Insecticide Experiments to Control Green Peach Aphid and Pepper Weevil on Peppers

Abstract

During 1959 and 1960, field experiments on the control of the pepper weevil ( Anthonomus eugenii Cano) were conducted in southern California. Applications of Sevin® (I-naphthyl N -methylearbamate) and, to a lesser extent, a mixture of DDT and parathion, were followed by rapid increases in the green peach aphid ( Myzus persicae (Sulzer)). Effective aphid control was obtained by either Thiodan® (6,7,8,9,10,10-hexachloro-1,5,5a,6,9,9a-hexahydo-6,9-methano-2,4,3-benzodioxathiepin-3-oxide) or Phosdrin® (a mixture of the alpha isomer of 2-carbomethoxy-1-methylvinyl dimethyl phosphate (not less than 60%) and related compounds (not more than 40%)) applied as dusts when needed. Diazinon® ( O,O -diethyl O -2(2-isopropyl-4-methyl-6-pyrimidinyl) phosphorothioate) was less effective. Phosphamidon and malathion failed to control the aphid. A DDT-toxaphene mixture applied for pepper weevil control resulted in mild aphid increases.