Purpose : Management of cabbage caterpillar complex through augmentative release of egg parasitoids has been suggested considering the current issues in insecticide application, mainly the effect on human health, non-target effects and environmental pollution. Use of local egg parasitoid species is preferred considering the environmental risk associated with the use of exotic species; therefore, this study was conducted to examine the egg parasitoid guild of cabbage caterpillars in Sri Lanka.Research Method : Field survey was conducted during January 2012 to May 2013 in major cabbage growing areas in the mid-country. Eggs of cabbage caterpillars were collected and reared them until the emergence of host larvae or adult parasitoids. Emerged parasitoids were preserved in 70% ethanol, and prepared the microscopic slides upon the dissection of male genitalia. Parasitoids were identified by using taxonomic keys and Trichogramma literature as per the protocol suggested by Natural History museum, London and the identities were confirmed by the taxonomist in Natural history museum in London. Findings :Trichoplusia ni, Spodoptera litura, Crocidolomia pavonana and Plutella xylostella were found as the members of cabbage caterpillar complex. Two egg parasitoid species: Trichogramma chilonis Ishi and Trichogramma achaeae Nagaraja and Nagarkatti were found attacking eggs of cabbage caterpillars. Trichogramma chilonis has been reported previously in Sri Lanka but Trichogramma achaeae is the first country report. T. chilonis was widely distributed and caused for higher level of parasitism than T. achaeae. The highest level of parasitism (67%) by both species was found in Trichoplusia ni eggs which was significantly different from other species. Level of parasitism of caterpillar eggs was significantly varied between pesticide free fields (16.8%) and conventional fields (13.1%). Research Limitation :The study of behavioral characters of these parasitoids is required to assess the suitability as biocontrol agents; as an initial step for augmentative biocontrol, the locally available egg parasitoids were reported in this study.Originality/ Value : These findings would be contributing Sri Lankan agriculture sector to develop the augmentative biocontrol approach to manage the cabbage caterpillar complex and to produce pesticide residues free crop produce.

Misuse of insecticides has negative impacts on the environment and human health; hence, a search for non-chemical alternatives for insect pest control is a timely need. Natural enemies play a significant role in suppressing insect pest populations in crops. Mulching has an impact on the diversity of natural enemies in soil, but it has not been adequately documented locally. Thus, this study was conducted to examine the influence of mulches on natural enemies associated with the pests of the brinjal crop. Four mulch materials viz. rice straw, gliricidia (Gliricidia sepium) leaves, weed residues, and black colour polythene, as the treatments, were laid on plots of brinjal crop. Unmulched plots, with and without weeds, were also used as controls. Experimental design was RCBD with three replicates. Soil inhabitants were caught using pitfall traps and soil sampling was undertaken up to 10 cm depth. Foliage insects were collected using sweep netting. The total number of natural enemies significantly (F (5,120) = 5.928, P<0.05) varied between the treatments. The highest mean number of natural enemies was recorded in rice-straw mulch (2.50 plot -1 ), followed by weed residues (1.19 plot -1 ), gliricidia (1.10 plot -1 ), and black polythene (0.10 plot -1 ). Unmulched plots left with weeds had a higher mean number of natural enemies (1.29 plot -1 ) than the plots without weeds (0.43 plot -1 ). Pest abundance was significantly (F (5,120) = 3.897, P <0.05) different between treatments. The highest abundance was recorded in unmulched plots (25.30 plot -1 ), followed by weed residues (7.95 plot -1 ), gliricidia (7.76 plot -1 ), straw (6.50 plot -1 ), and black polythene (2.0 plot -1 ). The study concluded that rice-straw mulching favours natural enemies, while black polythene reduces insect pest abundance. Further, the presence of weeds on plots enhances the abundance of natural enemies.

Purpose: Sticky traps are effective for monitoring and managing insect pests. In addition to pest insects, beneficial insects are also caught in sticky traps. Hence, it is necessary to use traps to catch pest insects selectively. The attraction of different insect groups to coloured sticky traps was studied as an attempt to suppress the insect populations selectively in the field. Research Method: Sticky traps: yellow, blue, luminous green, white, and transparent (control) were set in the field for 24 hours, and the insects caught in traps were collected and identified by their ecological role: pests, beneficial and neutral insects as well as the taxonomic group in relation to the trap colour. Findings: Significant variation was found among the total numbers of insects attracted to different colour traps (χ2 =107 df=4 P<0.05). The highest number of insects was found in the luminous green trap (29.1%) followed by yellow (22.0%), white (18.8%), blue (17.9%), and transparent (12.2%). All colour traps attracted pest, beneficial and neutral insects. Data was inconsistent to specify trap colour to catch more pests and less beneficials. More dipterans (40.7%) were attracted to traps, and many of them were neutral. Blue-traps caught less number of neutral (29.1%) and beneficial insects (29.4%) compared with other coloured traps. Originality/ Value: The behavioral response of different insect groups to colour was demonstrated. As sticky traps catch both beneficial and pest insects, sticky traps should be used under careful monitoring.

Majority of the rural population in the wet mid elevations in Sri Lanka are predominantly engaged in Kandyan Homegardening (KHG) and smallholder tea cultivations (TS). Reports indicate that recent developments in this region are very low due to marketing, extension and production issues. The study was conducted to evaluate the recent changes in the agricultural productivity and other socio economic parameters of the households in a selected village belonging to Yatinuwara Divisional Secretariat in 2017. Information on social and family status, agricultural systems and income generation of a sample households (65%) were collected using a structured questionnaire. Results revealed that there was a trend of leaving agriculture by the young generation, resulting in just a 58.4% of the males (predominantly middle aged and old) for agriculture, mostly on part-time basis. Low percentage of women involvement in agricultural livelihoods clearly indicated their potential engagements in agricultural livelihoods in the future, bringing about a good solution for their unemployment issue. Nearly 76% families were engaged with KHGs whereas 36% and 7% were involved in TS and other cropping systems, respectively. The livestock sector was very much at a diminishing phase, limiting only to 7.8% of the households. The highest annual income was recorded by the TS, compared to KHG farmers. This could be justified with lower productivity of KHGs (compared to potential productivity of its major crop components). Majority of the households (38.2%) belongs to the lowest annual income category of less than Sri Lankan Rupees (LKR.) 50,000 (from agriculture). Hence a boost in agriculture will be an urgent need for improving the financial status and the living standards of the villagers. The outcome of the survey will be an eye-opening for policy makers and the institutional setup that are mandated for rural development in Sri Lanka.