Integrated Pest Management January 2001 BENEFICIALS - Scientist with USDA report that a new strain of Beauvaria bassiana, BB-1200, is more effective than commercial strains against a variety of lepidopteran pests. The USDA observed greater activity against all lepidopterans tested, including fall armyworm, beet armyworm, black cutworm, corn borer, and cabbage looper. B. bassina (GHA) has been available commercially since 1995, but applications have been limited to the greenhouse. For more information, contact Stephen Wraight at spw4@cornell.edu (Agricultural Research, 11-00) FIELD CORN - Soil treatments with insecticides provide an inexpensive means of controlling insects attacking corn seedlings soon after planting. Seedlings are slow to grow in cool soils and are prone to attack by cutworms, seedcorn maggots, Southern corn rootworms, lesser corn stalk borers and wireworms. Soil treatments (in furrow and/or band) of Counter CR, Force 1.5G, Furadan 4F, or Lorsban 15G may be used at planting for control of soil insects. Read labels for uses and precautions. If, after emergence, cutworms are a problem, surface applications of Ambush 2 EC, Asana XL, Lorsban 4 EC, Pounce 3.2 EC, Darate, or Sevin XLR Plus may be used for their control. FIRE ANTS - About 4,000 phorid flies have been released in Georgia as part of a new fire ant control program. The tiny parasitoid flies were imported from Brazil; they lay an egg inside a fire ant. When the egg hatches, the larva moves into the ant's head. The head falls off, and the fly completes development in the head capsule. The flies cost about $3 each, which is not so expensive when you consider that fire ants cause $100 million in damage each year in Georgia alone. University of Georgia scientists hope the flies will become established and provide an important natural control for fire ants. No one expects fire ants to be eliminated, but the parasitoids should help other ants compete against fire ants. The fly releases have been somewhat successful in some other southeastern states, but the project has failed thus far in Oklahoma and Tennessee. (Atlanta-Journal Constitution, 10-27-00) GARDENS - Early gardens usually escape most insect damage. However, we may have problems with aphids and seedcorn maggots. Aphids are small soft-bodied insects, which suck sap from plant tissue. Control with diazinon or malathion. Seedcorn maggots feed on roots and cause them to rot. They prefer plants grown in high organic soils. Control them with a soil preparation of diazinon before or at planting. HOUSEHOLD - Powder post beetles are second only to termites as destroyers of seasoned wood in our homes. When looking for their damage, look for wood that is perforated with numerous small "shot-holes, each about the size of a pencil lead. Little piles of sawdust may be near the holes. Control these pests with label rates of Ortho-Klor (12.6% dursban). Severely damaged wood should be replaced. There are two poisonous spiders found in and around our homes including the black widow and brown recluse spider. The brown recluse is found inside the house in dark sheltered places. Both male and female have poisonous bites. The black widow is found near houses, outhouses, trash, under stones or in wood piles. Only the female bites. These pests may be controlled with surface applications of dursban, diazinon or Tempo. Follow label precautions carefully. Cockroaches can be a serious problem in Mississippi homes. Generally, there are five species found in our area. They vary in appearance and habits, but in general are flattened, brownish or dark, fast-moving insects. They may be carried into homes in grocery bags, boxes, egg cartons, beverage cases and produce such as potatoes. In apartments and other large buildings, they readily migrate from one place to another along water pipes, electrical wires, etc. Insecticides as Dursban, diazinon, Tempo or Baygon may be used as surface sprays for control. Combat bait stations containing hydromethylon may also be used. All five species including German, American, Oriental, brown-banded and smokey brown cockroaches should be controlled with above mentioned insecticides. HOUSE PLANTS - Advise your homeowners to inspect new plants carefully before purchasing and observe for signs of insect damage or infestations. Newly purchased plants may harbor insects, which may attack other house plants. Examine plants routinely and practice proper sanitation practices of keeping foliage clean and removing dead stems. The most common pests of house plants are aphids, scales, white flies, mealy bugs and spider mites. Suggest if plants need insecticide applications, homeowners carry them outside and spray them. Let them remain outside for up to four hours to allow plants to dry and odor ot leave. Read labels carefully. LIVESTOCK - Cattle lice are cool weather insects and prefer to feed on cattle in late winter and early spring. They can be hard on cattle this time of year when cattle are stressed from winter weather. At