Insect Control on Tomatoes in Southwest Florida, Spring 1982

Transplants were set Mar 4, 18 inches apart on 3-ft-wide by 6-inch-high beds of Immokalee fine sand covered with black polyethylene mulch. Plots consisted of 10 plants and were replicated 4 times in a randomized complete block design. Treatments were applied Apr 8, 16, 29, May 6 and 13 with a 2.5 gal hand-held CO2powered sprayer which was operated at 40 psi and delivered 95-125 gal/acre (gallonage increased as the plants grew). On May 20, 30 leaflets containing occupied leafmines (those containing either living, dead or parasitized larvae) were collected from each plot and placed in 1 qt ice cream cartons. The numbers of leafminer larvae that pupated were counted at least 4 wk later. The numbers of undamaged fruit and those damaged by lepidopterous larvae were counted in a single harvest on May 20. After harvest, 5 plants/plot were cut and shaken and the numbers of larvae of the southern armyworm, tomato pinworm, cabbage looper, granulate cutworm, and tomato fruitworm dislodged were counted.