Survival status of experimental transportation and transplantation of acropora
corals from Lakshadweep to Gujarat, India

Abstract :

Neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) based insecticides have broad spectrum usage in the pest management. About 450 insect species are found to be sensitive to neem compounds especially for azadirachtin which acts through behavioural and physiological means and at the same time spared the higher animals in sprayed ecosystems. Natural enemies, on the other hand, provide acceptable control but safety of the neem products has become debatable issue since both the pest species and the natural enemies belong to the same class, Insecta. So, several studies have been conducted on the side effects of neem based insecticides on entomophages (parasitoids and predators) and entomopathogens (fungal, bacterial and virus) in the laboratory and field. Egg parasitoid adults are sensitive to neem but the immature stages of the parasitoid developing inside the host eggs are totally safe and had normal adult emergence. The parasitisation by larval parasitoids was not much influenced by the neem while immature stages of predators are slightly sensitive to the neem. In general, the field doses of neem based insecticides do not reduce the beneficial capacity of the parasitoids and predators. It is suggested that for the use of parasitoids / predators along with neem based insecticides presampling and timing of application are necessary. Entomopathogens have also been reported compatible with neem. Hence, combined use of natural enemies especially with neem based insecticides based on ecological and behavioural aspects of crop pests is suggested for "integrated biological control".