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