Fifteen insecticide treatments were tested at the MSU Montcalm Research Farm, in Entrican, MI, for their control of Colorado potato beetles (CPB). ‘Snowden’ potatoes were planted 12 inches apart with a 34 inch row spacing on 10 May. Treatments were replicated four times and assigned to plots in a RCB design. The plots measured 40 feet long and were three rows wide. There were at least two rows of bare ground between plots and five feet of untreated potatoes between plots in the same rows. The Admire and Mocap treatments were applied in furrow at planting. The first foliar treatment was applied, at 25% CPB hatch, on 18 June using a tractor-mounted sprayer (30 gal/acre, 40 psi). Subsequent first generation sprays were applied on 29 June and 7 July. Light rain occurred on 7 July before the insecticides had a chance to dry. Insecticide effectiveness was determined by counting the various stages of CPB on two randomly chosen plants from the middle row of each plot. Counts were done on 12 and 23 Jun and 3 and 12 July. Second generation methods were the same as for the first generation with sprays occuring on 19 July, 26 July and 2 Aug and counts on 18, 24 and 31 Jul. All plots other than the two Trigard treatments were sprayed with a maintenance spray of Imidan and PBO. Each plot was assessed for percent defoliation on 3 July and 9 August. The middle row of potatoes from each plot was harvested on 22 August, separated by size and weighed.

Two rates of Spinosad were tested in Michigan State University Entomology Research Farm, in East Lansing, MI, for the control of imported cabbageworm, cabbage looper, and diamondback moth and their effect on beneficial insects. Seedlings were transplanted on 18 July at 2-ft spacing into four row plots 40 feet long. There was a 10-ft untreated zone between each plot within each row and an untreated row (3-ft spacing) on either side of the plots. Treatments were replicated three times and assigned to plots in a RCB design. Insecticides were applied using a CO2 backpack sprayer with a single boom (40 psi, 20 gal/A), on 12 and 23 Aug. and 4 Sep. All insects on 10 randomly selected plants were sampled in each plot on 7, and 16 Aug, and 2 and 10 Sep. The percent defoliation of outer leaves was assessed on 17 Sep, when 8-10 heads per plot were harvested. These were then rated for marketability: no damage, slight damage (damage to outer leaves of head only), or unmarketable (damage to head beyond outer couple of leaves).

Six insecticide treatments were tested at Michigan State University Entomology Research Farm, in East Lansing, MI, for their control of imported cabbageworm, cabbage looper, and diamondback moth. Seedlings were transplanted at 2-ft spacing in single-row plots, 15 ft long, on 18 Jul. There was a 6-ft untreated zone between two plots with an untreated row (3 ft spacing) on either side of a treated row. Treatments were replicated four times in a RCB design. Insecticides were applied using a CO2 backpack sprayer with a single boom and a hand-held nozzle (30 psi, 20 gal/A). Treatments were sprayed on 12 and 23 Aug, and 4 Sep. All insects on two randomly selected plants were counted in each plot on 7, 16 and 29 Aug and 10 Sep. The percent defoliation of outer leaves was assessed for each plot on 17 Sep, before the heads were harvested. These were then assigned a marketability rating: no damage, slight damage (outer leaves of the head only), or unmarketable (damage to head beyond the outer couple of leaves).