Over a three year period a bio-intensive caterpillar control strategy was tested in late season sweet corn on diversified organic or transition farms in New England. The strategy uses pheromone traps and field scouting thresholds to trigger use of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) sprays before early silk stage to control European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis) , and a single application of vegetable oil and Bt to the silk for corn earworm (Helicoverpa zea) control using a hand-held pump applicator. Oil treatments gave statistically significant improvements in the percent of marketable ears and tip damage ratings on all farms for almost all of the fifty-seven plantings in the study, with a mean improvement of 21.6% in the percentage of clean ears between the untreated and the oiled ears. Bt sprays improved control especially where European corn borer pressure was high, and oil treatments reduced both European corn borer and corn earworm damage. Six of the eight growers are continuing to grow corn, and all of those plan to continue to use this control strategy after the completion of the project.
Species 1: Lepidoptera Crambidae Ostrinia nubilalis (European corn borer)
Species 2: Lepidoptera Noctuidae Helicoverpa zea (corn earworm, tomato fruitworm)
Keywords: integrated pest management, vegetable oil
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