Efficacy of Insecticides for Control of Insect Pests of Pearl Millet for Grain Production
2007
Buntin, G David | Hanna, Wayne A. | Wilson, Jeffrey P. | Ni, Xinzhi
Pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.] is an alternative drought-tolerant grain crop for dryland summer production. Few insecticides are registered for use and insect management has not been extensively studied in pearl millet for grain production. Eleven trails were conducted during 2002-2004 in central and southern Georgia to understand the relative importance of insect pests and to evaluate the efficacy of currently registered insecticides against key pests. The main defoliator species were the fall armyworm [Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith)] and striped grassworm (Mocis latipes Guenée). Main insects feeding on grain heads were the corn earworm (Helicoverpa zea Boddie), sorghum webworm, (Nola sorghiella Riley), and stink bugs — brown stink bug (Euschistus spp.) and southern green stink bug [Nezara viridula (L.)]. All insects were effectively controlled by cypermethrin at 0.025 lb a.i./acre. The 0.015-lb a.i. rate was effective against sorghum webworm, striped grassworm, and stink bugs, but efficacy against the corn earworm was variable. Spinosad was effective against corn earworm, striped grassworm, and sorghum webworm but not against stink bugs. Azadirachtin was not effective against any insect tested. Grain yield was not significantly affected by treatments in any trial indicating that pearl millet is tolerant of insect injury. Further work will be needed to define economic thresholds for key insect pests of pearl millet for grain production.
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