Insecticide Tests Research Articles

Control ofLiriomyza trifolii(Burgess) (Dip: Agromyzidae) on yard‐long(Vigna unguiculata)and pole beans(Phaseolus vulgaris)on Guam: Effect on yield loss and parasite numbers

Abstract The agromyzid leafminer Liriomyza trifolil (Burgess) was accidentally introduced to Guam in the late 1970s, resulting in serious crop losses to fresh pole beans and yard‐long beans. A series of insecticide tests showed that none of the chemicals in use on beans controlled the leafminer to any significant extent. However, synthetic pyrethroids provided excellent control. The most common parasites found were Hemiptarsenus semialbiclavus Girault and Chrysonotomyia formosa (Crawford). Fenvalerate was not found to have a significantly deleterious effect on the number of these parasites found in bean leaves. A strong correlation between the number of mines per leaflet and the yield was observed in yard‐long beans. Yields declined rapidly as the seasonal mean number of mines per leaflet increased from 5 to 15 but declined less rapidly at higher numbers, reaching a minimum non‐zero level when the leaves were completely consumed by the miners.

Apple, All Season Insecticide Test, 1985

Abstract A 15-year-old orchard located at the Rutgers Fruit Research & Development Center, Cream Ridge, NJ was used in this test. Sprays were applied to single-tree plots consisting of 2 replicates of ‘Yellow Delicious’ and 1 of ‘Red Delicious’ arranged in a randomized complete block design. Trees were sprayed to runoff (ca 5 gal/tree; 300 GPA) using a hydraulic sprayer equipped with a hand-gun and operated at 200 psi. Spray dates were 12 Apr (P), 1-4 May (PF), 13 May (1C), 28 May (2C), 10 Jun (3C), 25 Jun (4C), 15 Jul (5C), 5 Aug (6C), and 2 Sep (7C). For disease control the entire orchard was sprayed with Captan and Polyram as needed. European red mite (ERM) estimates were made by randomly picking 25 leaves per replicate, brushing the mites onto glass plates and counting mobile mites. Sampling methods for the various insects in the tables are as follows: RAA = no. of RAA colonies/tree; AA = avg. no. of AA/terminal/tree (20 terminals counted); WALHa = no. of WALH nymphs and adults/3 minute count; WALHb = no. of WALH damaged leaves/3 minute count; EASFa = no. of EASF damaged fruit/3 minute count; STLM = no. of STLM mines/3 minute count; Stethorus = no. of S. punctum larvae, pupae and adults/ 3 minute count; PC = no. of PC damaged fruit/100; TPB = no. of TPB damaged fruit/100; AM = no. of AM damaged fruit/100; FS = no. of flyspeck damaged fruit/100; BR = no. of brown rotted fruit/100; RAA = no. of RAA damaged fruit/100; JB = no. of JB damaged fruit/100; TABM+LR = no. of TABM and/or LR damaged fruit/100; OFM+CM = no. of OFM and/or CM damaged fruit/100; EASFb = no. of EASF damaged fruit/100. Russet = avg. % russet/fruit (100 fruit evaluated); Sugar = avg. sugar content (% soluble solids)/fruit (100 fruit measured); Press = avg. pressure (Kg)/fruit (100 fruit measured); Diam = avg. diameter (mm)/fruit (100 fruit measured). Mite-days were calculated as follows: MD = MD1 + [(Ml + M2)/2 × Y], where MD1 = mite days already accumulated, Ml = avg ERM/leaf on a given counting date, M2 = avg ERM/leaf on the next counting date after Ml and Y = number of days between Ml and M2. Data were transformed to × + 1, or arcsin (x) prior to analysis of variance and comparison of means. In tables numbers followed by the same letter are not significantly different (alpha = 0.05; DMRT).

Apple, Full Season Insecticide Test, 1985

Abstract Treatments were applied to a completely randomized block. Each treatment consisted of single trees replicated 4 times. Sprays were applied 30 Apr at pink (P), 10 May at petal fall (PF), 24 May, 5 Jun, 17 Jun, 30 Jun, 12 Jul, 24 Jul, 7 Aug, 19 Aug and 3 Sep 85. Sprays were applied in 190 gal of finished spray per acre by a Bean orchard sprayer. Evaluations were made by examining 100 apples per replication for injury and categorizing injuries by their respective pest. A single mite count was made in midseason by collecting 50 leaves from each replication and brushing them in a mite brushing machine. Resulting plates were examined using a stereo binocular microscope recording numbers of ERM and predaceous mites on each plate.

