Efficacy of Insecticides for Control of Insect Pests of Pearl Millet for Grain Production

Pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.] is an alternative drought-tolerant grain crop for dryland summer production. Few insecticides are registered for use and insect management has not been extensively studied in pearl millet for grain production. Eleven trails were conducted during 2002-2004 in central and southern Georgia to understand the relative importance of insect pests and to evaluate the efficacy of currently registered insecticides against key pests. The main defoliator species were the fall armyworm [Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith)] and striped grassworm (Mocis latipes Guenée). Main insects feeding on grain heads were the corn earworm (Helicoverpa zea Boddie), sorghum webworm, (Nola sorghiella Riley), and stink bugs — brown stink bug (Euschistus spp.) and southern green stink bug [Nezara viridula (L.)]. All insects were effectively controlled by cypermethrin at 0.025 lb a.i./acre. The 0.015-lb a.i. rate was effective against sorghum webworm, striped grassworm, and stink bugs, but efficacy against the corn earworm was variable. Spinosad was effective against corn earworm, striped grassworm, and sorghum webworm but not against stink bugs. Azadirachtin was not effective against any insect tested. Grain yield was not significantly affected by treatments in any trial indicating that pearl millet is tolerant of insect injury. Further work will be needed to define economic thresholds for key insect pests of pearl millet for grain production. Accepted for publication 24 August 2006. Published 19 February 2007.

Influence of Panicle Maturity on Infestation of Grain Sorghum by Corn Earworm and Sorghum Webworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Georgia

The influence of panicle maturity on oviposition by the corn earworm, Helicoverpa zea (Boddie), and sorghum webworm, Celama sorghiella (Riley), was investigated on grain sorghum in Georgia during 1986 and 1987. Stage of panicle development, density of corn earworm and sorghum webworm, and egg parasitism by Trichogramma spp. were recorded at 2–3 day intervals in three field tests. Sorghum webworm and corn earworm began oviposition as panicles emerged from the boot. Oviposition peaked 4–8 days later, near the time panicles began anthesis, but then declined quite rapidly. Oviposition by sorghum webworm ceased approximately 10–12 days after panicle emergence began. Corn earworm oviposition continued at low levels until sampling was terminated 14 - 17 days after panicles began emgergence. Rainfall appeared to mediate effects of panicle maturity on oviposition. Corresponding peaks in larval density were not observed for corn earworm or sorghum webworm, possibly because of heavy parasitism by Trichogramma spp. A paired comparison procedure was used to determine preference of small, medium, and large corn earworm larvae for panicles of different maturity. Early instars preferred newly flowered panicles and concentrated feeding on pollen filled anthers. Late instars preferred panicles in the soft-hard dough stages, while intermediate instars exhibited no significant preference. These data suggest that corn earworm oviposition is concentrated at anthesis because pollen enhances larval development and survival.