Ovicidal Effects of Organophosphate Replacement Chemicals on Plum Curculio (Conotrachelus nenuphar Herbst) Eggs.
Abstract
Guthion® (azinphos-methyl), an organophosphate (OP) pesticide, is
the most relied on pesticide for use in tart cherries. However, due to
the hazardous effects of OP pesticides on farm workers, pesticide
applicators, and aquatic ecosystems, the EPA has recently placed
substantial restrictions on their use. By 2010, use of azinphosmethyl
will be completely phased out.1
Loss of this protective and widely used pesticide will lead to a
significant problem for tart cherry producers because they provide a
product that needs to be infestation-free in order to drive fresh
market sales and because they are obligated by law to supply postharvest
processors with infestation-free fruit.2 Plum curculio is one
of the most prominent pests in this crop (Figure 1).
Few compounds are available that will be able to manage plum
curculio once the use of the existing organophosphate pesticides are
phased out This study aims to assess the ovicidal effects of several
pesticides on plum curculio eggs (Figure 2). Presented here is
preliminary research of the effects of various new pesticides as well
as the effects of the currently relied on pesticide (Guthion®) on the
egg stage of plum curculio