ARS | Publication request: Spray table evaluation of insecticidal mortality for southern green stink bug, Nezara viridula L. (Pentatomidae: Heteroptera) on greenhouse-grown cotton

Submitted to: National Cotton Council Beltwide Cotton Conference
Publication Type: Proceedings/Symposium
Publication Acceptance Date: January 5, 2009
Publication Date: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Southern green stink bug has become a key cotton pest as a result of decreased use of broad spectrum insecticides, widespread planting of Bt cotton varieties, and successful boll weevil eradication efforts throughout a major part of the Cotton Belt. Control of southern green stink bug is limited to the use of insecticides; therefore, information on insecticidal toxicity is important. We evaluated the mortality of adult southern green stink bugs caged on greenhouse-grown cotton plants after the plants were treated on a spray table at spray rates of 2 and 5 gallons per acre with selected synthetic pyrethroid and neoniconitoid insecticides. Compared to an insecticide standard (dicrotophos), none of the insecticides were different in their toxicity to southern green stink bugs. Time after treatment was also important in the selection of insecticides to use for controlling these pests on cotton.

Technical Abstract: Insecticidal mortality of southern green stink bug, Nezara viridula on greenhouse-grown cotton was investigated on a spray table. Treatments of synthetic pyrethroids and neoniconitoids were compared with those of dicrotophos at 8 oz formulated product per acre as the producer¿s standard, and an untreated check. At spray rates of 2 and 5 gallons per acre, dicrotophos at 8 oz formulated per acre consistently produced significantly greater mortality of N. viridula when compared with either synthetic pyrethroids or neoniconitoids. Acetamiprid and imidacloprid caused significantly lower mortality of stink bugs compared with thiamethoxam. However, thiamethoxam produced mortality of southern green stink bug adults comparable to that of dicrotophos at 5 and 7 days after treatment, indicating slow activity of thiamethoxam.