Tart Cherry, American Plum Borer Insecticide Test, 1985

Abstract Treatments consisted of single trees replicated 7 times in a completely randomized block design. Materials were applied by handgun to drop dilute on 22 May. Evaluations involved examining each tree for borer damage and excising the larvae. A 50% mixture of a polyvinyl aqueous butyral dispersion (PVB) was used with insecticides. In addition, Vapor Gard (an anti-desiccant that also acts as a UV screen and sticker) was tested.

Control of Leafminer Using Neem (Azadirachta Indica a. Juss.) Seed Extract, 1985

Abstract Two insecticidal tests were conducted from 11 Apr to 13 May in research greenhouses in Beltsville, MD. Cinerarias were grown from seed in Promix BM™ for 2 mo in square plastic pots (10 × 10 cm at top). For the first test, a group of 24 randomly chosen plants were placed in a cage under lighrts (16h light:8h dark) with approximately 75 adult Liriomyza trifolii for 24 h. Plants were then removed from the cage, all leafminers were removed from the plants, and The media in each pot was drenched with 150 ml of either water or one of 3 concentrations of neem seed extract (see table). There were 6 plants per treatment. Concentrations of neem seed extract were prepared by diluting neem seed concentrate (sample Al 3-42845 (AN 4.57); Insect Chemical Ecology Laboratory, ARS, USDA, Beltsville, MD 20705) with water to yield the desired percentage (weight/volume). The concentrate contained 2300 ppm azadirachtin, an insecticidal constituent of neem seed extract. After drenching, plants were returned to the greenhouse. First mstar mines (2.5 cm in length) were counted. When larvae reached third instar, all leaves from all plants were harvested. Leaf area of each plant was measured, and the number of reared pupae and adults was counted. A second test was begun 1 wk after the start of the first, and differed from it only in that rather than being drenched, the plants were sprayed with water or one of 3 concentrations of neem seed extract (see table).

Apple, Full Season Insecticide Test, 1985

Abstract Treatments were applied to a completely randomized block. Each treatment consisted of single trees replicated 4 times. Sprays were applied in 123 gal of finished spray per acre by a Bean orchard sprayer. Sprays were applied on 27 Apr at pink (P), 13 May at petal fall (PF), 28 May, 10 Jun, 24 Jun, 3 Jul, 16 Jul, 29 Jul, 12 Aug, 23 Aug, 5 Sep and 19 Sep. Evaluations were made by examining 100 apples per replication for injury and categorizing injuries by their respective pest. RAA evaluations were made using a 3-min sample search. A single mite count was made in midseason by collecting 50 leaves from each replication and brushing them in a mite brushing machine. Resulting plates were examined using a stereo binocular microscope recording numbers of ERM and predaceous mites on each plate.

Apple, Full Season Insecticide Test, 1985

Abstract Treatments were applied to a complete randomized block. Each treatment consisted of single trees replicated 4 times. Sprays were applied in 158 gal of finished spray per acre by a Bean orchard sprayer. Sprays were applied 11 May at petal fall (PF), 25 May, 6 Jun, 19 Jun, 1 Jul, 14 Jul, 27 Jul, 8 Aug, 20 Aug and 5 Sep 85. Evaluations were made by examining 100 apples per replication for injury and categorizing injuries by their respective pest. A single mite count was made in midseason by collecting 50 leaves from each replication and brushing them in a mite brushing machine. Resulting plates were examined using a stereo binocular microscope recording numbers of ERM and predaceous mites on each plate.

Apple, All Season Insecticide Test, 1985

Abstract A 10-year-old apple var. ‘Miller Spur Red Delicious’ orchard at the Clarksville Fruit Sub-station, Clarksville, AR, was used in this test. Sprays were applied to 2-tree plots in a randomized complete block design with 3 replicates. At Fayetteville, AR, an 18-year-old orchard was selected at the University of Arkansas Main Horticulture Station. Sprays were applied to 1-tree plots of various early maturing apple varieties in a randomized complete block replicated 3 times. Trees at both sites were sprayed to runoff, ca. 2 gal/tree, using a hydraulic sprayer equipped with a handgun and operated at 250 psi. Spray dates at Clarksville were 16 Apr (0.2 lb F4999 only on replicate 1, and 0.1 lb F4999 on all replicates at later spring dates), 2, 15 May, 13, 27 Jun, 2, 11, 24 Jul, 7, and 16 Aug. Plictran (6 oz/100 gal) was applied to all trees on 27 Jun and 5 Jul due to a high ERM population. In Fayetteville, spray dates were 25 Apr, 3 May, 14 May, 31 May, and 14 Jun. F4999 was applied at 0.05 lb on 25 Apr and 0.1 lb at all later dates. Damage counts were made at harvest (27 and 28 Aug). Count and percent data values were transformed to log(x + 1) and arcsine X, respectively, prior to analysis of variance and mean comparison (P = 0.05; DMRT).

