Journal of Economic Entomology (1951) 44, 615-616

D.S. Marshall, A.A. Muka and G.G. Gyrisco (1951)
Control of the red-legged grasshopper on alfalfa with a low volume-low pressure sprayer
Journal of Economic Entomology 44 (4), 615-616
Abstract: In most years few of the 58 species (31 genera) of short-horned and pigmy grasshoppers found in New York State occur in numbers sufficient to warrant control measures, but in the past 5 years (especially in 1947 and 1949) Melanoplus femur-rubrum and M. bivittatus, have caused extensive damage to crops, fruit and vegetables in the north of the state. Field trials were carried out in 1950 to determine the effectiveness of various organo-phosphorus and chlorinated hydrocarbons for control of M. femur-rubrum. All the compounds tested were applied with a low volume-low pressure sprayer as emulsions at 20 gallons per acre containing 0.2, 0.4, 0.6 and 0.8 lbs per acre. Two areas were left untreated. Spraying was carried out in the evening of 25th July and grasshopper counts were made from net sweeps after 2 days, 1, 2, 3 and, 4 weeks. In every case more than 98% of grasshoppers present were killed in 2 days and using chlorinated hydrocarbons satisfactory control was given after a month even with 0.2 lbs per acre. Gamma benzene hexachloride, dieldrin, and aldrin, closely followed by toxaphene, gave the best results, chlordane and heptachlor being slightly inferior, especially in residual toxicity. Tetraethyl pyrophosphate gave good immediate kills but had little recidual toxicity; it could perhaps be therefore used on crops used as fodder for diary or slaughter animals.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied from Acridological Abstracts with permission by NRI, Univ. of Greenwich at Medway.)

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
control - general

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Melanoplus femurrubrum	Alfalfa/lucerne (Medicago sativa)	U.S.A. (NE)