Date: 3/30/99

Time: 2:00

Type: Symposium

Number: 149

Introduction: Why are we attempting this?

*K.L. Steffey, Department of Crop Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana , IL 61801
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For many years, the USDA has sponsored research to investigate the feasibility of areawide management of insects that have significant economic impact in agriculture. Because corn rootworms can cause significant economic losses in corn and the use of soil insecticides to control rootworms is widespread, the corn rootworm complex was selected as a target for areawide control. The objective is to reduce the population of corn rootworms in an area to such an extent that the use of soil insecticides is reduced considerably. The method is application of an insecticide bait (Slam, a mixture of cucurbitacins [feeding arrestants] and carbaryl insecticide) to kill adult rootworms before they lay eggs, thereby eliminating the need for a soil insecticide when corn is planted the following year. The research is being conducted at five different sites (Illinois/Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, South Dakota, and Texas), each with unique management challenges. For example, at the Illinois/Indiana site, entomologists from the University of Illinois and Purdue University are trying to manage a "variant" of western corn rootworm that lays eggs in soybeans. At the South Dakota site, entomologists are managing both western and northern corn rootworms. At the Texas site, entomologists are managing the Mexican corn rootworm. Affiliated studies include assessment of the impact of semiochemical-based baits on non-target predatory arthropods, monitoring for susceptibility of western corn rootworms to carbaryl, and the economic and sociological aspects of areawide management. The presenters in this symposium will offer updates of research findings and plans for the future.

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