peanut97 - Summary of Losses from Insect Damage and Costs of Control in Georgia 1995

Summary of Losses from Insect Damage and Costs of Control in Georgia - 1997

XVI. Peanut Insects

S. L. Brown, J. W. Todd, and D. C. Jones

Georgia peanut acreage remained fairly constant in 1997 with 520,000 planted. The average yield was 2523 lbs. per acre. Weather conditions were characterized by good growing conditions early followed by extremely dry conditions from mid-July through mid-September. Extremely wet conditions in the fall caused major harvest delays.

Besides weather-related problems, tomato spotted wilt continued to be the most severe production problem faced by most growers. The thrips-transmitted disease caused yield reductions of several hundred pounds in many fields and much more in some. Recent increases in tomato spotted wilt have caused average yields to stubbornly remain constant the last few years despite significant improvements in fungicides for severe soil-borne diseases.

Significantly reduced usage of soil insecticides have resulted in slightly increased problems with soil insects such as wireworms and southern corn rootworms. Populations of foliage feeding caterpillars were slightly increased in 1997 compared to previous years. Althugh numbers were below treatment threshold in many fields, there was an increased number of insecticide applications targeting foliage feeders.

Estimates of Losses and Control Costs
Rank	Insect	Cost of Control	Damage	Total
1	Wireworms	$1,196,000	$6,379,000	$7,575,000
2	Thrips	5,678,000	750,000	6,428,000
3	Lesser cornstalk borer	1,316,000	2,777,000	4,093,000
4	Threecornered alfalfa hopper	26,000	3,452,000	3,478,000
5	Southern corn rootworm	1,316,000	1,051,000	2,367,000
6	Leafhopper	78,000	2,251,000	2,329,000
7	Corn earworm	710,000	375,000	1,085,000
8	Fall armyworm	562,000	375,000	937,000
9	Velvetbean caterpillar	468,000	375,000	843,000
	Total	$11,350,000	$17,785,000	$29,135,000

Information Pertaining to Control of Major Peanut Insect Pests in Georgia in 1997
Insect	No. Units Needing Control	No. Units Treated	No. of Unit Applic.¹	Avg. Cost Per Units Treated	Yield Loss on Units Treated²	Yield Loss on Units Untreated²
Wireworms	130,000	52,000	1.0	$23.00	1,312,000	20,991,000
Thrips	416,000	473,000	1.0	12.00	0	2,624,000
Lesser cornstalk borer	52,000	57,000	1.0	23.00	262,000	9,446,000
Threecornered alfalfa hopper	52,000	5,000	1.0	5.00	262,000	11,808,000
Southern corn rootworm	42,000	57,000	1.0	23.00	1,574,000	2,099,000
Leafhopper	42,000	16,000	1.0	5.00	0	7,872,000
Corn earworm	26,000	68,000	1.5	7.00	0	1,312,000
Fall armyworm	26,000	42,000	1.5	9.00	0	1,312,000
Velvetbean caterpillar	36,000	94,000	1.0	5.00	0	1,050,000

Includes application costs.

Yield units measured in pounds.

NOTE: Thrips losses reflect an interaction of thrips injury with paraquat injury to peanuts, which may result in delayed maturity and/or yield reduction. Losses due to tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) are not included.


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