THE USE OF BIOPESTICIDES TO CONTROL INSECT PESTS OF PAWPAW

ABSTRACT Laboratory and field experiments were carried out between June 1997 and Januaiy 1999 at Paradise farm near Nsawam in the Eastern Region of Ghana to determine the major insect pests of papaya, Carica papaya and to evaluate the effectiveness of Bacillus thuringiensis and neem seed extract for controlling the insect pests of papaya. Methanolic and aqueous neem seed extracts were tested at the following concentrations 0 , 50, 75 and 100 g/1. Bacillus thuringiensis was applied at the rate of 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8 and 1.0 g/1. Percentage mortality and leaf damage caused by insect pests were determined in the laboratory and in the field. The nature of the damage caused by the insect pests on the various growth stages of the plants was assessed by visual observation. The major insect pests recorded on papaya at Paradise farm were the variegated grasshopper, Zonocerus variegatus, mealy bugs, Planococcus sp and the Mexican bean beetle, Epilachna sp. It was observed in the field that the population of these insect pests were significantly ( p