THE USE OF DIFFERENT INSECT CONTROL REGIMES USING THREE GREEN CHEMICALS TO COMBAT BATRACHEDRA AMYDRAULA MEYRICK AND CADRA SPP. ON DATE PALM FRUIT IN EGYPT

M. Lysandrou, S.A. Temerak, A.A. Sayed
Seven different insect control regimes comprised of three green insecticides were employed to combat two date pests; the lesser date moth Batrachedra amydraula Meyrick and the almond moth Cadra (Ephestia) spp. on date palm fruit in 2006-07. The chemicals tested were the two spinosyns, spinosad (Tracer® 240SC) and spinetoram (Radiant® 120SC), and the insect growth regulator (moulting hormone agonist) methoxyfenozide (Runner® 240SC). Each spray regime consisted of two applications per season applied 2 to 3 weeks apart.
Batrachedra amydraula fruit infestation ranged from 17.2 to 24.2% after six weeks and the spray regime of two applications at a 14 day interval per season showed that spinosad at 4.8 g ai/100 L was equivalent to spinetoram at 1.8 g ai/100 L in both years of the study. This indicated that spinetoram was close to 2.7-fold more active than spinosad against this pest based on a grams active equivalence. Alternating spinosad with methoxyfenozide as a second spray showed similar efficacy regardless of the rate of methoxyfenozide (3.6 to 6.0 g ai/100 L).
Fruit infestation was lower for Cadra spp. at harvest time (7.7 to 14%), but the results showed that spinetoram at 1.2 g ai/100 L was equivalent to spinosad at 4.8 g ai/100 L, indicating that spinetoram was 4-fold more active than spinosad on a gram active basis when sprayed twice per season at a 21 day interval. For the almond moth, a similar spray regime can be recommended as with the lesser date moth, applying spinosad at 4.8 g ai/100 L then methoxyfenozide at 3.6 g ai/100 L.
For both lepidopterous date pests, it is clear that both spinosyns are very effective applied alone, and spinetoram is 2.7- to 4-fold more active than spinosad. The application of Tracer followed with Runner is an excellent example of a functional date palm integrated pest management program.
All products performed well under dry conditions with high temperatures reaching 51°C without any phytotoxicity symptoms either on the fruit or the tree foliage.
Lysandrou, M., Temerak, S.A. and Sayed, A.A. (2010). THE USE OF DIFFERENT INSECT CONTROL REGIMES USING THREE GREEN CHEMICALS TO COMBAT BATRACHEDRA AMYDRAULA MEYRICK AND CADRA SPP. ON DATE PALM FRUIT IN EGYPT. Acta Hortic. 882, 481-489
DOI: 10.17660/ActaHortic.2010.882.55
https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2010.882.55
control regimes, green chemicals, Batrachedra amydraula, Cadra spp., date fruit, ®Registered trademark of Dow AgroSciences LLC
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Acta Horticulturae