Control of sugar beet pests at early season by seed treatment with insecticides

Abstract

In the period 2001-2004, experiments were conducted in the region of Backa (northern Serbia) to assess the efficiency of insecticide treatment of sugar beet seeds in controlling soil pests (larvae of Elateridae family) and reducing the damage caused by beet weevil (Bothynoderes punctiventris G e r m) and flea beetle (Chaetocnema tibialis I l l i g). Several insecticides mostly systemic ones (carbofuran, thiamethoxam, fipronil, imidacloprid and clothianidin), and their combinations with pyrethroids in different doses were tested in field conditions. Stand density, percentages of plants damaged by B. punctiventris and C. tibialis, injury level and weight of juvenile plants served as parameters for evaluation of insecticide efficiency. Most of the insecticides applied to seeds provided a significantly better stand density compared with the untreated control. Because of their systemic action, imidacloprid, thiamethoxam and their mixtures with pyrethroids provided very good protection of juvenile plants from C. tibialis and in some cases from B. punctiventris.

Plant protection consequences in Hungary of the withdrawal of systemic active substances from sugar beet seed treatment

“…A. punctiventris and C. fasciatus are species that complete their life cycle within a year and exist in the adult form during the winter (Lemic et al, 2016). Conversely, P. maxillosum undergoes a larval stage in its first year and maturing into an adult in its second year, as well as Tanymecus palliatus Fabricius and Tanymecus dilaticollis Gyllenhal, which mostly inflicts substantial harm on monocots, however it also induces damage to juvenile sugar beet in spring (Keresǐ et al, 2006). T. palliatus is also dangerous for juvenile sugar beet Tanymecus species, due to its dicotyledonous host plant preference (Keszthelyi et al, 2008).…”

“…They masticate the leaves during the juvenile period and the adults peel in the leaf surface. The imagos overwinter and leave their wintering places at average temperatures of 8-10°C and then seek out beet leaves (Keresǐ et al, 2006).…”