Control of Lepidopterous Larvae and Leafminers on Tomatoes, 1981

‘Peto-seed 7718VS’ tomato seedlings were transplanted on Jul 14 at the University of California South Coast Field Station in Santa Ana, CA. Experimental plots were 4 rows wide (1.52 meter centers) by 7.0 meters long and separated by a 1.52 meter buffer. The tomato planting was drip irrigated. Treatments were replicated 4 times in a randomized complete block design. Insecticides were applied weekly from Aug 25 through oct 6 for a total of 7 applications. A tractor-mounted boom sprayer with 6 nozzles/row was used to apply insecticides at 935 liters/ha and 100 psi. The hollow cone nozzles incorporated D3 orifice disks, #25 cores and 50 mesh screens. All treatments included 0.04% spreader-sticker (Leaf Act 40). Leafminer populations were evaluated from weekly counts of larvae, puparia and pupae in 2 pupal trays/replicate from Aug 28 through Oct 1. On Oct 8, 200 mature-green to ripe fruit were harvested from the center 2 rows of each replicate and examined for internal damage (primarily fruitworm), external damage (primarily beet armyworm), and tomato pinworms.