Northeast Region IPM Grants
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| States: | Maine, Maryland |
| Investigators: | Alyokhin, Andrei V., R.A. Alford, D.C. Weber, J.C. Dickens |
| Institutions: | University of Maine, USDA-ARS |
| Project Type: | Research |
| Award*: | $140,000 |
| Term: | 36 months beginning 05/01/03 |
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Setting: |
potato |
*Award shown is total amount to be used over the course of the project term.
Insect pest management remains an important challenge in commercial potato production, with Colorado potato beetle being the most important defoliator in the Northeast. Currently, growers rely on insecticides for protecting their crops, but both economic and environmental considerations favor reduction of chemical use. Previous research has demonstrated that replacing uniform insecticide applications with the treatment of selected areas of the field is one possible way to decrease the amount of insecticides required for successful pest control. This will also delay development of insecticide resistance by creating refugia for susceptible individuals.
Several synthetic kairomone blends, based on the volatiles produced by potato plants, have been recently demonstrated to be attractive to both adult and larval stages of the Colorado potato beetle. Kairomones can be used for attracting beetles to insecticide-treated areas within a potato field, thus enhancing the efficiency of the reduced area treatment approach. Our preliminary studies yielded promising results, but large-scale testing under farm field conditions still remains to be done. Also, little is known about possible effects of these compounds on insects other than the Colorado potato beetles, including both pests and natural enemies.
We propose to develop economically feasible “attracticide” blends combining
Colorado potato beetle plant attractants with low-risk insecticides, determine
possible effects of these attracticides on non-target arthropods, such as potato
pests other than the Colorado potato beetle and beneficial natural enemies,
and evaluate efficiency and economic feasibility of reduced area treatment approach
combined with attracticide blends. Our project will fall under the Research
category of the NE IPM Program.
1. Develop economically feasible “attracticide” blends combining Colorado potato beetle plant attractants with low-risk insecticides.
2. Determine possible effects of these attracticides on non-target arthropods, such as other potato pests and beneficial natural enemies.
3. Evaluate efficiency and economic feasibility of reduced area treatment approach combined with attracticide blends.
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