Control of Whitefringed Beetles on Sweet Potatoes, 1978

The test was conducted on a grower's field near Clanton, AL. Each plot consisted of 4 rows, 500-ft bng, with a row width of 42-inches and 12-inch spacing on the row. A randomized complete block design with 4 replications was used. All insecticides used were granular and were preplant-incorporated (to a depth of 6 inches) using a Rotera equipped with Gandy granule applicator on May 25 and 26. Mocap at 6.0 lbs ai/acre was used as a nematicide. The slips were planted Jun 12, and the crop was dug Oct 11. Harvest sample consisted of 50 row-ft from each of the 2 middle rows of each plot. Yield and damage data were taken Oct 12 and 13. Roots were graded visually into 4 categories: No. 1, No. 2, jumbo and rough, culls. All No. 1 and No. 2 roots were examined (and rated) for damage by whitefringed beetle larvae (WFB) and other unidentified insects (wireworms, flea beetle larvae, cutworms). Drought conditions prevailed during the test.