this time of year, sprays, dusts or pour-on would be preferred. Sprays are more effective than dusts and should be used in the absence of cold weather. Suggest you not use systemics this time of year that may kill cattle grubs. Heavy mortality of high numbers of large grubs may result in death of some cattle. Applications of amitron (Taktic), permethrin (Atroban, Ectiban, Permectrin, Insectrin), stirofos (Rabon), stirofos + dichlorvos (Ravap), coumaphos (Co-Ral), or methoxychlor (Marlate) may be used for lice control. Read labels. MALATHION - The EPA finds that most malathion uses do not trigger health concerns. Malathion, an organophosphate insecticide, is registered for use on dozens of agricultural crops and for many residential uses. It is also used for mosquito control and medfly eradication. There has been some concern about malathion as a carcinogen, but EPA considers current evidence unreliable. The Agency classifies malathion as 'suggestive of carcinogenicity but insufficient to assess human carcinogenic potential'. Some risks have raised EPA concern: handler exposure during residential application and toddler exposure following application. Increased requirements for personal protective equipment and engineering controls are expected to mitigate applicator risks. Additionally, EPA is likely to push for containers that are less likely to break. The Agency also has some concern about environmental risks for bees, birds, some mammals, and fish. It is expected that buffers, lower application rates, fewer applications, etc. will mitigate environmental risks. (Pestic. & Tox. Chem. News, 11-16-00) ORGANOPHOSPHATES - Some scientists have been investigating a link between farmer depression/suicide and exposure to organophosphate insecticides but the latest published reports found no significant link. A 1990's study in England concluded that access to firearms, rope, and agricultural chemicals predisposed farmers to suicide. However, two larger, subsequent North American studies found pesticide exposure to be statistically insignificant in suicide risk. Health risks related to organophosphate exposure is a popular topic these days, so additional research is likely. (Agromedicine Program Update, 11-15-00) PECANS - Phylloxera is an aphid-like insect that causes tumor-like galls or growths on the stems and leafstalks or pecan trees. Early in the spring, before bud break, overwintering eggs begin to hatch. The crawler stage becomes active just before or at bud-burst. Insecticide application should be timed to protect the tree during the crawler stage because once the gall has formed, the damage is done. Therefore, control of this pest will be early in the season. For commercial pecan growers, a foliar application of lorsban, thiodan, phaser or sevin must be applied when the phylloxera is in the crawler stage. Complete coverage is necessary. If a tree had as much as 70 percent infestation rate last year, two applications 7 to 10 days apart may be necessary this season. Remember if controls are applied after the start of gall growth, the application will not be successful. Homeowners may use sevin spray for phylloxera control. Read labels for uses and precautions. Flatheaded appletree borers will attack newly planted pecan trees. Trunks of young trees should be kept wrapped for at least two years with strips of burlap, heavy paper, or treated spiral crepe paper. Wind the wrapping around the trunk from the ground to lower branches, then tie with a cord. Cut out dead bark carefully from trees damaged by this pest. Treat the exposed surface with pruning paint. POULTRY - Northern fowl mites may be serious pests infesting our poultry during winter months. It spends its life sucking blood and irritating birds around the vent area. Application of dusts or sprays containing permethrin (Ectiban) or sevin may be used. Read labels for use and precautions. ROTENONE - A recent study linked rotenone exposure to Parkinson's disease in rats, but the American Council on Science and Health cautions against extrapolating the results to humans. Although the doses were called 'modest' by rodent testing standards, they were still well below conceivable human exposure. Rotenone was labeled for a wide range of uses, but all registrations for food uses were canceled some time ago. The only registered uses that remain are for killing unwanted fish. Some dealers may still be legally selling stocks of rotenone. (Pestic. & Tox. Chem. News, 11-23-00) WHEAT - Aphids, armyworms and Hessian flies may infest our winter wheat this winter and early spring. If 30 or more aphids are found per head, treat with cygon, malathion or methyl parathion. If 5 to 7 small armyworms are found per square foot, treat with sevin, lannate, or dylox. If Hessian flies are found (between leaf sheath and stalk), please call me. There is no chemical control of this pest, however, we need to know its distribution in our area. Read and follow label recommendations.   J. Pat Harris Extension Entomologist