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Title: EFFECTS OF INSECTICIDES AND DEFOLIANTS APPLIED ALONE AND IN COMBINATION FOR CONTROL OF OVERWINTERING BOLL WEEVILS (COLEOPTERA: CURCULIONIDAE) -- LABORATORY AND FIELD STUDIES

Author
item Greenberg, Shoil
item Sappington, Thomas
item Elzen, Gary
item NORMAN, JOHN - TEXAS A&M UNIV
item SPARKS, ALTON - TEXAS A&M UNIV

Submitted to: Pest Management Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/21/2003
Publication Date: 9/1/2004
Citation: Greenberg, S.M., Sappington, T.W., Elzen, G.W., Norman, J.W., Sparks, A.N. 2004. Effects of insecticides and defoliants applied alone and in combination for control of overwintering boll weevils (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) -- Laboratory and field studies. Pest Management Science. 60:849-858.

Interpretive Summary: Boll weevils cost the U. S. cotton industry $300 million annually in yield losses. In addition, current management strategies and suppression programs for boll weevils depend on substantial insecticide input. Frequent insecticide applications are expensive and create a risk to the environment. We found that pre-harvest application of insecticides at half rates with conventional cotton defoliants performed as well or better than full rates of insecticides alone. Use of this strategy may reduce late-season boll weevil populations before weevils disperse to overwintering habitats, reduce dispersal of whiteflies and aphids to winter crops, and reduce associated environmental problems.

Technical Abstract: In laboratory, greenhouse, and field tests, we determined effects of combining full rates of defoliants Def 6 and Dropp WP, half rates of the insecticides Karate Z or Guthion 0.2L with the herbicide Harmony Extra, and a combination of half rates of Def and Dropp on the quality of defoliation and mortality of boll weevils, Anthonomus grandis grandis Boheman. Application of a full rate of Def and application of a half rate of Def with a full rate of Dropp both exhibited a toxic effect against boll weevils, while application of a full rate of Def with a half rate of Karate, a full rate of Def with a half rate of Guthion, and a half rate of Def with a full rate of Dropp and a half rate of Guthion provided equal or better control of boll weevil than did a full rate of Guthion or Karate alone. Dropp WP and Harmony Extra alone or in combination with insecticides did not affect boll weevil mortality. Treatment with a half rate of Def and a half rate of Dropp significantly increased defoliation compared to full rates of Def or Dropp alone, and provided adequate defoliation for approximately the same cost per hectare.