The eggplant fruit and shoot borer (Leucinodes orbonalis) is a destructive pest of eggplant in Asia, capable of causing yield losses of 65-100%. Its larvae bore into shoots and fruits, rendering them unmarketable and severely reducing their productivity. Chemical control remains the primary management strategy; however, repeated insecticide use has led to the development of insecticide resistance. Among the resistance mechanisms, behavioral resistance, defined as the avoidance of treated surfaces, poses unique challenges. Dinotefuran, a systemic neonicotinoid insecticide, disrupts neural transmission, leading to paralysis and death. However, its sublethal effects on insect behavior remain unexplored. This study quantified the behavioral avoidance of L. orbonalis larvae to dinotefuran-treated eggplant fruits. Bioassays were conducted under controlled laboratory conditions using three treatments: T1 (water control), T2 (50% coverage of dinotefuran at 3 g/16 L), and T3 (100% coverage at the same rate). The measured parameters included static time, distance travelled, and mortality at intervals of 15, 30, and 60 min, 2, 24, 48, and 72 h. The results showed that larvae exhibited significant avoidance behavior toward insecticide-treated fruits, particularly under full coverage (T3). Movement was highest in T3 after 48-72 h (24.8 cm average), indicating escape behavior from the treated zones. Mortality was low overall, with 12.5% observed at 60 min in T3 and 72 h in T2. These findings suggest that dinotefuran induces behavioral avoidance rather than immediate lethality, highlighting the importance of integrating behavioral resistance into pest management strategies. These results emphasize the need for integrated pest management that combines sanitation, pheromone traps, and judicious insecticide use for sustainable eggplant production.
