EFFICACY OF ACTARA™ 240SC (THIAMETHOXAM), APPLIED AS A DRENCH AGAINST MANGO SEED WEEVIL (STERNOCHETUS MANGIFERAE) ON MANGOES IN SOUTH AFRICA

Controlling the mango seed weevil, Sternochetus mangiferae, a phytosanitary pest, is becoming increasingly difficult due to restrictions placed on the use of certain pesticides.
To address this problem, Westfalia Technological Services initiated work with thiamethoxam during the 2003 / 2004 mango season.
The pilot study involved exposing fruit on thiamethoxam treated trees (1.92 g a.i. / tree) to gravid weevils by means of bagging.
The positive results achieved led to further investigation into the potential of this product for weevil control during the 2004/2005 season.
Four trials were conducted in the Tzaneen, Hoedspruit and Bushbuck Ridge magisterial districts of the Limpopo province of South Africa on the cultivars ‘Keitt’ (under drip and micro irrigation), ‘Tommy Atkins’ (micro irrigation) and ‘Sensation’ (micro irrigation). Two rates of thiamethoxam, 1.44 g a.i. (6 ml) and 1.92 g a.i. (8 ml) / tree were used.
The product was applied as a 1 liter solution per tree; either at the dripper or around the base of the stems where sprinklers were used.
Results obtained from both treatment methods and rates were positive and warranted registration of thiamethoxam for the control of mango weevil.

VIII International Mango Symposium

C.E. Louw, M.D. Le Lagadec, C.L. Labuschagne, A.A. Erasmus

Coleoptera, Curculionidae, phytosanitary pest, mango fruit export, insecticide restrictions, chemical control, soil drench

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2009.820.71