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ARS Home » Plains Area » College Station, Texas » Southern Plains Agricultural Research Center » Aerial Application Technology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #403869
Research Project: Improved Aerial Application Technologies for Precise and Effective Delivery of Crop Production Products

Location: Aerial Application Technology Research

Title: Granular bait applications for management of rangeland grasshoppers using a remotely piloted aerial application system

Author
item RODRIGUEZ, ROBERTO - University Of Hawaii
item WOLLER, DEREK - Animal And Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
item Martin, Daniel - Dan
item REUTER, K - Animal And Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
item BLACK, LONNIE - Animal And Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
item Latheef, Mohamed - Ab
item LOPEZ-COLON, KIARA - Animal And Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
item TAYLOR, MASON - Animal And Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)

Submitted to: Drones
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/25/2024
Publication Date: 9/30/2024
Citation: Rodriguez, R., Woller, D.A., Martin, D.E., Reuter, K.C., Black, L.R., Latheef, M.A., Lopez-Colon, K.M., Taylor, M. 2024. Granular bait applications for management of rangeland grasshoppers using a remotely piloted aerial application system. Drones. 8:535. https://doi.org/10-3390/drones8100535.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/drones8100535

Interpretive Summary: Grasshoppers annually consume more than 20% of rangeland forage in the western United States at an estimated loss of $1.25 billion per year in forage. This field study investigated the feasibility of using remotely piloted aerial application systems (RPAAS) to make grasshopper control applications in western rangelands. Results showed that a granular grasshopper insecticide bait applied with an RPAAS significantly suppressed bait-susceptible grasshopper populations over a 14 day period. This study shows that this new application technology can be rapidly deployed for suppressing grasshopper hotspots throughout the nation.

Technical Abstract: Rangeland grasshoppers are an endemic species that play an essential role in the rangeland eco-system, but can cause severe economic damage when populations reach outbreak levels. Remotely piloted aerial application systems (RPAASs) offer an alternative method to carry out aerial insecticide applications in relatively small areas. The objective of this study was to measure the efficacy of a granular bait, 2% Sevin (with the active ingredient carbaryl), applied by RPAAS. The bait was applied on four replicated 4.05-hectare (10-acre) plots at a rate of 2.27 kg/ha (5 lbs/acre) with an RPAAS on a private ranch in New Mexico. Applications resulted in a normalized population reduction of 70.32% ± 16.54% SEM of bait-susceptible species. Although some of the observed reduction in population may be attributed to aging, the net effect was most likely due to the ingestion of bait based on field observations of rapid mortality after ingestion and other factors, like past experience with carbaryl bait treatments on grasshoppers. Plots required at least two flights due to the FAA’s maximum takeoff weight requirement for small RPAAS. Combined, these results indicate that RPAASs can provide treatment capabilities in relatively small areas, i.e., population hotspots, preferably before outbreak levels are reached.