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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Byron, Georgia » Fruit and Tree Nut Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #296960
Title: Biorational pesticides for pecan pests

Author
item Shapiro Ilan, David
item Cottrell, Ted
item Wood, Bruce

Submitted to: World Wide Web
Publication Type: Other
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/11/2013
Publication Date: 5/20/2013
Citation: Shapiro Ilan, D.I., Cottrell, T.E., Wood, B.W. 2013. Biorational pesticides for pecan pests. Available: http://sepga.com/files/3613/6510/4649/Shapiro-Ilan_SEPGA_2013.pdf.

Interpretive Summary: Key pecan insect pests include the pecan weevil, black pecan aphid, and stink bugs. Alternative control measures are needed for management of these pests in organic and conventional farming systems. Our objective was to evaluate the potential of several alternative insecticides including three plant extracts, MBI205 (from eucalyptus), Vintre® and ORSA-003 (both from citrus), and two microbial insecticides Grandevo (based on the bacterium Chromobacterium subtsugae) and the insect-killing fungus, Isaria fumosorosea. In the laboratory, eucalyptus extract, Vintre, ORSA-003, and C. subtsugae caused aphid mortality. In field tests, combined applications of I. fumosorosea with eucalyplus extract were synergistic and caused up to 82% mortality in black pecan aphids. Also in field tests, Grandevo (C. subtsugae) reduced pecan weevil damage by 55% within the first 3 d, and caused 74.5% corrected mortality within 7 d post-treatment. In the laboratory, C. subtsugae and eucalyptus extract did not cause mortality in the brown stink bug. In conclusion, applications of the bacteria, C. subtsugae (Grandevo), for suppression of pecan weevil, and eucalyptus extract plus the fungus I. fumosorosea for control of black pecan aphids show promise as alternative insecticides and should be evaluated further.

Technical Abstract: Key pecan insect pests include pecan aphid complex (such as the black pecan aphid, Melanocallis caryaefoliae) and pecan weevil, Curculio caryae. Alternative control tactics are needed for management of these pests in organic and conventional systems. Our objective was to determine the potential utility of several alternative insecticides including three plant extract formulations, eucalyptus extract (MBI-205), citrus extract-8.92% (Vintre®) and citrus extract-19.4% (ORSA-003), and two microbial insecticides. Chromobacterium subtsugae (Martin et al.) (Grandevo®) and the fungus, Isaria fumosorosea. In the laboratory, eucalyptus extract, Vintre, ORSA-003, and Grandevo caused black pecan aphid mortality. In field tests, combined applications of I. fumosorosea with eucalyptus extract were synergistic and caused up to 82% mortality in black pecan aphid. In laboratory assays focusing on pecan weevil suppression, C. subtsugae reduced feeding and oviposition damage. Laboratory tests also indicated ORSA-003 may have potential for control of adult pecan weevils. In field tests, Grandevo reduced pecan weevil damage by 55% within the first 3 d, and caused 74.5% corrected mortality within 7 days post-treatment. In conclusion, based on field-testing, applications of C. subtsugae (Grandevo) for suppression of pecan weevil, and eucalyptus extract plus I. fumosorosea for control of pecan aphids show promise as alternative insecticides and should be evaluated further.