Beet Armyworm Control on Eggplant in West-Central Florida, 1982

Transplants were set 16 Sept., 18 in apart on 2.5-ft wide by 8-in high beds of Myakka fine sand covered with black polyethylene mulch, plots consisted of 10 staked plants and were replicated four times in a randomized complete block design. Treatments were applied 1, 6, 11, 18, and 25 Oct., 1, 8, 16, 22, and 29 Nov., 8, 14, 21, and 28 Dec. 1982, and 6 Jan. 1983 with a 2.5-gal, handheld CO2-powered sprayer which was operated at 40 lb/in2 and delivered 65 to 120 gal/acre (gallonage increased as the plants grew, but averaged 105 gal/acre). On 12 Oct., the foliage of all plants was examined and the number of beet armyworm larvae was recorded. The number and weight of undamaged fruit and the number of fruit damaged by lepidopterous larvae (principally the beet armyworm) were totaled over harvests taken 1, 7, 13, and 27 Dec, and 7, 9, 11, and 24 Jan. Percentage data were transformed arc sine %/100 before analysis, but data are presented in the original scale.