Timing insecticide applications to control the cotton leafworm

Abstract

Field experiments were conducted under natural infestations of the cotton leafworm (Alabama argillacea, Hueb. 1818). The treatments consisted of applications of deltametrine insecticide at different immature forms compositions of these caterpillars. In order to define the most adequate time to control the cotton leafworm with insecticide application, and test shake-cloth method to sample the small caterpillars. It was inferred that applications at low levels of defoliation with small caterpillars at the level of six caterpillars per linear meter (two per plant) were the most adequate for insecticide control, considering plants with 80 cm of height. The shake-cloth method was efficient to sample the caterpillars, including small ones.