EFFECT OF INSECTICIDES AGAINST CHILO PARTELLUS (SWINHOE) DAMAGING ZEA MAYS (MAIZE)

The maize stem borer Chilo partellus (swinhoe) is one of the most destructive pests of maize. This species is most important at altitudes below 1500 meters above sea level .It’s magnitude of damage ranges from 26.7 to 80.4. In young plants the shoot can be killed, causing a "dead heart". In older plants the upper part of the stem usually dies as a result of the boring of the caterpillars. Several contact and systematic insecticides are being used for its managemen. Therefore, it necessitated evaluating the relative persistence of insecticides and neem based formulations commonly used against this borer pest for devising its economically effective management programme