Efficacy of Biological Control Measures on Pine Needles Caterpillar Metanastria latipennis Walker in Pinus Kesiya Royel ex Gordon Plantation in Southern Shan State, Myanmar

Forest Research Institute, Yezin, Myanmar

Abstract: The study was carried out to investigate the efficacy of Bacillus thuringiensis sub sp. kurstaki (Btk), bio insecticide Azadirachtin and established natural enemies (Mantids) on Metanastria latipennis in Pinus kesiya Plantation in Southern Shan State of Myanmar. The experiment was conducted in pine plantations established in 2010 in Taung Lay Lone Reserved Forest, Taungyi Township, at about latitude 25˙ 40' N and longitude 96˙ 51' E at an altitude of approximately 1160 m. Research was conducted from May, 2017 to August, 2019. A Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) was used with four replications. Each block containing the four treatments randomly assigned to test the effect of Btk, Azadirachtin, released the Mantids on pine caterpillar Metanastria latipennis. Sampling was done on a sample plot measuring 20m  20 m with 20 sample trees. In control measures, (i) 30 ml of Btk per 10 litres of water, (ii) 0.75 % Azadirachtin 112.5 ml per 10 litres of water, (iii) biological control (established the mantids), and (iv) control were tested. In this experiment, Btk and Azadirachtin treatments significantly reduced the level of infestation compared to the control. Biological control by predators was not significantly different with the control.