Transitioning Lygus Chemical Controls to More
Selective Options for Arizona Cotton
Virginia Barkley & Peter C. Ellsworth
University of Arizona, Department of Entomology & Arizona Pest Management Center,
Maricopa Agricultural Center, Maricopa, AZ 85239
Yield (% of Standard)
OCF3
100
80
40
20
• This potentially selective
insecticide is very effective on
Lygus hesperus & many aphid
species.
80
80
60
60
40
40
20
20
CN
F3C
0.063
0.088
Flonicamid
0
0.088
Y = Check yield ± c.v.
• Control of Lygus in cotton by
flonicamid (0.088 lbs ai / A) is
similar to acephate (1.0 lb ai / A),
our standard for Lygus control.
Although mode of action is
unclear, tests indicate flonicamid
has a unique fast-acting mode of
action. Feeding is thought to be
suppressed within an hour of
contact or ingestion resulting in
mortality of adults and immatures
within 2–5 days.
• At the higher rates tested,
metaflumizone shows efficacy on
Lygus hesperus similar to that of
acephate (1 lb ai / A), but with
potentially less toxicity to
beneficial insects.
0.143
0.178
0
0.214
Metaflumizone
• METAFLUMIZONE, a newly
developed semicarbazone by
BASF, has a new mode of action
and significant insecticidal activity.
(lbs ai / A)
Y = Check yield ± c.v.
*mixed with
acephate (0.5
lbs ai / A)
**sprayed at
40 GPA
0.022** 0.025 0.039* 0.045** 0.05 0.058 0.091
Novaluron
(lbs ai / A)
(lbs ai / A)
Y = Check yield ± c.v.
• In our trials, metaflumizone
showed residual control of nymphs
for about 10–14 days.
• Higher than expected nymphal
counts are consistent with this
compound having feeding
inhibition properties.
• NOVALURON, a benzoylurea, is
under development by Crompton
as Diamond® in the U.S.
• Novaluron is a rate sensitive insect
growth regulator that inhibits
chitin biosynthesis, active against
immmature stages only.
• It has broad-spectrum activity
including Lepidopteran pests.
• FMC Corporation has registered
the trademarks: Beleaf® as a
formulation for fruits and
vegetables and Carbine® as a
foliar insecticide on cotton.
• High rates (0.091), high spray
volumes (40 GPA) and/or
mixtures with lower rates of
acephate (0.5 lbs ai / A) have
shown efficacy on Lygus
hesperus comparable to
acephate (1.0 lb ai / A).
Residual activity approaches
14 days under field conditions.
• The high rates required to
achieve control may be
potentially destructive of
hemipteran and other
predators in our system.
• The compound does not move in
or on the plant and efficacy
depends on direct contact or
ingestion.
Control of Lygus hesperus in Arizona cotton
Few selective chemicals are available, but our
has become an increasing challenge since the
data has identified three selective compounds
introduction of transgenic Bt cottons and
that have efficacy on Lygus. Currently
Insect Growth Regulators, which have
recommended, broad-spectrum
Lygus
Sampling,
effectively and selectively controlled
organophosphates & carbamates
Detection,
& Plant
two of our key pests, Bemisia tabaci
could potentially be replaced by
Monitoring
and Pectinophora gossypiella.
more selective & safer comEffective &
Selective
Chemistry
Wide use of broad-spectrum
Lygus
pounds. Novaluron, an IGR,
Resistance
Action
Management
Thresholds
insecticides on cotton has
has Lygus activity, but
AreaAlternate
Crossbeen replaced by more
high rates may be less
Crop
Commodity
Wide
Host
Placement
Cooperation
Impact
Management
Exploitation of Over-Wintering
selective compounds. As
selective. MetaflumiNatural Enemy
In-field Mortality Pest & Outbreak
Pest Biology
Conservation
Ecology
Dynamics
Prediction
& Ecology
a result, Lygus has
zone & flonicamid,
Planting &
Lygus x H O Tolerant /
Crop
Lygus X N
Termination
Date
Resistant
Management Interactions
Interactions
Management
Varieties
risen to become our
both with antinumber one pest of
feedant properties,
cotton since 1997.
show great promise.
Ch Ef
em fec
ica tive
lU
se
Sa
mp
lin
g
• Translaminar activity in
flonicamid as a foliar spray
may be limited. However,
translocation following foliar
application may provide some
protection of untreated plant
tissues.
0
100
N
H
N N
H
Yield (% of Standard)
100
O
60
• FLONICAMID is a new class
of chemistry, a pyridinecarboxamide. This compound
is not persistent in the
environment, has low residues
and is environmentally safe.
Toxicity to mammals, birds
and fish is low.
Yield (% of Standard)
Dicrotophos (0.5)
Av
oid
an
c
Y = Check yield ± c.v.
Naled (1.0)
Inter-Crop
Movement
e
Organophosphates
• ACEPHATE, our standard,
is a broad-spectrum
organophosphate with
excellent and dependable
activity on Lygus hesperus.
2
Methidathion (1.0)
Methyl Parathion (0.625)
0 20 40 60 80 100
Yield (% of Standard)
• Over many years of
testing, pyrethroids,
most neonicotinoids,
and many organophosphates have failed
to control Lygus
hesperus in our cotton
system.
