Toshova et al. (2009) reported that air temperature and humidity strongly influenced the allyl-isothiocyanate-baited trap catches of flea beetles on cabbage and horse-radish crops. Studies by Gao et al. (2005) showed the temperature and wind orientation had significantly positive correlations with the dispersion of Phyllotreta striolata and humidity weakly influenced their activity. The negative

correlation between yield and leaf damage found in our study could be due to low temperatures having a negative effect on populations. Our results agree with Cagák et al. (2006) and Gao et al. (2005) who reported that low temperatures in the winter and high temperatures in the warm season had a negative effect on populations of flea beetles. Additionally, Shukla and Kumar (2003) demonstrated that P. cruciferae populations were negatively correlated with mean temperature and positively correlated with mean relative humidity. Although calendar-based application at 15-day STAT inhibitor intervals showed lower damage and higher yield, it did not differ significantly from the treatment made www.selleckchem.com/products/PD-0332991.html at 15–20% leaf damage. This indicates that there was no necessity to spray every 15 days. It is thus advisable to spray when leaf area damage reaches 15–20%, to reduce numbers of chemical applications. Knodel and Olson (2002) proposed that the threshold

for foliar application should be at 25% leaf damage. However, the economic injury Florfenicol level proposed by them was a nominal threshold injury level, and no experiment was conducted to test on that nominal threshold. The information generated on the nominal threshold level for P. cruciferae from the current study is important

and timely as the management of flea beetles has become more challenging. Research on alternative possible methods for controlling/deterring flea beetles has been underway for many years but no effective control method has been identified to date. Our previous studies ( Reddy et al., 2014) revealed that combined use of the entomopathogens such as Beauveria bassiana (Bals.-Criv.) Vuill. GHA and Metarhizium brunneum (Metchnikoff) Sorokin F52 in two repeated applications was effective in reducing feeding injuries by P. cruciferae and improving yields of canola. However, the combined use here of two commercialized fungal preparations from differing manufacturers may present some sort of impediment to the ready adoption of this recommended treatment. It is possible that a concerted screening of a range of isolates of B. bassiana and M. brunneum from established culture collections might yield a pairing of fungal isolates that could be at least as effective as those tested here, and that could then be produced locally or even commercially as a new biocontrol product after appropriate. The applications of entomopathogenic nematodes (Steinernema carpocapsae Stanuszek All and Heterorhabditis indica Poinar, Karunakar & David LN2) were capable of controlling P.