Southern Corn Rootworm Control with Multiple Sprays of Bifenthrin and Indoxacarb in Peanut

The larval stage of southern corn rootworm (Diabrotica undecimpunctata Howardi) can damage pods and feed on kernels and subsequently reduce peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) yield. Although chlorpyrifos was used routinely to control this pest in peanut, food tolerances for this insecticide were vacated by US EPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency) leaving growers with no chemical control for this pest. Research was conducted during 2022 and 2023 to determine if control of the adult stage of this insect (e.g., spotted cucumber beetle) could be achieved when bifenthrin or indoxacarb were applied three times on a 14-day schedule starting at the R3 stage of peanut growth and development. Although damage to pods was relatively low in the experiments, these insecticides did not affect pod damage caused by southern corn rootworm or peanut yield. These results indicate that peanut growers should not use bifenthrin or indoxacarb to control the adult stage of southern corn rootworm in an attempt to prevent pod damage from the larval stage of this insect.