1st Place: Improving the management of western bean cutworm, Striacosta albicosta, in edible dry beans

Monday, November 14, 2022

11:30 AM – 11:42 AM PT

Location: Vancouver Convention Centre, Meeting Room 208/209

Presenting Author(s)

JK

Josée Kelly

Graduate Student
University of Guelph
Ridgetown, Ontario, Canada

Co-Author(s)

Jocelyn L. Smith

Research Scientist
University of Guelph
Ridgetown, Ontario, Canada
CG

Chris Gillard

University of Guelph
Ridgetown, Ontario, Canada
Yasmine Farhan

Research Associate
University of Guelph
Ridgetown, Ontario, Canada

Western bean cutworm (WBC; Striacosta albicosta (Smith; Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)) is a pest that has expanded its range in Canada within the past decade resulting in damage in corn (Zea mays) and dry beans (Phaseolus vulgaris). Field experiments were conducted to assess insecticide efficacy and application timing in response to different WBC infestation levels in small plots of navy beans in Ridgetown and Exeter, Ontario, Canada in 2021. The objectives of this research were to document the feeding behaviour and subsequent bean injury when treated with single or multiple insecticide application(s) – early or late – in response to WBC infestation. Plots were infested at 0, 7 and/or 14 days after pin pod stage and treated with chlorantraniliprole (50 g ai ha^-1) at 4, 11, 18, 25 and/or 32 days after infestation. Sentinel plants within each plot were monitored weekly and dissected after harvest. No difference in pod injury was observed among treatments at harvest. Post-harvest assessments of plants were intended to differentiate superficial pod injury from substantial feeding that affected seed quantity and quality; however, no difference was observed among treatments. The management of WBC in beans may be improved by developing an insecticide timing model using historical Ontario pheromone trap data to investigate flight trends according to soil type, geographic region, and growing degree days. I hypothesize that WBC will remain a serious bean pest in Ontario and a timing model will enable growers to coordinate insecticide applications more accurately for effective management.