Evaluation of Foliar Insecticides for Whitefly Control in Cantaloupes

Abstract

The pyrethroid insecticides esfenvalerate (Asana®), bifenthrin (Capture®), or fenpropathrin (Danitol®) combined with endosulfan effectively reduced whitefly (WF, Bemisia argentifolii) counts at 1 week after treatment (WAT) following each of five applications. Asana, Capture, or Danitol combined with endosulfan effectively reduced WF counts at 1 WAT following each of five applications. Danitol treated melons exhibited fewer adult WF compared to Asana or Capture at most of the rating dates at 6 days after treatment (DAT) of each of the applications and also at 11 DAT of the last application. A single application of buprofezin (Applaud®) treatments or pymetrozine (Fulfill®) effectively reduced WF nymphs for 18 to 24 DAT and adults were reduced for 18 DAT. Fulfill exhibited a rate response where the higher rate reduced WF counts more than the lower rate.