ABSTRACT
The Brazilian apple leafroller (BAL) Bonagota salubricola is one of the major apple pests in Brazil. For pest control, chlorpyriphosethyl is the principal compound used by growers, however its use entails environmental and health concerns. The objective of this work was to evaluate new insecticides for BAL control in laboratory and field experiments. Insecticides evaluated were spinosad (Tracer 480 SC, 20 and 25 mL/100L), methoxyfenozide (Intrepid 240 SC, 40 and 60 mL/100 L), emamectin benzoato (Proclaim 5 SG, 10 and 15 g/100 L) associated with the adjuvant AgBem, 250 mL/100 L, and etofenproxi (Trebon 100 SC, 100 and 150 m L/100 L). Chlorpyriphos-ethyl (Lorsban 480 CE, 150 mL/100 L) was used as a standard. In the laboratory, the insecticides were applied on egg masses (48 hours old) and apple leaves with posterior larvae infestation. No tested insecticide provided ovicidal effect. The insecticides emamectin benzoato (0.5 and 0.75 g/100 L), chlorpyriphos-ethyl (75 g/100 L), methoxyfenozide (14,4 g/100 L) and spinosad (12 g/100 L) caused larvae mortality above 90%, 96 hours after the application. Etofenproxi had reduced effects on larvae. In a commercial orchard, the damage in fruits was reduced for all treatments. The insecticides emamectin benzoato (0.5 and 0.75 g/100 L) and methoxyfenozide (14.4 g/100 L) were equivalent to chlorpyriphos-ethyl (75 g/100 L), reducing the damage by 85%. The insecticide spinosad (12 g/100L) and etofenproxi (10 and 15 g/100L) provided 75.6 and 45% reduction of fruit damage, respectively. The insecticides emamectin benzoato and methoxyfenozide are alternatives to chlorpyriphos-ethyl use for the control of BAL in apple orchards.
KEY WORDS
Brazilian apple leafroller; Malus sp; injuries