Evaluation of Aerial Applications of Acephate and Other Insecticides for Control of Cone and Seed Insects in Southern Pine Seed Orchards2
Acephate was evaluated for control of cone and seed insects in southern pine seed orchards from 1980 to 1985. Insecticides compared with acephate during this study were azinphosmethyl, fenvalerate, malathion, and the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis. Insecticides were applied aerially, by hydraulic sprayers, and by airblast sprayers. Experiments were conducted in loblolly pine seed orchards in Florida and North Carolina and in two slash pine seed orchards in Florida. Control of coneworms, Dioryctria spp., slash pine flower thrips, Gnophothrips fuscus (Morgan), and two seed bugs, the leaffooted pine seed bug, Leptoglossus corculus (Say), and the shieldbacked pine seed bug, Tetyra bipunctata (Herrich-Schäffer) was evaluated. Frost damage and a serious infection of southern cone rust, Cronartium strobilinum (Arth.) Hedgc, and Hahn, caused significant flower and conelet losses and may have obscured differences between treatment effects during some years. All of the insecticide treatments were equally effective in controlling coneworms. The percentages of trees infested with pine tortoise scale, Toumeyella parvicornis (Cockerell), and the striped pine scale, T. pini (King), and the numbers of scale insects per branch after five applications of insecticide, differed significantly for acephate and fenvalerate treatments.
Contributor Notes
2This publication reports research involving pesticides. It does not contain recommendations for their use, nor does it imply that the uses discussed here have been registered. All uses of pesticides must be registered by appropriate State and/or Federal agencies before they can be recommended. CAUTION: Pesticides can be injurious to humans, domestic animals, desirable plants, and fish or other wildlife - if they are not handled or applied properly. Use all pesticides selectively and carefully. Follow recommended practices for the disposal of surplus pesticides and pesticide containers. The use of of trade or firm names in this publication is for reader information and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture of any produce or service to the exclusion of others that may be suitable.
3Research Entomologist, USDA Forest Service, Southeastern Forest Experiment Station, Green Street, Athens, GA 30602
4Entomologist, USDA Forest Service, Forest Pest Management, Region 8, P. O. Box 2680, Asheville, NC 28802.