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LOGO: Journal of Cotton Science

 

Incorporating Honey Bee Toxicity into Foliar Insecticide Selection for Insect Pest Management in Cotton

Authors: Angus L. Catchot III, Jeffrey Gore, Priyadarshini Chakrabarti, Whitney D. Crow, Tyler Towles, Angus L. Catchot Jr., Don R. Cook, Scott Stewart, Ben Trash, Nick Bateman, David Kerns, Sebe Brown, and Glenn Studebaker
Pages: 148-157
Arthropod Management
DOI: (https://doi.org/10.56454/GWQP4494)

Cotton, Gossypium hirsutum (L.), is a vital crop across the southern U.S. Numerous insect species are yield-limiting pests throughout the cotton growing regions of the U.S., often requiring multiple foliar insecticide applications annually. Those insecticides pose an indirect risk to honey bees, Apis mellifera (L.), and other pollinators through contaminated nectar, pollen, or other routes during cotton bloom. Currently, pest managers only consider efficacy against the target pest when selecting insecticides and give little consideration to honey bee toxicity. The objective of this study was to incorporate honey bee acute toxicity data as a non-target insect pollinator and insecticide efficacy data against target pests into insecticide selection. Efficacy trials were conducted in mid-southern U.S. to determine the efficacy of eight and five currently recommended insecticides against tarnished plant bug (Lygus lineolaris [Palisot de Beauvois]) and bollworm (Helicoverpa zea [Boddie]), respectively. Insecticides were ranked based on historical published data for their toxicity to honey bees and efficacy against the targeted pest based on standardized trials across multiple states. The rankings were multiplied to give equal weight to honey bee toxicity and pest efficacy. Novaluron, sulfoxaflor, and flonicamid provided the best balance between efficacy against tarnished plant bug and acute toxicity to honey bees. Chlorantraniliprole provided the best balance between honey bee toxicity and bollworm efficacy. These findings can be used to improve integrated pest management strategies by maximizing control of pests while considering honey bee toxicity.