INSECTICIDES TO COMBAT DAMAGE BY ANTHONOMUS-EUGENII CANO IN PEPPER VAR CUBANELLE IN PUERTO-RICO

Two field trials were established (22 April 1985) at the Agricultural Experiment Station in Isabela to evaluate insecticides for the control of the pepper weevil, Anthonomus eugenii Cane, on pepper var. Cubanel le. The insecticides included in the first trial were permethrin 2E at 0.23 and 0.47 L/ha, oxamyl L at 2.34 and 4.68 L/ha, and fenvalerate 2 .4 EC at 0.39 and 0.78 L/ha. In the second trial, only fenvalerate at the indicated rates was evaluated. A knapsack sprayer was used for all foliar applications. Insecticide applications were begun at fruit for mation and were continued on a weekly basis. Efficacy was based on the number of fallen fruits per plot. Significant differences were obtain ed for fenvalerate (0.78 L/ha) with the lowest number of fallen fruits per plot (10.07) and 90% of control and 31% losses. With oxamyl at 4. 68 L/ha, control reached 79% and the second lowest number of fallen fr uits per plot (26%) with 38% losses. Permethrin was effective neither in controlling weevil damage nor in reducing losses. The best marketab le fruit yield was obtained with oxamyl at 4.68 L/ha.