Evaluation II of Insecticides for Control of Tarnished Plant Bugs in Mississippi, 1995

Abstract

Abstract Insecticides were evaluated at the Plant Science Research Farm, Mississippi State, MS, in a RCB design with 4 replications. Plot size was 1 row wide by 50 ft long with 7 unsprayed buffer rows between plots. Insecticides were applied on 27 Jun with a CO2-powered backpack sprayer equipped with a single Spraying Systems TX4 hollow cone nozzle and calibrated for 5 gpa at a pressure of 38 psi and a speed of 4 mph. Carrier of the insecticides was water, with an initial pH of 8.0. This trial was applied under very wet soil conditions, high humidity and steady wind conditions. The nozzle was held to allow the wind to drift the spray onto the plants with the upper third of the plant as the target. Plant bugs were collected the morning of application by sweeping wild flowers with a 15 inch diam sweep net. Fine mesh cloth cages were then placed on 2 plants per plot and fastened at the mainstem with ponytail holders. The plants with sleeve cages were cut and returned to the laboratory 24 h after infestation and examined for dead and live plant bugs. Because of threatening rain, instead of caging bugs on the plants, 4 leaf disks per plot were collected 48 h after spray application, and 2 leaf disks per plot 72 h after spray, placed in 11 X 50 mm petri dishes on moistened filter paper and infested with 5 plant bugs each. Mortality data from these petri dishes was taken at 96 h after insecticide application. Plant bugs not moving when prodded were considered dead.