IMPACT OF TYPE AND TIMING OF SOUTHERN CORN-ROOTWORM TREATMENTS ON PREDACEOUS ARTHROPODS IN PEANUT

At-flowering and at-pegging treatments of soil-applied insecticides fo r southern corn rootworm, Diabrotica undecimpunctata howardi Barber, c ontrol were examined to determine if type and/or timing of insecticide affected the abundance of predaceous arthropods in reproductive-stage peanuts. Orius insidiosus (Say) and spiders comprised the majority of predators captured during the study. Effects of timing were variable, but indicated that earlier, at-flowering pesticide application may al low for better re-establishment of some predators (e.g., O. insidiosus ), and for the total number of predators, than later, at-pegging pesti cide applications. There was no consistent effect of chlorpyrifos or f onophos applied at flowering, or chlorpyrifos or ethoprop applied at p egging, on predator abundance in reproductive-stage peanuts.