Vol. 120 (2007): Proceedings of the Florida State Horticultural Society
Vegetable

Comparative effectiveness of new insecticides in controlling armyworms (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and leafminers (Diptera: Agromyzidae) on tomato

Dakshina R. Seal
University of Florida

Published 2007-12-01

Keywords

  • Liriomyza trifolii,
  • Spodoptera spp.,
  • insecticide,
  • fermentation product,
  • differential toxicity,
  • predatory spiders
  • ...More
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Abstract

Armyworms (Spodoptera spp.) and leafminers (Liriomyza spp.) are important pests of tomato in Florida. Studies on the effectiveness of new insecticides in protecting tomato were conducted at the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, Wimauma, FL and the Tropical Research and Education Center, Homestead, FL in 2003, 2005, 2006, and 2007. Leafminers were suppressed most effectively on tomato by abamectin (Agri-Mek(R)), spinetoram (Radiant(R)), and chlorantraniliprole (Coragen(R)), but most consistently by spinetoram. Significant reduction of armyworms on tomato was provided by metaflumizone (Alverde™ 240SC), chlorantraniliprole, indoxacarb (Avaunt™ 30WG), spinetoram, spinosad (SpinTor™ 2SC), and novaluron (Rimon™ 0.83EC). All of these insecticides resulted in fewer armyworm-damaged fruit, as did emamectin benzoate (Proclaim™ 5SG), pyridalyl (Tesoro™ 4EC), flubendiamide (Synapse 24WG), and spinetoram in rotation with methoxyfenozide (Intrepid™). In Fall 2005, predatory spider populations initially were considerably lower immediately following application of metaflumizone, indoxacarb, novaluron, spinetoram, and spinosad, but the populations treated with metaflumizone, indoxacarb, and spinosad had fully recovered by the seventh day after treatment. In Spring 2006, at 14 days after treatment with metaflumizone, indoxacarb, or with emamectin benzoate, Geocoris spp., Orius spp., and spiders were about as numerous as in the untreated plots. The availability of several effective insecticides with only mild toxicity to certain important predators is of great importance for the development of sustainable integrated pest management systems. This information is valuable for managing armyworms and leafminers on tomato by applying the above mentioned insecticides either alone, in combination, or in rotation.