Control of Leafminer Using Neem (Azadiractha Indica a. Juss.) Seed Extract, 1984-85

Abstract Two insecticidal tests were conducted in research greenhouses in Beltsville, MD. Tissue cultured plantlets were received from Apopka, FL and were grown in Promix BX for 3 mo in square plastic pots (10 × 10 cm at top). The first test was conducted in Jul ‘84. On Jul 20, 4 randomly chosen plants were each sprayed to the point of runoff with 25 ml of water. At the same time, another 4 plants were each sprayed with 25 ml of 0.4% neem seed extract. This concentration was prepared by diluting neem seed extract concentrate (sample A13-42845 (AN 4.57); Insect Chemical Ecology Laboratory, ARS, USDA, Beltsville, MD 20705) on a weight/volume basis with water. The concentrate contained 2300 ppm azadirachtin, an insecticidal constituent of neem seed extract. Because the neem seed extract contained ethanol, a third group of 4 plants was each sprayed with 25 ml 0.4% ethanol. Plants were allowed to dry for 24 h. They were then randomly placed in a cage under lights (16 h light: 8 h dark) with 50-75 adult leafminers for 24 h. Plants were then removed from the cage, leafminers were removed from the plants, and plants were returned to the greenhouse.

Apple, Full Season Insecticide Test, 1985

Abstract Treatments were applied to a completely randomized block. Each treatment consisted of single trees replicated 4 times. Sprays were applied in 116 gal of finished spray per acre by a Bean orchard sprayer. Sprays were applied 11 May at petal fall (PF), 25 May, 6 Jun, 19 Jun, 1 Jul, 14 Jul, 27 Jul, 8 Aug, 20 Aug and 4 Sep 85. Evaluations were made by examining 100 apples per replication for injury and categorizing injuries by their respective pest. A single mite count was made in midseason by collecting 50 leaves from each replication and brushing them in a mite brushing machine. Resulting plates were examined using a stereo binocular microscope recording numbers of ERM and predaceous mites on each plate.

Apple, Full Season Insecticide Test, 1985

Abstract Treatments were applied to a completely randomized block. Each treatment consisted of single trees replicated 4 times. Sprays were applied in 255 gal of finished spray per acre by a Bean orchard sprayer. Sprays were applied 11 May (PF), 25 May, 6 Jun, 19 Jun, 1 Jul, 14 Jul, 27 Jul, 8 Aug, 20 Aug and 5 Sep 85. Evaluations were made by examining 100 apples per replication for injury and categorizing the injuries by their respective pest. A single mite count was made in midseason by collecting 50 leaves from each replication and brushing them in a mite brushing machine. The resulting plates were examined using a stereo binocular microscope recording the numbers of ERM and predaceous mites on each plate.

Apple, Full Season Insecticide Test, 1985

Abstract Treatments were applied to a completely randomized block. Each treatment consisted of single trees replicated 4 times. Sprays were applied in 158 gal of finished spray per acre by a Bean orchard sprayer. Sprays were applied on 25 Apr at pink (P), 13 May at petal fall (PF), 28 May, 10 Jun, 24 Jun, 8 Jul, 20 Jul, 1 Aug, 13 Aug, 26 Aug, 9 Sep and 23 Sep. Evaluations were made by examining 100 apples per replication for injury and categorizing injuries by their respective pest. RAA evaluations were made using a 3-min sample search. A single mite count was made in midseason by collecting 50 leaves from each replication and brushing them in a mite brushing machine. Resulting plates were examined using a stereo binocular microscope recording numbers of ERM and predaceous mites on each plate.

Tart Cherry, American Plum Borer Insecticide Test, 1985

Abstract Treatments consisted of single rows replicated 4 times. Each row consisted of 8 trees. Materials were applied by handgun dilute on 16 May. Evaluations involved examining each tree for borers using a hammer was based on selecting the most infested trees in the row. Timing of the spray was based on pheromone trap catches using a specific pheromone for APB. A 50% mixture of a polyvinyl aqueous butyral dispersion (PVB) was used with insecticides. In addition, Vapor Gard (an anti-desiccant that also acts as a UV screen and sticker) was tested.

