Tarnished Plant Bug Mortality, 1987

A small-plot test was conducted at the Cotton Branch Experiment Station, Marianna, Ark. The plots were 1 row × 66 ft and were arranged in a randomized complete block design with 3 replications. Insecticides were applied with a Spirit high-clearance sprayer at volumes that varied among treatments. Prior to treatments, 3 organdy sleeve cages, 9 inches diam × 22 inches long, were secured to individual plants in each plot by tying the lower end of each cage around the plant 1 ft from the terminal with a twist-tie. The cages were then rolled down to the tie and covered with aluminum foil. Immediately following each treatment the foil was removed and the cage was unrolled and extended upward; 5 tarnished plant bugs (adults or nymphs) were released into each cage and the tops were closed. To determine the residual efficacy of each treatment, 3 additional cages/plot were similarly infested at intervals of 24, 48, and 72 h. In every instance, insects were exposed to treatments for 72 h. The plants were then cut and cage contents examined in the lab for both dead and living bugs. Percent mortality was converted to arcsin for analysis of variance.