Soybean, Aerial Insecticide Application for Control of Mexican Bean Beetle and Bean Leaf Beetle And Evaluation Of Effects Of Treatments on Predators And Parasites, 1978

Essex soybeans were planted on May 11 near Linkwood, MD in 30 in rows and at the time of spray treatments, plants were in the R-6 stage of maturity. Treatment plots within a production field were single 5 acre blocks. Treatments Sept T’78 were randomized within the field but not replicated. Post treatment samples on Sept 5’78 were taken with 3 random sets of 50 net sweeps (15 inch dia net) per block. Post treatment survival counts of Pediobius were made by collecting 25 parasitized Mexican bean beetle larvae (mummies) per treatment block and holding these until the wasps emerged usually 1-2 weeks after collection. Sprays were applied by helicopter with 47T hollow cone nozzles 23 with No. 3 tips and No. 25 cores and 24 witfi No. 2 tips and 23 cores calibrated to deliver 3 gal/acre at 4 mph and 60 PSI. At time of treatment Sept 1 foliage damage by MBB in all plots ranged 20-40%. Larvae were mature (most in the last 2 instars) and pupation was underway in all plots.