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Nanotechnology, a new field of research, prompted scientists to work on a wide range of aspects. Nanoparticles relating to pest management include formulation for herbicides and pesticides. The potential uses of nanotechnology in insect-pest management include the slow release, efficient dosage of insecticides, and provide diagnostic tools for early detection. Application of nanaoparticles also includes development of nanodispensers, nanogels, and nanocapsules. Effects of different inorganic nanoparticles against selected insects were evaluated under laboratory conditions. DNA-tagged nanogold caused 30.50, 57.50, and 75.00 % mortality on third, fourth, and fifth instar Spodoptera litura larvae, respectively. CdS nanoparticle caused highest S. litura larval mortality of 21.41-93.79 % at 150 and 2400 ppm, respectively. The nano-TiO2 showed maximum of 73.79 % S. litura larval mortality at 2400 ppm and the least was 18.50 % at 150 ppm. Nano-Ag caused maximum 56.89 % S. litura mortality at 2400 ppm followed by 46.89 and 33.44 % mortality at 1200 and 600 ppm, respectively. Nanoparticles coated with ecdysteroid analogues like tebufenozide and halofenozide were tested against Corcyra cephalonica. The treated eggs did not hatch due to arrest of embryonic development. Tebufenozide and halofenozide caused maximum larval mortality at 80 ppm. These two compounds at 80 ppm reduced fecundity and fertility in adults. Tebufenozide against Helicoverpa armigera larvae reduced the larval weight. Tebufenozide at 5.00 ppm was reduced the larval weight significantly (14.23 ± 1.43 and 112.35 ± 0.29, respectively) compared to control. Histopathological effects of tebufenozide at the light microscopic level showed vacuolation and inhibition of imaginal buds. At electron microscopic level,

The leaf-eating caterpillar,Opisina arenosellaWalker, is the most destructive pest of coconut palm in India and Southeast Asia. The management practices employed againstO. arenosellaso far have been unsuccessful in many instances in India, due to the pest behaviour and coconut palm phenology. The life cycle, incidence and behaviour ofO. arenosellaare rather interesting and useful for the intervention of pheromone trapping technique for its management. We conducted the present study with the intention of identifying the female sex pheromone ofO. arenosellaand testing its efficacy under field conditions. Gas chromatography coupled electroantennographic detection (GC–EAD) and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) analysis of female pheromone glands extract of one-day-oldO. arenosellafemales confirmed the presence of (Z,Z,Z)-3,6,9-tricosatriene (Z3Z6Z9-23Hy) as the dominant sex pheromone component. The male antennal response to female pheromone gland extract and syntheticZ3Z6Z9-23Hy was recorded using GC–EAD, and the results revealed that antennal response was positive to both the treatments at 0.13 mV and 0.14 mV respectively, compared to control (air), which was 0.016 mV. It was also evident from wind-tunnel experiments that the male moth response was high (80%) with the female gland extract, compared to 60% with synthetic pheromone and 0% for control (air). Male moths caught in the traps with and without lure were assessed in two field sites and recorded 69.26% and 54.25% more moth catches in the traps with the lure. We also observed a similar result in the cage experiment in which male moths caught in the traps with and without lure were 64.50% and 12.40%, respectively. The study also confirmed that 93.20% moths caught in the pheromone-baited traps were male. From the study, it is evident that the presence of (Z,Z,Z)-3,6,9-tricosatriene, which is the sex pheromone compound from the female gland extract ofO. arenosella, is an effective attractant in pheromone traps for the male moth under field conditions.

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