Abstract
Laboratory, greenhouse and shadehouse studies were conducted to identify new insecticides for use by the nursery industry to prevent infestation of container-grown citrus plants by neonatal Diaprepes abbreviatus (L.). Admire 2F was effective against neonates for a minimum of 8 weeks when applied as a soil drench to rootstock seedlings at 0.016 fl. oz form./cu. ft or higher. For larger, budded resets, 0.125 fl. oz form./sq. ft applied similarly was effective for a minimum of 10 weeks. Although Admire appeared to affect larval mobility and growth and caused some contact mortality in the soil, it appeared most effective as a systemic insecticide when larvae fed on treated plant roots. When fully incorporated into potting soil, both Talstar TT&O 0.2% granular and suSCon Green 10G at rates of 25 ppm (actual amount of chemical determined by bulk density of soil) and 0.33 lb a.i./cu. yd. respectively, were also effective against neonates infesting container-grown plants. Talstar 10 WP and Capture 2EC, formulations of bifenthrin, were also effective against neonates for a minimum of 10 weeks when applied as a soil drench to resets at 0.5 lb a.i./ treated acre (0.002 fl. oz form./sq. ft).
