The fruit borer and eggplant shoot is a major pest in Bangladesh, causing significant damage to crops. Farmers often rely on chemical insecticides for control, which can have adverse environmental and health effects. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of microbial insecticides as an alternative approach for managing ESFB and improving yield. The treatments with abamectin 1.2% + emamectin benzoate 1%, spinosad 45 SC, and Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki 5% WP significantly reduced shoot damage compared to the untreated control. Similarly, fruit infestation was significantly reduced in both quantity and weight with these treatments. The use of spinosad 45 SC and abamectin 1.2% + emamectin benzoate 1% led to a remarkable increase in marketable yield. In addition, spinosad 45 SC showed a prominent effect in boosting overall production. This study highlights that microbial insecticides, especially spinosad 45 SC and abamectin 1.2% + emamectin benzoate 1%, are effective in limiting ESFB damage to shoots and fruits while enhancing marketable fruit production by increasing the proportion of healthy fruit and minimizing losses due to infestation.
