Date: 3/30/99

Time: 4:15

Type: Symposium

Number: 174

FQPA - Impact on potatoes

*J. Wyman and S. Chapman, Department of Entomology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706
Contact e-mail: wyman@entomology.wisc.edu

Insect management on potatoes in the North Central United States continues to be heavily reliant on insecticides. Major insect pests in the region, Colorado potato beetle, potato leafhopper and green peach aphid, must be held below damaging levels to avoid economic loss and almost 400,000 pounds of active ingredient is used annually. Prior to 1995, the most widely used insecticides on potatoes included organophosphates (methamidophos, azinphosmethyl, phorate), carbamates (carbofuran), and organochlorines (endosulfan) and consequently the potential impacts of FQPA implementation were expected to be severe. Insecticide resistance in the Colorado potato beetle and the registration of a new nicotinyl, a.i., imidacloprid, in 1995, resulted in a significant shift in insecticidal use patterns in the industry, however, and the potential impacts of FQPA have been lessened. Colorado potato beetle resistance and imidacloprid adoption have resulted in a 56% reduction in acres treated with phorate, azinphosmethyl, endosulfan and carbofuran. These trends are expected to continue and the importance of retaining the availability of traditional active ingredients, which may be threatened by FQPA implementation, has switched to specific pest/pesticide combinations and resistance management. Examples of such combinations, which are of critical importance, include green peach aphid control and methamidophos; potato leafhopper control and dimethoate; and wireworm control and ethoprop. The anticipated availability of new, low-risk alternatives to O.P. and carbamate insecticides will alleviate the potential impact of the loss of such materials in the short-term but, without careful resistance management, insect management will become increasingly difficult in the absence of a diverse array of insecticidal compounds.

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