Pesticides for controlling sunflower moth larvae

Author

E. C. Carlson

Author Affiliations

Elmer C. Carlson is Specialist, Department of Entomology, University of California at Davis. Assisting in the study were john Campbell, retired nurseryman, and Robert Witt, Staff Research Associate, U.C. Davis. Wray Winterlin and his staff at the U.C. Davis Department of Environmental Toxicology conducted the chemical analyses. Franz Kegel, Farm Advisor (San Joaquin County), Daryl Bonshu of Lyng Seed Co. in Modesto, and Dale Christensen of Ciba-Geigy Agricultural Chemical Co. participated in the aircraft experiments.

Publication Information

Hilgardia 29(5):12-13. DOI:10.3733/ca.v029n05p12. May 1975.

PDF of full article, Cite this article

Abstract

Satisfactory reduction of sunflower head and seed damage by the sunflower moth, Homoeosoma electellum (Hulst), was afforded by carbofuran at both 1 and 2 Ib Al/acre, but seed weight per head was significantly increased only by the 2 Ib dosage. A misci-ble formulation of methyl parathion at 1 Ib Al/acre resulted in satisfactory reduction of seed damage and an increase in seed weight. An encapsulated formulation of this pesticide was not as satisfactory for control and did not significantly increase seed weight. Methomyl resulted in good reduction of damage, but did not significantly increase yields. Dipel (HD-1 strain of Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner var. kurstaki de Barjac and Lemille) was unsatisfactory for control. Methidathion at 1/2 Ib Al/acre and at two applications afforded very good sunflower moth control, reduction of seed damage, and significant increase in seed weight per head.