Pear, Full Season Insecticide Test, 1985

Abstract Treatments consisted of unreplicated 0.19-acre blocks. Materials were applied by airblast sprayer in 116 gpa. Alsystin and F4999 were applied on 22 Apr (green tip), 26 Apr (tight cluster), 2 May (white bud), 9 May (petal fall = PF), 24 May, 7 Jun, 24 Jun, 8 Jul, 22 Jul, 7 Aug and 21 Aug. Mitac was applied on 9 May (PF), 8 Jul, 7 Aug and 21 Aug. All other materials were applied on 9 May, 24 May, 7 Jun, 24 Jun, 8 Jul, 22 Jul, 7 Aug and 21 Aug. On each sample date 50 leaves were randomly sampled from each of 4 centrally located trees in each block. A subsample of 25 leaves were examined for psylla nymphs using a stereo microscope. All 50 leaves were then brushed in a mite brushing machine and numbers of RM recorded for 8 sections. For broad spectrum pests 50 fruit were sampled from the 4 sample trees and examined for insect damage. Damages were categorized by their respective pest.

Comparative studies of several methods for determining the repellency of blatticides.

Boric acid, diazinon, and cypermethrin were tested against the German cockroach, Blattella germanica (L.), using the harborage choice, slant board, and four variations of the choice-box method to determine if, and how, method design affects cockroach behavior and mortality during laboratory repellency tests. Timed exposure tests aided in evaluating results of repellency tests. Unequal aggregation during control repellency tests confounded interpretation of cockroach harborage selection during insecticide tests. Method design significantly affected mortality achieved over time and the degree of avoidance behavior during tests with the less toxic insecticides. These results indicate the limited usefulness of laboratory repellency tests in predicting the influence of repellency under variable field situations. Factors influencing mortality and repellency results are discussed.

Aerial Tests of Organophosphate Insecticides Against the Sitka Spruce Weevil, 1983

Abstract A 15-year-old, 38 ha Douglas-fir/Sitka spruce plantation within the upper Hoh River valley in western Washington was the test site for aerial spray trials of Orthene and Metasystox-R against the Sitka spruce weevil in 1982 and 1983, respectively. A helicopter equipped with a 15.25-m spray boom with 64 nozzles along its length (#325 and #228, alternated; #46 swirl plates) was used for both tests; only the #325 nozzles were used in 1983. Four 1.6 to 2.0-ha rectangular treatment plots were established at random within the plantation. Spruce stocking density was ca. 900 trees/ha, and trees ranged 2-12 m in height in 1982. In the 1982 acephate test, Kromekote spray cards recorded droplet deposition, and weevils plus spruce material from sprayed and unsprayed areas were collected subsequent to treatment for mortality and oviposition assessment. Efficacy evaluations were carried out in August of both years by scoring all spruce within 10-m radius subplots for presence or absence of visible, weevil-induced leader damage. Three subplots were randomly located at least 15 m inside each of the 4 treated plots; an equal number of subplots were similarly located in unsprayed areas.

Cattle-Hypoderma Lineatum Animal Systemic Insecticide Test, 1984

Abstract Government-owned Hereford, Angus, and Hereford-Angus-cross calves and yearlings on pasture at Camp Stanley and Camp BuUis, Bexar Co., TX, naturally infested with the common cattle grub, Hypoderma lineatum (Villers), are treated with new insecticides that were determined to be systemically active in the mouse-Cuterefcra animal systemic insecticide test. Animals are weighed and given insecticides in initial tests either orally by capsule (usually technical grade insecticide) or dermally by whole-body spray of 4 1/animal at > 1000 kPa [usually formulated as an EC in tylene (65 parts), Triton X-100 (10 parts), and AI (25 parts)]. In other tests, insecticides are administered dermally to cattle by pouron of a specific volume of insecticide (usually water-diluted EC as above or solution in oil) per body weight, or intramuscularly or subcutaneously by injection of a specific weight of insecticide per body weight. Normally cattle are treated with new insecticides initially at the highest nonlethal dosages as determined by cooperating veterinary toxicologists; maximum dosages of initial tests are 100 mg/kg orally and 1% spray. If initial dosages are effective, cattle are given lower dosages in order to determine the minimum effective dosage. Other cattle are treated with titrated dosages of labeled systemics in order to determine systemic activity of label-listed dosages and less than label-listed dosages. After the treatment in May or Jun, the backs of treated cattle (usually 3-6 animals/treatment) and untreated cattle of the same age and breed from the same herd are examined monthly from Aug to Feb of the next year for encapsulated cattle grubs. As cattle grubs appear, they are located on an outline map of the back of each animal; the cumulative number of grubs in each animal is obtained. Effectiveness of a treatment is determined by comparing the average number of grubs in treated cattle with the average number in untreated cattle.