• Control was not possible
even when tested at
higher rates, higher
frequencies (than the
standard, acephate), nor
in mixtures.
• Even mixtures with
proven performers
failed to enhance
control.
Yield (% of Standard)
Neonicotinoids
100
thiamethoxam (0.094)
80
Yield (% of Standard)
thiamethoxam (0.089)
thiamethoxam (0.089)
100
thiamethoxam (0.086)
60
thiamethoxam (0.067)
80
thiamethoxam (0.067)
60
20
thiacloprid (0.094)
40
0
imidacloprid (0.047)*
20
thiamethoxam (0.05)
imidacloprid (0.047)
0
imidacloprid (0.047)
imidacloprid (0.047)
imidacloprid (0.047)
dinotefuran (0.132)
dinotefuran (0.044)
acetamiprid (0.10)
acetamiprid (0.10)
0 20 40 60 80 100
Yield (% of Standard)
*mixed
withyield
cyfluthrin
Y
= Check
± c.v.
(0.03 lbs ai / A)
z-cypermethrin (0.05)*
z-cypermethrin (0.05)
Y = Check yield ± c.v.
lambda cyhalothrin (0.04)
lambda cyhalothrin (0.04)
0.05
0.05
Fipronil
0.05
0.05
• FIPRONIL, a phenlypyrazole, has
a novel mode of action, with both
contact and ingestion activity on a
broad spectrum of pests.
dinotefuran (0.088)
z-cypermethrin (0.05)*
0.038
• It has shown good efficacy on
Lygus hesperus in our tests,
comparable to our standard.
• This compound is not being
developed for foliar use in cotton.
cyfluthrin (0.03)*
• CLOTHIANIDIN is the only
neonicotinoid tested that shows
significant efficacy on Lygus
hesperus in cotton.
• It is not marketed (foliar) in cotton.
Yield
(% of Standard)
100
80
60
40
Y = Check yield ± c.v.
20
0
0 20 40 60 80 100
Yield (% of Standard)
0.055
(lbs ai / A)
Y = Check yield ± c.v.
3 Sprays
0 Sprays
Note height & yield difference
• Yields in the untreated checks ±
c.v. are also plotted for each trial.
• Max. yields: ca. 1.5–4.5 bales / A.
1
1
1
Oxamyl
1
1
•
•
•
•
•
•
• OXAMYL is a carbamate that has
proven to be very effective against
Lygus hesperus over many years of
trials, comparable to acephate.
• As a broad-spectrum insecticide,
oxamyl can be damaging to
natural enemy populations.
• ENDOSULFAN is an old
cyclodiene organochlorine
with variable ability to
control Lygus hesperus.
• Without better, more
selective options at this time,
our current guidelines for
Lygus control in Arizona
cotton are ACEPHATE or
OXAMYL in a rotation.
ENDOSULFAN is a less
effective alternative.
Yield (% of Standard)
100
80
Y = Check yield ± c.v.
60
*mixed with
methomyl (0.5),
bifenthrin
(0.08), or zcypermethrin
(0.05 lbs ai / A)
40
20
Clothianidin
• For each trial (1997–2004), yields
for each treatment are expressed
as a percentage of the yields
achieved in the experiment’s
standard and plotted ± the
coefficient of variation (N = 4).
1
Y = Check yield ± c.v.
*mixed with
endosulfan (1.0
or 0.75), or
imidacloprid
(0.047 lbs ai / A)
lambda cyhalothrin (0.03)
deltamethrin (0.03)
40
(lbs ai / A)
(lbs ai / A)
dinotefuran (0.176)
Pyrethroids
Y = Check yield ± c.v.
Plot sizes: ca. 12 rows x 40 ft
RCBDs with four replications
Sprays at 35 psi, ca. 20 GPA
4 rows machine harvested
Bollgard® cottons
Orthene (acephate) at 1 lb ai / A as
standard in all trials
• Insect data (not shown) from
sweepnet counts of all stages,
25–50 sweeps / plot
0
0.75 0.75 0.75* 0.75* 0.75* 1
1.0* 1.5 1.5
Endosulfan
(lbs ai / A)
Barkley, V. & P.C. Ellsworth. 2004. Search for effective chemical controls for Lygus bugs and
whiteflies in Arizona cotton. In R. Tronstad [ed.], Cotton, A College of Agriculture Report.
Series P-138. University of Arizona, College of Agriculture, Tucson, AZ. pp. 187-197.
Ellsworth, P.C. 1998. Integrated Lygus management in Arizona. In J.C. Silvertooth [ed.], Cotton,
A College of Agriculture Report. Series P-112. University of Arizona, College of Agriculture,
Tucson, AZ. pp. 403-407.
Ellsworth, P.C. 1999. Evaluation of chemical controls of Lygus hesperus in Arizona. In J.C.
Silvertooth [ed.], Cotton, A College of Agriculture Report. Series P-116. University of Arizona,
College of Agriculture, Tucson, AZ. pp. 428-447.
Arizona Cotton Information Site (ACIS). URL: http://cals.arizona.edu/crops