On‐farm comparison of aerial and chemigation application methods for Striacosta albicosta (lepidoptera: Noctuidae) management in corn using pyrethroid and diamide insecticides

Abstract BACKGROUND Application method and timing can strongly influence the efficacy and efficiency of insecticide treatments. The western bean cutworm, Striacosta albicosta , is a significant pest that can cause severe damage to corn ears through larval feeding. Management of S. albicosta frequently relies on insecticide application; however, inadequate applications or ineffective insecticides can lead to control failures. We seek to evaluate the efficacy of bifenthrin (pyrethroid) and chlorantraniliprole (diamide) for managing S. albicosta in corn using aerial and chemigation applications. RESULTS In an on‐farm study conducted over two growing seasons, aerial application deposition, spray coverage, and insecticide residues were greater on tassels than on ear leaves within the corn canopy. Of the total spray volume applied aerially, only 36.4% reached the tassel level, whereas 19.8% reached the ear zone. Across both application methods, chlorantraniliprole resulted in the lowest ear‐feeding injury (0.1 cm −1 ), while bifenthrin provided moderate control (0.55 cm −1 ) compared to the control (1.26 cm −1 ). No significant differences in yield protection were detected between application methods. CONCLUSION Effective management of S. albicosta requires delivering sufficient insecticide concentration to the target site and achieving adequate coverage throughout the corn canopy. Ensuring deposition in the ear zone is particularly important to delay resistance development and prevent larvae from being exposed to sublethal concentrations. These findings demonstrate the higher efficacy of chlorantraniliprole in reducing feeding injury and suggest that application method selection may be flexible without compromising yield protection. © 2026 The Author(s). Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.