author(s)
Akhtar Ali Khan

abstract
Two concentrations of Neem oil (2% and 3%), castor oil (2% and 3%), Artemisia leaf extract (2% and 3%), Neem seed kernel extract (NSKE) @ 4% and 5% and Azadirachtin (0.2% and 0.3%) compared with the treated check Dimethoate (1ml/L) with untreated check for their bio-efficacy against green apple aphid. The highest mean per cent mortality of 68.91 was recorded against Azadirachtin (0.3%) followed by 65.06% against same pesticide of 0.2% concentration while as least mean mortality of 34.32% was exhibited against castor oil (1%). Maximum percent reduction of green apple aphid population viz., nymph, alate and apterous were recorded 77.0%, 68.29% and 61.76% against Azadirachtin (0.3%) while as least mortality of above three stages of green apple aphid were recorded as 43.19%, 23.94% and 30.88% against Castor oil (2%), respectively. The bio-safety of botanical pesticides were evaluated against natural enemies associated with green apple aphid. The highest predator mortality (39.04%) was recorded against Azadirachtin (0.3%) which was significantly lower (72.00%) than treated check (Dimethoate, 1ml/L) while as lowest (24.25%) against Neem oil (2%). Among all treatments, the mortality of Chrysoperla was recorded highest followed by syrphid fly larva. The maximum mortality of coccinellids (40.00%) was recorded against NSKE (5%) while as, maximum mortality of larvae of syrphid fly (42.85%) and Chrysoperla (45.00%) were recorded against Azadirachtin (0.3%) as compared with treated check was 72.22%, 74.28% and 67.50% of coccinellids, syrphid fly and Chrysoperla larva, respectively. All botanical pesticides are safer against parasitoids of aphids and not found any significant effect while as treated check (Dimethoate @ 1ml/L) was given significantly more mortality of parasitoids.