Rootworm areawide management project in Kansas

Kansas State University initiated a Rootworm Areawide Management Project (R AMP) under the auspices of the United States Department of Agriculture (USD A) in 1997. This 4-yr project is being conducted in north central Kansas wi th the cooperation of 47 owners or operators. The project is a concerted ef fort to suppress adult western corn rootworms, Diabrotica virgifera virgife ra LeConte, over a large contiguous area of continuous corn (Zea mays L.) p roduction by using the principles of integrated pest management (IPM), incl uding carefully timed applications of the semiochemical insecticide-bait SL AM(R). In addition to this adult suppression program, technology is being d eveloped or modified to determine treatment thresholds and application timi ng so that private consultants and growers can continue rootworm areawide s uppression after the year 2000, when the intensive research program termina tes. The managed area is located in 41.4-km(2) (16-mi(2)) of intensely irri gated corn-soybean production near Scandia, Kansas. A similar 10.36-km(2) ( 4-mi(2)) area near the town of Norway, Kansas, will serve as a control and will not be treated with Slam throughout the duration of this project. One hundred and twenty-one cornfields were monitored in 1997 with Pherocon AM(R ) yellow sticky traps. Treatment thresholds were greater than or equal to 3 5 western corn rootworm adults per sticky trap per week or 0.6 western corn rootworm per plant based upon plant inspections that were used to suppleme nt trap counts. One thousand one hundred and seventy-seven hectares require d treatment (68.5% of the total from the managed area). The Slam applicatio n resulted in greater than or equal to 95% adult western corn rootworm cont rol in all treated fields. Treated and untreated fields were selected for 1 0 additional experiments that were initiated to refine sampling technology necessary for adequate timing of insecticide applications. All experiments will be continued, with appropriate modifications, throughout the duration of the project.