Efficacy of Transported Biocontrol Agent Nesolynx thymus in Controlling Uzi Fly Infestation in the Silkworm Bombyx mori L.

Abstract

Uzi fly, Exorista bombycis has been reported to cause 10 to 20% loss to the sericulture industry in southern India. An integrated package with the release a parasitoid of the uzi fly, Nesolynx thymus has been advocated by the researchers to contain the damage by E. bombycis. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of release of long distance transported biocontrol agent in controlling the uzi infestation and to find out wheather it is economically viable. The results indicated that the release of transported biocontrol agent not only reduced the uzi infestation in the silkworm crops from 0.5% to 0.2% but also is economically viable.