Assessing the effectiveness of HARVANTA (cyclaniliprole) in controlling major cranberry pests

Description

The cranberry weevil, Anthonomus musculus Say; the blackheaded fireworm, Rhopobota naevana (Hübner); and the cranberry fruitworm, Acrobasis vaccinii Riley, are major cranberry pests in Québec. Currently the only insecticide registered to control the cranberry weevil in conventional production is Actara® 25WG (thiamethoxam), a neonicotinoid considered extremely toxic to bees.

After reviewing the potential risks the active compound poses to aquatic invertebrates, the Canadian Pest Management Regulatory Agency decided to withdraw thiamethoxam products by 2021. The only two effective registered products available for controlling the blackheaded fireworm and cranberry fruitworm are Altacor® (chlorantraniliprole) and Intrepid® 240 (methoxyfenozide).

Due to the high prevalence of these pests, insecticide treatments are required every year to limit crop damage. Given there are just two products available, farmers are obliged to rotate them over a two-year period. This project’s aim is to evaluate the effectiveness of HARVANTA® 50SL to control these three insect pests, with the goal of providing data to support an URMULE program application.

Objective(s)

• Determine the mortality rates of the three targeted pests as a function of insecticide dose.
• Assess the damage caused by the three targeted pests after treatment with different insecticide doses.