AERIAL SPRAYS OF FIPRONIL FOR CONTROL OF BOLL WEEVIL

Authors: Kirk, Ivan; Harp, Stephen; WIESE, ANN - RHONE-POULENC AG CO

Submitted to: National Cotton Council Beltwide Cotton Conference
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/8/2000
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Electrostatic aerial spray systems have been developed and offer potential for increased spray deposits and reduced spray drift. A new class of insecticide (fipronil) was shown to be readily adaptable to electrostatic charging. A small field study was designed to compare electrostatically applied fipronil in a water-based spray mix, fipronil in an ultra low volume (ULV) vegetable oil spray mix, and ULV malathion, which is a standard for boll weevil eradication sprays. Electrostatically applied fipronil had higher boll weevil mortalities in leaf bioassays three days after application than the other treatments. Applications of fipronil in ULV oil had lower spray deposits and lower boll weevil mortalities than the other treatments. These technologies need further evaluation in large- scale field studies.

Technical Abstract: Aerial electrostatic application and fipronil are potential improvements in technology for controlling and eradicating cotton boll weevil. A small field study of aerial applications of electrostatic fipronil, fipronil in ultra low volume (ULV) oil, and ULV malathion was conducted in Burleson County, TX. Applications of ULV malathion delivered more dye tracer to top-canopy cotton leaves than the other treatments. Electrostatically applied fipronil had higher boll weevil mortalities on day 3 after spray application than the other treatments. Applications of fipronil in ULV oil gave lower boll weevil mortalities on days 0 and 3 after spray application than either electrostatic fipronil or ULV malathion. Large- scale field studies of electrostatic fipronil are warranted based on this preliminary study.