Control of passionvine hopper and cicada eggs on kiwifruit canes with bifenthrin and a new superpenetrant adjuvant

Abstract

A novel option for control of passionvine hopper (PVH Scolypopa australis) and chorus cicada (Amphipsalta zelandica) on kiwifruit was investigated This involved applying an insecticide to PVH and cicada egg sites in the dormant kiwifruit canopy using a new type of adjuvant that allows sprays to penetrate into egg nests laid in canes and old fruit stalks Five treatments of bifenthrin at 100 g/ha (1 litre/ha Talstar 100EC) and preferred combinations of nozzle type spray application volume and EngulfTM adjuvant rate were applied to dormant canes of Hayward kiwifruit in early August 2011 Water soluble blue dye added to all spray treatments penetrated into nests and stained PVH and cicada eggs when assessed shortly after application All treatments significantly reduced hatch of PVH relative to the untreated control by 85995 One treatment significantly reduced cicada hatch by approximately 80 relative to the control