Tobacco Budworm: Control On Flue-Cured Tobacco with Certain Microbial Pesticides12

Abstract

In advanced field test during 1964–72, certain commercial formulations of Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner and a nuclear polyhedrosis virus of Heliothis zea (Boddie) were applied with a power sprayer to flue-cured tobacco at dosages suggested by the manufacturers for tobacco budworm, H. virescens (F.), control. The lower dosages of B. thuringiensis and the virus were usually as effective as the higher dosages, and addition of certain insecticidal and non-insecticidal products to B. thuringiensis spray did not increase its effectiveness. Thuricide®, Biotrol® BTB-183, and Dipel® brands of B. thuringiensis were usually as effective as 1.5 lb/acre of TDE or carbaryl and sometimes as effective as 0.5 lb of methomyl. Biotrol® VHZ and Viron® /H brands of the virus were usually less effective than TDE or methomyl. In a preliminary test, a noncommercial preparation of Nosema necatrix Kramer provided significant but less control than methomyl.