Population Suppression of Black Cutworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Larvae with Seed Treatments1

Abstract

Studies were conducted in the laboratory and field to determine effectiveness of acephate seed treatments for controlling black cutworm (BCW), Agrotis ipsilon (Hufnagel), larvae. In the laboratory, acephate seed treatments were significantly better than rescue applications (treatments applied after the corn had emerged) of carbaryl for controlling BCW larvae. Simulated replant studies showed that, when untreated corn seeds were replanted in soil that had originally been planted with acephate-treated seeds, sufficient acephate remained in the soil to affect BCW larvae. No significant differences in sensitivity to acephate were detected among the first four instars. Field studies at three locations showed that acephate, as a seed treatment, significantly reduced number of plants cut compared with the control.