The present study concentration (1% = 10000 ppm) of the acetone extracts of various plant parts of groundnut were &nbsp;prepared to determine the specific acetone extract of the groundnut plant part(s) to optimizing the foraging behavior of Trichogramma chilonis Ishii and Chrysoperla zastrowi sillemi (Esben-Peterson). Laboratory bioassay with acetone extracts of young leaves, old leaves, flowers and stems of groundnut plant with T. chilonis and C. zastrowi sillemi revealed their kairomonal activities under in vitro condition. Treating irradiated eggs of Corcyra cephalonica Stainton with acetone extract of flowers of groundnut recorded the parasitization of 16.97 per cent by T. chilonis on third day after inoculation which increased from 56.87 to 73.14 per cent on fifth and seventh day after inoculation and they were 6.33, 19.77 and 25.64 per cent when the eggs were treated with acetone alone on third, fifth and seventh days after inoculation, respectively. Maximum emergence (66.11%) was observed with acetone extract of flowers followed by acetone extract of young leaves (49.82%). The highest predation by C. zastrowi sillemi on acetone extract of flowers treated eggs of C. cephalonica was recorded (69.97%) whereas it was 26.94 per cent in acetone treated eggs.&nbsp;

Kairomonal effect of acetone extracts of groundnut on foraging activities of Trichogramma chilonis (Ishii) and Chrysoperla zastrowi sillemi (Esben-Peterson)

<div>Background: Natural farming (NF) is a farming system that uses environmentally friendly pest and disease management practices. In contrast to chemical farming, it avoids use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides and fungicides and hence, offers an alternative way for the eco-friendly pest management for the sustainable crop production. French bean crop is ravaged by wide array of insect pests wherein, sucking insect-pests like aphids, leaf miner and pod borer causing considerable damage. To manage these pests, farmers are spraying both recommended and non-recommended synthetic chemical pesticides having adverse effects on environment and human beings. 
 
Methods: Field experiment was conducted to evaluate the pest management strategies against sucking insect-pests and pod borer infesting French bean over a period of three years from 2019-20 to 2021-22 at College of Horticulture, Sirsi, Uttar Kannada (Hill Zone of Karnataka) during summer season. Four pest management modules viz., farmers practice, organic farming, natural farming (NF) and recommended package of practices (RPP) were evaluated to manage the pests in an eco-friendly manner. The field experiment was laid out in a randomized block design with five replications comprising of four treatments. The standard protocol was followed for recording observations. 
 
Result: Among the different modules tested, farmers practice recorded lowest population of aphids, leaf miner and pod borer and was at par with recommended package of practices. Whereas, Organic farming and natural farming recorded moderate level of pest infestation and quite safe for maintaining the predators like Coccinellids, Chrysoperla carnea and spider population for natural predation. The cost of plant protection measures was also least in these modules which indicates the socially and economically acceptable farming practices which may be adopted for safer French bean production.</div>

Reflex of Different Pest Management Modules against Sucking Insect-pests and Pod Borer for the Safety of Beneficial Insects in Vegetable French Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)