Standardized insecticide trial for control of tarnished plant bugs across the mid-south, 2018

Authors: STECKEL, SANDY - UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE; WILLIAMS, MATTHEW - UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE; STEWART, SCOTT - UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE; LORENZ, GUS - UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS; STUDEBAKER, GLENN - UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS; BATEMAN, NICK - UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS; THRASH, BEN - UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS; CATCHOT, ANGUS - MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY; GORE, JEFF - MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY; COOK, DON - MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY; BROWN, SEBE - MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY; Parys, Katherine; Little, Nathan; Allen, Clint

Submitted to: National Cotton Council Beltwide Cotton Conference
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/20/2019
Publication Date: 3/1/2019
Citation: Steckel, S., Williams, M., Stewart, S., Lorenz, G., Studebaker, G., Bateman, N., Thrash, B., Catchot, A., Gore, J., Cook, D., Brown, S., Parys, K.A., Little, N., Allen, K.C. 2019. Standardized insecticide trial for control of tarnished plant bugs across the mid-south, 2018. National Cotton Council Beltwide Cotton Conference. 303-306.

Interpretive Summary: A standardized efficacy trial for common insecticides used against tarnished plant bugs was completed at seven locations across the mid south. Tarnished plan bug populations were sampled following insecticide sprays applied to flowering cotton. All insecticides reduced populations between 6 and 8 days after application, while different chemicals began to statistically separate at 10 to 11 days after application. Three of the locations made a second application of insecticides, and four locations collected data on final yield of the test plots.

Technical Abstract: A study was conducted in 2018 at seven locations across the Mid-South. The objective of this research was to perform a standardized efficacy trial for common insecticides on the control of tarnished plant bug, Lygus lineolaris (Palisot de Beauvois). Insect populations in the field were sampled following foliar applications of insecticides made to flowering cotton. All insecticides significantly reduced tarnished plant bug populations 6 – 8 days after application (DAA) and 10 – 11 DAA. At the 6 – 8 DAA rating, Transform, Diamond, Orthene 97, and Bidrin controlled plant bug infestations better than all other insecticides. At 10 – 11 DAA, Transform reduced plant bug numbers similarly to Diamond and Orthene 97, but more than all other insecticides. Three locations made a second application and ratings were taken 4 and 7 days afterward. Following this second application, all insecticides significantly reduced plant bug populations compared with the non-treated check 4 DAB. Transform, Orthene 97, and Diamond (followed by Bidrin) tended to provide the best control across all ratings. Brigade, Carbine, Vydate, Centric and Admire Pro provided statistically similar but less control of plant bug populations. Across the four locations where yield data were collected, Transform, Orthene 97, and Diamond yielded significantly better than all other treatments.