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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Tifton, Georgia » Crop Protection and Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #182777
Title: COMPARISON OF SUSCEPTIBILITY OF GEOCORIS PUNCTIPES AND LYGUS LINEOLARIS TO INSECTICIDES FOR CONTROL OF THE TARNISHED PLANT BUG

Author
item Tillman, Patricia - Glynn
item Mulrooney, Joseph - Joe
item Snodgrass, Gordon

Submitted to: Journal of Entomological Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/1/2002
Publication Date: 3/1/2003
Citation: Tillman, P.G., Mulrooney, J. E., Snodgrass, G. L. 2003. Comparison of susceptibility of Geocoris punctipes and Lygus lineolaris to insecticides for control of the tarnished plant bug. Southwestern Entomologist. 28(1):47-54.

Interpretive Summary: The tarnished plant bug is responsible for millions of dollars in costs associated with crop loss and insecticide costs across the US. Since resurgence of key pests and outbreaks of secondary pests can occur with treatments that destroy natural enemies, insecticide selectivity is an important issue in integrated pest management. Thus, the objective of this research was to compare the toxicity of the insecticides Orthene, Bidrin, Karate, Vydate, and Provado to the tarnished plant bug and the big-eyed bug, a predator of this pest. In laboratory tests, the tarnished plant bug was more susceptible to Provado and Vydate than the big-eyed bug. Both insect species responded very similarly to Orthene, Bidrin, and Karate, all of which were very toxic to these insects. In our field study, Karate had an equally negative impact on populations of the tarnished plant bug and the big-eyed bug. Results from our laboratory and other field studies indicate that Vydate and Provado would be effective against the pest while conserving populations of the predator for biological control of pests in cotton.

Technical Abstract: Comparison of the susceptibility of Geocoris punctipes (Say) and the tarnished plant bug (TPB), Lygus lineolaris (Palisot de Beauvois) to selected insecticides was determined in topical, tarsal contact, and field studies. In both topical and tarsal contact studies, L. lineolaris was more susceptible to imidacloprid and oxamyl residues than G. punctipes. Both insect species responded very similarly to fipronil, acephate, dicrotophos, and lambda-cyhalothrin, all of which were very toxic to these insects. In our field study, lambda-cyhalothrin had an equally negative impact on populations of TPB and G. punctipes. Results from our laboratory and other field studies indicate that oxamyl and imidacloprid would be effective against TPB while conserving populations of G. punctipes for biological control of pests in cotton.