ARS | Publication request: DRIP IRRIGATION AS A DELIVERY SYSTEM FOR IMIDACLOPRID AND NEMATODES FOR CONTROL OF SCARAB GRUBS IN NURSERY CROPS

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: December 17, 2005
Publication Date: December 17, 2005
Repository URL: http://www.ars.usda.gov/sp2UserFiles/Place/36071000/Publications/Reding186541_2005_DripIrr_ESA.pdf
Citation: Reding, M.E., Zhu, H., Derksen, R.C. 2005. Drip irrigation as a delivery system for imidacloprid and nematodes for control of scarab grubs in nursery crops [Abstract]. Presented at Natinal Meeting of the Entomological Society of America, December 14-18, 2005, Ft. Lauderdale, FL.

Technical Abstract: The larvae of certain exotic scarab beetles (white grubs) are damaging pests of nursery crops in various northeastern and midwestern states. Management of these pests is based on applications of insecticides. However, delivery of insecticides to the grubs, which may live deep in the soil, is difficult in nurseries. We tested a novel method of injecting insecticides and entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN) into a drip irrigation system for control of scarab grubs in a commercial nursery. The insecticides and nematodes were injected directly into the drip line at the tree row. This technique enables growers to apply more precise treatments than injecting insecticides into a more central location. The insecticide imidacloprid was applied as a preventive treatment and EPN + imidacloprid was applied as a rescue treatment. EPN + imidacloprid treatments were also applied as subsurface treatments and surface-drenches. All treatments significantly reduced the numbers of grubs compared to the untreated control trees. Drip applied imidacloprid provided 62% and 83% control of white grubs in 2004 and 2005, respectively. EPN + imidacloprid applied as a surface-drench, subsurface treatment, and drip irrigation treatment provided 85%, 77%, and 54% control of grubs, respectively.