Vol. 8, Special Issue 10, Part O (2024)

The presents review article has been reviewed to know the importance of different new molecules insecticides against Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) (Noctuidae: Lepidoptera). It is a is the most prominent insect species that causes major economic damage to various agricultural and horticultural crops. It is highly polyphagous pest attacks over 182 plants species and worldwide occurrence inflicting annual crop damage worth US $1 billion in India. The caterpillar cause major damage to the crops as it attacks reproductive parts and growing tips. The management of H. armigera is very difficult in many crops including both widely grown and economically important crops as cotton, maize, sorghum, tobacco, pigeon pea, green gram, chickpea, black gram, red gram, tomato, chilli, okra and onion etc. However, the indiscriminate use of organophosphates, carbamates and synthetic pyrethroids has created a number of problems such as pests developing resistance to insecticides, pest resurgence and bio concentrations of pesticide residues in consumable produce at harvest. Among the harmful effects of insecticides, persistence of toxic pesticide residues in plants, soil and water are of great concern for consumer’s health and safety to animals. It is estimated that more than 50 per cent of applied insecticides reach the soil and water bodies during application At the same time, to overcome the above said problems, attempts have been made for identification of new molecules with higher insecticidal property, selective action and lower mammalian toxicity that fits well in the integrated pest management concept. Despite all the drawbacks that come with chemical control of pests, there are still many reasons that can persuade farmers to still choose to use them. Regardless of several control strategies that were found effective in managing this pest the chemical control plays a vital role because of quick action, readily available and very easy to use unlike alternative methods, such as biological control and other similar methods which can take a long while to plan and often don’t have an immediate effect on pests. In case of controlling pests over larger areas chemical management proves to be very cost effective besides economic benefits. If the practice of suggested insecticide at recommended dose is adapted against H. armigera. Hence, insecticides with a new mode of action have been desired. One such new molecule, emamectin benzoate is a semi synthetic derivative of avermectin produced as fermentation metabolites of soil actinomycete Streptomyces avermitilis Burg (Lasota and Dybas, 1990) [60]. This was discovered in 1984 and has both stomach and contact action effective against various lepidopteran pests.