Efficacy of nonconventional insecticides for control of diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.) in 1991

Efficacy of nonconventional insecticides for control of diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.) in 1991

1991

REP.DBM-1697

In 12 field experiments, several biological and chemical nonconventional insecticides, Bacillus thuringiensis-based products, teflubenzuron, avermectin, neem, and entomopathogentic nematodes, were evaluated for control of diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae), populations on cabbage, Brassicae oleracea var. capitata L., in southern Florida. Experiments were conducted in mid-winter and in late winter/early spring. The insect growth regulator, teflubenzuron, and avermectin were most efficacious at managing diamondback moth populations in the first experiment. Applications of neem-based products and B. thuringiensis-based products alone were less efficacious. Entomopathogenic nematodes were not efficacious at reducing diamondback moth population levels when applied alone. In the late-season experiment, in which only B. thuringiensis-based products were evaluated, moderate efficacy was found for each insecticide, and none was more efficacious than the current insecticide standard, mevinphos in combination with B. thuringiensis. In general, efficacy of insecticides was better in the first experiment than in the second esperiment. This study suggests that P. xylostella populations are probably not resistant to the chitin synthesis inhibitor, teflubenzuron as previously suspected, nor are they resistant to B. thuringiensis-based products in southern Florida. Seasonal environmental conditions probably affected the efficacy of insecticides between and within years. [AS]

v.104:279-284, FLORIDA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, PROCEEDINGS

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