Residual Activity of New Insecticide Chemistries Against Beet Armyworm in Lettuce

Abstract

Three new insecticide chemistries (Alert, Success and Confirm) were evaluated and compared with standard chemistries for residual activity to beet armyworm in lettuce. Lettuce was treated in the field with the insecticides and left for 0, 3, 5 and 7 days. Leaves from treated plants were then brought into the laboratory where second instar beet armvworms were reared on them. Mortality was estimated 5 days after the worms were placed on the leaves. Bioassay were conducted at the thinning, heading, and harvest stages of lettuce. Under high temperature and light intensity, only Alert and Confirm provided the best residual control of beet armyworm, exhibiting good activity for about 3 days after application. Success had better residual activity than Lannate, and both were better than Xentari. Under cool temperatures and low light intensity conditions, Alert, Confirm and Larvin exhibited good activity for at least 5 days following an application, (7 days or greater for Alert and Confirm). Lannate and Xentari both had greater residual activity late in the season, but were not as effective as Alert, Confirm or Larvin. Late season activity of Success did not appear to differ much from early season observations, and did not appear to provide more than 3 days residual activity.