Field Evaluation of An Aqueous Formulation of Carbaryl for Rangeland Grasshopper Control, 1983

Abstract A small plot study (see J. A. Onsager and P. C. Mazuranich, 1983, Insecticide and Acaricide Tests 8:204) indicated the potential of reduced rates of carbaryl in an aqueous formulation for control of rangeland grasshoppers. The objective of this study was to determine if lower rates of carbaryl would be effective when used in an aqueous formulation on larger plots. The Sevin FR formulation of carbaryl was applied at dosages of 0.250 and 0.375 lb (AI)/acre (8 and 12 fluid oz) to 320 acres (0.5 X 1 mile) plots near Big Timber, Montana, on 23 Jul and 24 Jul ‘83. Both treatments were applied in 20 fluid oz of mix/acre, each containing 4 oz of water plus either 8 oz or 4 oz respectively, of PA3 (an antidrift additive containing molasses). These treatments were compared to standard rangeland treatments of 0.5 lb (AI) carbaryl/acre (16 fluid oz of Sevin-4-Oil diluted with 4 oz of diesel/acre) and 0.58 lb (AI) malathion/acre (8 fluid oz of Cythion) applied to adjacent 320-acre plots (0.5 x 1 mile and 0.25 x 2 miles, respectively) on 24 and 26 Jul, respectively. All treatments were applied from a Cessna Ag Truck aircraft operating at 120 mph. All treatments were applied through flat fan stainless steel jet nozzle tips from an altitude of 50 to 75 ft with a swath of 100 ft. Seven 8006 tips directed 45° down and aft were used for the 0.250 and 0.375 lb (AI)/acre Sevin FR treatments (43 psi and 41 psi, respectively). Ten 8004 tips directed straight down and operating at 35 psi were used for delivering the Sevin-4-oil treatment and eleven 80015 tips directed straight down at 40 psi were used for applying the Cythion. Pre and postapplication grasshopper densities were ascertained by counting grasshoppers in forty 0.1 m2 rings, 5 m apart, arranged for the duration of the study in circles or diagonal transects at 8 sites within each block (1 transect contained only 29 rings). Pre-treatment counts were taken 1 to 2 days prior to treatment and posttreatment counts were conducted 5 times during a period of 21 days following treatment. Grasshopper densities from 59 counts between 20 Jul to 16 Aug ‘83, at 9 untreated sites adjacent to the treatment area were used to determine the natural change in the grasshopper population during the study. Data expressed as a percentage survival based on pretreatment counts in the same plot were adjusted for the natural population change by Abbott’s formula. Sums of the ranks of the percentage control at 19 to 21 days postapplication for each of the treatments were compared by a nonparametric multiple comparison procedure. (See J. H. Zar, 1974, Biostatistical Analysis, pp 156–157.) Mean daily percentage control values from 2 to 19 days after application for each of the treatments were also ranked and the treatment sums compared as above. The above species were mostly fourth (36%) and fifth (38%) instars and respectively comprised 43.1, 21.2, 14.1, 4.1, and 4.0 of the grasshopper population in the treatment plots before application. Pretreatment densities ranged from 2.3 to 25.3 and averaged 11.4 grasshoppers/m2 in the treated plots.

Laboratory Tests of Insecticides Against Adult Black Vine Weevil, 1983-84

Abstract Strawberry or red raspberry leaves were dipped in emulsions, suspensions, or solutions of commercial formulations of insecticides. The leaves were allowed to dry and petioles were inserted into vials of water which were placed in wide-mouth 1-pt glass jars. The insides of the jars were coated near the top with Fluon to prevent the flightless weevils from crawling out. Treatments were replicated 4 or 5 times with 4 or 5 weevils/replicate. Mortality was recorded every 24 h for 4 days. Symptoms of poisoning ranged from complete absence of motion by weevils to lying on their sides and waving their legs. The latter might later die or completely recover. Therefore, all weevils displaying any of those symptoms were recorded as “dead”.

Control ofBlastobasis decolorella(Lepidoptera: Blastobasidae), a new pest of apple

SummaryIn field tests of insecticides for the control of a new and potentially serious lepidopterous pest of apple, Blastobasis decolorella, deltamethrin provided most effective, reducing the amount of damaged fruit by 89% or more in two trials. Azinphos-methyl, chlorpyrifos and the experimental compound SIR 8514 gave some control of the pest, but carbaryl, diflubenzuron, gamma-HCH and phosalone were ineffective. The results are discussed in relation to the suitability of these compounds for inclusion in integrated pest management programmes and for the control of other lepidopterous pests.