Soil-Applied Systemic Insecticides in Relation to Insect and Mite Control on Various Vegetable Crops

Abstract

A leaf miner, Liriomyza munda Frick, the cabbage aphid, Brevicoryne brassicae (L.), the poplar petiole gall aphid, Pemphigus populitransversus Riley, a mite, Tetranychus marianae (McG.), and the potato, aphid, Macrosiphum euphorbiae (Thomas), are frequent pests of pepper, cantaloupes, cabbage, lettuce, and tomatoes in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas. Previous information has shown that soil applied systemic insecticides control some of these pests. Systemic insecticides, applied in the soil with the seed, have been of limited use because of phytotoxicity. Experiments were therefore conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of various systemic insecticides against insects and mites when applied to the soils in furrow irrigated areas of south Texas, and show the relationship of granule placement to insect control and phytotoxicity. The data reported herein are the results of field experiments conducted in the Lower Rio Grande Valley during the 1959 and 1961-63 seasons. No control measure has been found to date which will reduce or eliminate infestations of the poplar petiole gall aphid, locally called the cabbage root aphid. Wene and White (1952) concluded that no control was obtained with evaluated insecticides. Systemic insecticides have shown promise in south Texas for controlling mites on tomatoes and eggplant (Wolfenbarger and Getzin 1964), turnip aphid on turnips, potato aphid on potatoes, and cabbage aphid on cabbage (Harding 1959, 1962, Harding and Wolfenbarger 1964), and leaf miners on various crops (Harding and Wolfenbarger 1963). The use of systemic insecticides has previously shown promise for green peach aphid control on peppers (Shorey 1963).