FIELD EFFICACY OF NUCLEAR POLYHEDROSIS-VIRUS AGAINST HELIOTHIS-ARMIGERA (HBN) AND SPODOPTERA-LITURA (FB) ON DIFFERENT HOST CROPS

Field experiments were carried out to assess the control of Heliothis armigera (Hb.) on five sorghum varieties, having different head morpho logies, and Spodoptera lituru (Fb.) on groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) using nuclear polyhedrosis viruses (NPVs) and locally recommended che mical insecticides. Results revealed that two applications of the NPVs at 250 larval equivalents (LE) ha(-1) at 7- and 10-day intervals, res pectively, were as effective as the chemical insecticide endosulfan in reducing the larval population and damage to grains in sorghum and le aves in groundnut and increasing grain yield of sorghum and of groundn ut.