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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Charleston, South Carolina » Vegetable Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #87700
Title: ULTRASONIC FOGGING DEVICE: MANAGING WHITEFLIES IN GREENHOUSES

Author
item Simmons, Alvin
item Jackson, D

Submitted to: National Research and Action Plan for Silver Leaf Whitefly
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/19/1997
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Research was continued on evaluating the usefulness of an ultrasonic fogging device as a delivery system for low dosages of insecticides for managing whiteflies in a greenhouse production system. No other research group has examined this device as an insecticide applicator. We reported in 1996 that this fogger can effectively delivery contact insecticides to the under surface of leaves at reduced rates. Work in 1997 was continued on establishing a dose-mortality curve for foliar imidacloprid (Provado 1.6) against adult whiteflies. All tests were conducted on Bemisia argentifolii on collard plants. The fogger produces moisture droplets about 5 microns in diameter, which behave like a gas. The fogger was run for six minutes for each trial in a 6.1 m by 4.6 m plastic covered greenhouse. Whiteflies on plants in an untreated greenhouse were used as a control. Good whitefly control was obtained within 24 hours at rates much less than the label rate of 112 g ai/ha. Using the fogger device, the LD90 on the whiteflies was 27.0 g ai/ha. This fogger may also have applications for greenhouse commodities other than vegetables. Moreover, it could be used to target other greenhouse insect pests with low-volumes of environmentally friendly insectides. This fogger applicator seems to be a convenient and economical method of managing whiteflies in a greenhouse production system.