Effective control method of larvae of Diabrotica virgifera virgifera Leconte

Commun Agric Appl Biol Sci. 2004;69(3):111-7.

Abstract

Larvae of WCR are feeding on the roots of corn while plants fall down. The egg hatching is continuous and soil insecticides are not effective to kill larvae. Unfortunately the recent control methods while we incorporate disinfectors Into the soil under seeding are not able to give enough effect on larvae of WCR under the whole period of larval development. We use to saw corn in the middle of April but eggs hatching start in the middle of May. The effectiveness of insecticides takes about one month so they are not able to protect plants from larvae are feeding on roots (Luckman et al., 1974 and Luckmann et al., 1975). They cause yield losses or in case of plant fall we can not harvest the corn. We have tested a material in greenhouse screening and field trips that is able to absorb insecticides and bind them into its body. This material is able to emit the agents continuously under the vegetation and we can protect our plants against the damages of WCR larvae. Our results shows that the material is able to elongate the effectiveness of the pesticides over 60 days and able to push the number of larvae under the economical threshold.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Coleoptera / growth & development*
  • Insect Control / methods*
  • Insecticides*
  • Larva / drug effects*
  • Plant Roots / parasitology
  • Zea mays / parasitology

Substances

  • Insecticides