DEVELOPMENT AND REPRODUCTION OF MOLE CRICKETS (ORTHOPTERA, GRYLLOTALPIDAE) AFTER TREATMENTS WITH HYDROPRENE AND PYRIPROXYFEN

Hydroprene and pyriproxyfen, as liquid sprays applied to soil and as b ait formulations, were evaluated against nymphs of Scapteriscus abbrec iatus Scudder in the laboratory. Small and large nymphs were treated. Survival, development, and resulting progeny production were observed. Hydroprene treatments affected neither survival and development of ny mphs nor reproduction of resulting adults. Pyriproxyfen treatments cau sing substantial mortality were the 0.5% spray to small nymphs (33% mo rtality), 0.1% spray to large nymphs (33% mortality of females). 0.5% spray to large nymphs (87 and 67% mortality of females and males, resp ectively), and baits offered to large nymphs (40% mortality of females ). Concentrations of pyriproxyfen within each treatment group that cau sed the most deformities of surving adults were the 0.1% spray to smal l nymphs(85% of females and males deformed), 0.5% spray to large nymph s (100% of males deformed), and the 0.5% bait offered to large nymphs (46% of females deformed). Baits offered to small nymphs caused no def ormities. Nymphal development times were significantly lengthened by m ost pyriproxyfen treatments. Treatments significantly reducing progeny (egg and nymph) production of surviving adults were 0.1 and 0.5% spra ys to small nymphs and 0.02, 0.1, and 0.5% sprays to large nymphs. Pro geny production was significantly reduced when one or both members of a mating pair were deformed. The potential of pyriproxyfen for mole cr icket control and possible limitations are discussed.