray application was applied at 7 days after the completion of male emergence followed by a second application at 30 days after the first spray. The insecticidal application was applied on lac bearing Twigs of the ber plants to cover the encrustation of lac insect. Among the insecticides evaluated, the most effective treatment was spinosad 2.5% EC against Predators viz., Eublemma amabilis and Pseudohypatopa pulverea with 84.85 and 78.95 mean per cent reduction in the population over control, respectively. Application of spinosad 2.5% EC was also recorded as the most effective treatment in terms of survival percentage of lac insect. Emamectin benzoate 5% SG was found next effective treatment, whereas, Neem oil was found least effective treatment in reducing the population of predators of lac insect as well as in terms of survival percentage of lac insect.