Strategic pest management tactics for blackheaded fireworm using reduced risked ovicide/larvicide insecticides

Kim Patten & Chase Metzger

Background:• In 2015 the Washington Department of Agriculture will most likely

ban the use of OPs on 56% of cranberry beds in WA, due to water quality issues.

• Alternative reduced risk chemistries for fireworm control have been getting adopted by the industry, but control hasn’t always been satisfactory.

• There are a lot of new reduced risk insecticides that we are only beginning to figure out how to best use.

• Most applications are chemigated on systems with poor uniformity (DU< 70%) which compromise efficacy

• Our insect pests have a very asynchronous hatch (3+ weeks) which make insecticide timing more challenging

Grower survey July 2013 on their satisfaction with Altacor

never used moderately satisified

very satisified unsure

Blackheaded FirewormRhobobota naevana

2 generations / yearOverwinters as egg

Project objectives:• Assess an array of new insecticide for efficacy against fireworm• Assess duration of field efficacy• Optimize timing intervals • Develop more refined IPM program for fireworm management

Insecticide efficacy

1st generation BHFW efficacy trials

ControlIntrepid

AltacorCloser SC

Flubendimide

0102030405060

# alive larvae per sets of 5 sweeps

Applied 5/11 assessed 5/13 and 5/20

a

bb

ab

2nd generation BHFW efficacy trials

ControlVenerate

GrandevoDanitol

Altacor

05

1015202530

# alive larvae per two sets of 5 sweeps

a

b b

a a

Applied 7/21 assessed 7/25 & 7/29larvae size equally distributed between 1 and 5 instar

Duration of field efficacy

Duration of field efficacy – fireworm 2nd generationTreatments were applied weekly (5/27 to 6/26)

Which applications failed to provide control?

Treatment window

Sweep for efficacy

Duration of field efficacy – fireworm 2nd generation5 different timings (5/27 to 6/26) – how long do they provide control?

5/27/2013 6/6/2013 6/16/2013 6/26/2013 7/6/20130

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

AltacorIntrepid# larvae per 5

sweeps on 7/8/2013

Plots swept for efficacy

abab

c

c c

ab

5/27/2013 6/6/2013 6/16/2013 6/26/2013 7/6/20130

100200300

BHFW adults trap counts

33 days of control w/ Altacor19 days of control w/ Intrepid

Spray dates

1 161

a

ab

5 days exposure10 DBE 5 DBE 1 DBE 1 DAE 5 DAE 10 DAE

Container of cranberries treated with Altacor or Intrepid before or after exposure to fireworm adults and assessed for damaged

DBE - days before exposureDAE – days after exposure

10 DBT 5 DBT 1 DBT 1 DAT 5 DAT 10 DAT0

20

40

60

80

100

AltacorIntrepid

% c

onta

iner

s w

ith fi

rew

orm

dam

age

ab

ab

ab

5 day ex-

posure

a

b

b

b b b

b b

Data – highly variable Intrepid applied pre-egg laying – minimal controlAltacor applied pre or post-egg laying - control

Optimize timing intervals replicated trials

Traditional insecticide timing

Timing window

Timing window

With new reduced risk insecticides – what is the ideal timing and frequency? Do you get any ovicidal activity?

Do you get any adulticidal activity? How long is the duration of field activity?

Pre-hatch application of insecticide for control of 1st generation BHFW

Control Intrepid Altacor0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

31

0 0

21.5

0 0

# alive larvae per 5 sweeps

May 6th sweeping May 17th sweeping

Treatments applied May 30, 2013 –at early rough neck ~ 1/4” growth; no larvae present

Early timing for 1st generation provides superlative control, even under high pressure(17 days of control)

a

a

b b b b

Treat sweep

0

2

4

6

8

Control Altacor Intrepid Cyazypyr

# alive fireworm per 10 sweeps23-Jul 3-Aug

Treatments applied 6/11/12 at first significant moth flight

a

a

aa

abab

ab

Treat sweep

Total # alive BHFW larvae

# of larvae/ 5 sweeps

0

10

20

30

40

50

untreatedDelegateAltacorCyazypyr

6/24 7/8 7/22 8/7

Treat sweep

treat sweep

0

10

20

30

40

50

Control Altacor Intrepid Cyazypyr

# alive fireworm per 5 sweeps16-Jul 23-Jul

Treatments applied 6/29/12 just prior to egg hatch

a

b

a

ab bab

b

Treat sweep

Develop more refined IPM program for fireworm management• Refinement of trapping• Use of trap data with GDD models• Consideration of additional insect pest• Resistance management

Z traps

IPM timing strategies for control

20 dd 110 dd 145 dd from biofix

A or IA or I

• Comparison of Apples to Cranberries in the PNW– 2nd generation Codling moth larvae

• Altacor: ~120 to 150 dd base 10˚C from biofix • Intrepid: ~130 to 150 dd base 10˚C from biofix

– 2nd generation larvae Fireworm larvae• Altacor: ~110 to 150 dd base 10˚C from biofix • Intrepid: ~130 to 140 dd base 10˚C from biofix

May June July August Sept.

How do you overlay an Insecticide to target multiple insects

Resistance managementGroup 18 – IntrepidGroup 5- DelegateGroup 22- AvauntGroup 28- Altacor, Cyazypr

Summary

• Good field duration (Altacor>Intrepid≥Cyazypyr>Delegate)

• A fail-proof IPM for fireworm is feasible