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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Fort Pierce, Florida » U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory » Subtropical Plant Pathology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #402045
Research Project: Mitigation of Domestic, Exotic, and Emerging Diseases of Subtropical and Temperate Horticultural Crops

Location: Subtropical Plant Pathology Research

Title: A maximum concentration bioassay to assess insecticide efficacy against Hemipteran pests of tomato

Author
item ROSSITTO DE MARCHI, BRUNO - University Of Florida
item HENNESSEY, MEGAN - University Of Florida
item Turechek, William
item SMITH, HUGH - University Of Florida

Submitted to: Florida Entomologist
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/15/2023
Publication Date: 6/22/2023
Citation: Rossitto De Marchi, B., Hennessey, M., Turechek, W., Smith, H. 2023. A maximum concentration bioassay to assess insecticide efficacy against Hemipteran pests of tomato. Florida Entomologist. 106(2):133-136. https://doi.org/10.1653/024.106.0211.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1653/024.106.0211

Interpretive Summary: Stink bugs have resurged as a pest of tomato in south Florida. To determine if the problem was related to insecticide efficacy, populations of southern green stink bug, brown stink bug and a leaf-footed bug were collected from eight commercial tomato farms in south Florida. Insects were confined in plastic containers with grape tomatoes treated with the highest labeled rate of six insecticides commonly used for stink bug management: bifenthrin, lambda-cyhalothrin, zeta-cypermethrin, dinotefuran, imidacloprid and thiamethoxam. After 72 hours, bifenthrin and dinotefuran were the most effective insecticides, whereas imidacloprid produced consistently poor results. Populations of stink bugs varied in their susceptibility to insecticides tested, but tests did not reveal evidence of lack of insecticide efficacy.

Technical Abstract: Stink bugs have resurged as a pest of tomato in south Florida. To determine if the problem was related to insecticide efficacy, populations of southern green stink bug (Nezara viridula) (L.) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), brown stink bug (Euschistus quadrator) (Rolston) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) and a leaf-footed bug (Leptoglossus phyllopus) (L.) (Hemiptera: Coreidae) were collected from eight commercial tomato farms in south Florida and third instar nymphs were subjected to a maximum dose bioassay in the laboratory at the University of Florida Gulf Coast Research and Education Center. Insects from the F1 generation were confined in plastic containers with grape tomatoes treated with the highest labeled rate of six insecticides commonly used for stink bug management: bifenthrin, lambda-cyhalothrin, zeta-cypermethrin (pyrethroids), dinotefuran, imidacloprid and thiamethoxam (neonicotinoids). Mortality was observed after 72 hours. Bifenthrin was the most effective pyrethroid with the percentage dead ranging from 73 to 100%. Dinotefuran was the most effective neonicotinoid with percentage dead ranging from 47 to 87%. In contrast, imidacloprid produced consistently poor results, with percentage dead nymphs ranging from 0 to 60%. Populations varied in their susceptibility to insecticides tested, but tests did not reveal evidence of lack of insecticide efficacy.