Laboratory Evaluation of Insecticides for Control of Tarnished Plant Bugs in Mississippi, 1997

Insec ticides were evaluated at the Plant Science Research Farm, Mississippi State, MS, in a RCB design with 4 replications. Plot size was 2 rows wide by 50 feet long with 4 unsprayed buffer rows between plots and 10 feet of unsprayed cotton at the end of each plot. Insecticides were applied on 19 Jun with s high-clearance spray tractor equipped with two Sprayings Systems TX4 hollow cone nozzles per row spaced at 19 inches and calibrated for 5 gpa at a pressure of 38 psi and a speed of 4 mph. Carrier of the insecticide was water. Plots were treated and allowed to dry for 15 minutes. Terminals were then removed from four plants per plot and immediately placed into a test tube filled with water. Terminals were returned to the lab where they were infested with five plant bugs per terminal. Plant bugs were caged on the terminals by enclosing them in a small plastic cup with a lid. Plant bugs were collected the morning of application by sweeping wild flowers with a 15-inch-diameter sweep net. Twenty-four hours after infestation, insect mortality was determined. Insects failing to move when prodded were classified as dead.