ARS | Publication request: INSECTICIDE BAIT FORMULATIONS EVALUATED FOR DARKLING GROUND BEETLES, BLAPSTINUS SPP. (COLEOPTERA: TENEBRIONIDAE) CONTROL

Submitted to: Entomological Society of America Regional Meetings
Publication Type: Abstract
Publication Acceptance Date: March 8, 2006
Publication Date: August 1, 2006
Publisher's URL: http://pbesa.prosser.wsu.edu/2006abs.pdf
Citation: Natwick, E., Cardoza, R., Lopez, M., Behle, R.W. 2006. Insecticide bait formulations evaluated for darkling ground beetles, Blapstinus spp. (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) control. Entomological Society of America Regional Meetings. p. 75-76.

Technical Abstract: Nine insecticide baits were evaluated for efficacy against darkling ground beetles (DGB), Blapstinus spp., in cantaloupe using randomized complete block design field plots with four replicates. Baits that were applied three times at two-week intervals in May and June, included two Gowan Company (R) products: 5 percent carbaryl bran bait at 1.0 lb ai per acre and 0.5 percent permethrin grape pumas bait at 0.2 lb ai per acre; two Wilbur Ellis Company products: 5 percent carbaryl bran pellets at 1.0 lb ai per acre and 5 percent carbaryl bran crumbles at 1.0 lb ai per acre; two DuPont(R) products: 0.22 percent indoxacarb corn grit granules at 0.044 lb ai per acre and TN-Advion Fire Ant Bait (0.045 percent indoxacarb corn grit granules) at 0.0009 lb ai per acre; and four baits formulated by USDA-ARS-NCAUR consisting of pre-gelatinized corn flour granules with 20 percent montmorillonite clay and cantaloupe rind juice. The four USDA baits contained 5 percent carbaryl at 1.0 lb ai per acre, 1 percent imidacloprid at 0.1 lb ai per acre, 5 percent spinosad at 1.0 lb ai per acre, and no insecticide, respectively. Laboratory experiments consisted of choice tests, evaluating attractiveness, and no-choice tests evaluating mortality. In the no-choice tests, the 0.5 percent permethrin bait treatment had the most rapid knock-down and highest mortality, followed by 5 percent carbaryl bran bait. In the choice tests, DuPont(R) 0.22 percent indoxacarb, Advion and USDA corn flour baits were among the most attractive to DGB. Addition of 10 percent sugar or 5 percent vegetable oil made the USDA bait more attractive to DGB. Comparisons of the four USDA baits showed that baits with insecticide were no less attractive than the bait without insecticide.