Effects of Insecticides on Non-Target Insects in Sugarcane, 1996

Abstract

The impact of 5 different insecticide treatments (generally used to control SCB) against non-target insects was evaluated in a RCB design with 4 replications except Baythroid which had 3 replications. Treatments were randomly assigned to sugarcane field plots (ca. 1.03 to 2.12 acres each). Plots were treated on 15 Aug and 4 Sep with chemicals applied in water using an Ag Cat B aircraft with swaths of 54 ft delivering 2 gpa finished formulation. Non-target arthropods were monitored continuously using 3 pitfall traps (pt jars filled with 150 ml 70% ethanol and 60 ml mineral oil) embedded in the soil surface in the center of each plot and spaced 20 m apart. Traps were sheltered by a 22 cm diam disc supported on a tripod 4 cm above the soil surface. Traps were first installed on 19 Aug, collected and replaced on 9 Sep and the last set removed on 30 Sep.