Plum Curculio, Conotrachelus nenuphar (Herbst), is a major pest of tree fruits in the United States east of the Rocky Mountains. This pest is currently managed through application of organophosphate insecticides, but the Food Quality and Protection Act of 1996 (FQPA) has restricted the use of these compounds. Insect growth regulators may be a viable alternative to the classic OP-based strategy for this pest. Three classes of insect growth regulators (IGRs) were tested against final instar and adult laboratory-reared plum curculio. Compounds tested included the juvenile hormone analogue pyriproxyfen (Esteem), the ecdysteroid agonist methoxyfenozide (Intrepid), and the chitin synthesis inhibitor buprofezin (Applaud). Formulated compounds were topically applied to larval dorsal or adult ventral surfaces and assessed for direct mortality, developmental delays, deformities and reproductive impact. The effectiveness of these OP-alternative compounds may warrant an expansion of their labeled use to include plum curculio.
Species 1: Coleoptera Curculionidae Conotrachelus nenuphar (Plum Curculio)
Keywords: juvenile hormone analogue, ecdysteroid agonist
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