Black Cutworm Control on Tobacco, 1980

An on-farm test was conducted in Yadkin County, North Carolina, to assess the effectiveness of insecticides against the black cutworm. Cutworm activity had been observed before transplant, and treatments were made two days after transplanting. The field had previously been treated with Telone C-17. Treatments were applied between 4:00 and 7:00 p.m. in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Plots were 0.03 acre (90 ft x 4 rows) separated at the ends by a six ft untreated zone. Sprayable treatments were applied using a backpack sprayer equipped with three Delavan CE-2 nozzles. Fourty-eight gal of spray per acre were applied at 50 psi. Baits were applied by hand in a band ca 12 in wide over the top of the row. DIpel and Proxol baits were made by mixing the products with coarse-ground cornmeal. Prior to treatment, stand counts were made and all severed plant parts removed. After five nights of cutworm activity (ca 112 hr) a second stand oount was made and the number of plants with cut stalks or cut leaves (determined by the presence of severed plant parts) recorded. Plants with either cut stalks or cut leaves were recorded as injured. All variables were converted to a percentage of the original stand count for preservation and further subjected to an arcsine transformation for analysis. A two-way analysis of variance was performed and treatments compared using Fisher’s Protected LSD Procedure.