Control of the Potato Leafhopper in Virginia, 1979

At the VPI & SU Animal Science Farm in Montgomery Co., Virginia, three rates of Orthene 75S and 1 rate of Sevin 80%WP were applied to plots tested for control of the potato leafhopper on a four year old planting of alfalfa in the “second-cutting” growth stage (approximately 16 in tall, 5% bloom). Plots, 20 ft long by 20 ft wide, were arranged in a randomized complete block design, and replicated four times. Insecticides were applied with a hand-carried four gal compressed air sprayer calibrated to apply 108 gallons of water per acre at 50 psi. Pretreatmenf and post-treatment insect counts were taken using a 15-inch diameter sweep net making 10 pendular sweeps per plot. Post-treatment insect counts were taken 3 and 5 days after treatment.