Pesticidal trials are conducted every season at the GCREC to evaluate new and registered products either alone or in combinations/rotations for managing insect and mite pests of vegetables grown in west-central Florida. These trials provide information not only on what products are effective but also at what rate(s). Trials were conducted last fall for whitefly control on tomato and cantaloupe, armyworm and leafminer control on tomato, beet armyworm control on pepper, spider mite control on eggplant and broad mite control on pepper. All rates are given in amount of product/acre.

Whitefly on Tomato

The whitefly population was low early in the season but increased to a moderate level by about 9 weeks after transplanting. The standard in this trial was Admire 2F (16 oz; a registered nicotinoid insecticide) applied as a soil drench one day after transplanting followed by foliar sprays of Courier 70W (0.5 lb; a registered insect growth regulator) and then Knack 0.86EC (8.9 oz; a different registered insect growth regulator) when a threshold of 5 nymphs/10 leaflets was reached (one application each). Experimental insecticides Diamond 0.86EC (8 oz; a new insect growth regulator) and Oberon 240SC (8.5 oz; new insecticidal chemical class) were each applied twice foliarly based upon the above threshold following a soil application of Admire 2F (16 oz). Plots sprayed with either the Courier/Knack rotation, Diamond or Oberon were lower from that on foliage in check plots and were below the threshold about 10 days after the first application. Plots sprayed 8 times weekly with Endosulfan 3EC (21.4 oz; a registered organochlorine insecticide) or a combination of Ecozin 3%EC (8 oz; a registered neem product), Ultrafine Oil (0.5% v/v; a registered paraffinic oil), and Endosulfan 3EC (21.4 oz) had fewer nymphs than the check 9 weeks after transplanting and thereafter, although the numbers generally were not below the threshold. Counts of nymphs on plots sprayed with a Ecozin/Ultrafine Oil combination, PF-2000 (1% v/v; a detergent) or PREV-AM (0.8% v/v; an orange oil-based product) were statistically lower than those of non-treated plots on at least some dates, 8 weeks after transplanting, although counts were not below the threshold. Counts tended to be lower on PREV-AM treated plots, especially 11 and 12 weeks after transplanting.

The silverleaf whitefly population was moderate during the trial. Treatments included different rates of Admire 2F and Platinum 2SL (both registered nicotinoid insecticides) applied as drenches one week after transplanting, and Oberon 240 SC (8.5 and 7 oz; a new chemical class) and Courier 70W (0.5 lb; a registered insect growth regulator) applied foliarly 8 and 10 weeks after transplanting. The number of nymphs on plots treated with Admire was lower than the check plots until about 7 weeks after drenching at an 8 oz rate, 8 weeks at a 16 oz rate, and 9 weeks at a 24 oz rate. For Platinum, the number of nymphs was lower than that of the check until 7 weeks after drenching at a 6 oz rate and 8 weeks at an 8 oz rate. The number of nymphs on plots sprayed with Oberon at the 8.5 oz rate was lower than that of the check one day after the first application but not on other sampling dates. For Courier, the number was lower one day after the first application and two days after the second application.

The armyworm population was heavy for a fall trial while the leafminer population was moderate. Plots sprayed five times with Avaunt 30WG (3.5 oz; a registered oxadiazine insecticide), Diamond 0.83EC (12 oz; a new insect growth regulator), Intrepid 2F (8 and 4 oz; a registered insect growth regulator), Intrepid 2F at 8 and 4 oz combined with SpinTor 2SC (4 oz; a registered naturalyte insecticide), or SpinTor (4 oz) alone, all yielded fewer fruit damaged by armyworm compared to the check; however, plots sprayed with SpinTor alone yielded more damaged fruit compared to all other treatments. None of the treatments resulted in fewer leafminers compared to the check.

The beet armyworm population was light for a fall trial. Plots sprayed every two weeks (four times) with Avaunt 30WG (3.5 oz; a registered oxadiazine insecticide), a combination of Proclaim 5SG (3.2 oz; a registered avermectin) and Dyne-Amic (0.1% v/v; a silicon/oil adjuvant), SpinTor 2SC (6 oz; a registered naturalyte insecticide) or Baythroid 2 (2.8 oz; a registered pyrethroid) yielded fewer fruit with severe (pod) damage compared to the check.

The spider mite population was heavy early in the trial but declined about 9 weeks after transplanting. All treatments were applied twice, 14 days apart at 4 and 6 weeks after transplanting. The standard Agri-Mek 0.15EC (8 oz; a registered avermectin) resulted in fewer mites compared to the check for up to 28 days after the second application. Mesa 1% EC (24 and 12 oz; a new avermectin) controlled mites as well as and for as long as Agri-Mek. Oberon 240SC (8.5 and 7 oz; a new chemical class) provided comparable control for up to 14 days after the second application, while Acramite 50WS (1 lb; a registered carboxylic acid miticide) provided control for three days after the second application. A combination of Satisfy (5 oz; a plant growth regulator product) and Foli-Zyme (2 qt; a foliar nutrient product with calcium) did not reduce mite numbers compared to the check on any sampling date.

The broad mite population was heavy for a fall trial and was so severe that 100% of the terminal and lateral growing buds on non-sprayed plants were killed. Treatments were sprayed twice, 7 days apart at 6 and 7 weeks after transplanting. Plots sprayed with the standard Agri-Mek 0.15EC (8 oz; a registered avermectin) resulted in reduced numbers of mites 7 days after the first application and up to 21 days after the second application. Similar control of mites was observed with Mesa 1% (16 oz; a new avermectin) and Oberon 240SC (8.5 and 7 oz; a new chemical class) combined with Induce (0.05% v/v; a silicone adjuvant). Acramite 50WS (1 lb; a registered carboxylic acid ester miticide) combined with Trilogy (1% v/v; a registered neem oil) did not provide control of mites after one application but did provide control up to 21 days after the second application. Acramite 50WS (1 lb) alone or combined with Dyne-Amic (8 oz; a silicon/oil adjuvant) resulted in reduced numbers of mites relative to the control 7 and 14 days after the second application.