Distinguished Professor North Carolina State University Raleigh, North Carolina
Modern cropping systems are often complex in terms of the interactions that occur on multiple levels. In high input crops, those interactions may be more common and have significant effects on production practices, profit, and sustainability. Peanuts grown in the southeastern U.S. are a high value and high input crop that is subject to frequent attack from pests including diseases, insects, and mites. Numerous interactions and secondary pests occur from pesticide use in this crop. Comprehensive pest management approaches have sought to reduce the frequency of induced pest problems. Spider mites, Tetranychus urticae Koch are frequent pests during periods of hot, dry weather. The likelihood of infestations is exacerbated by pesticide use that reduces the natural enemies of the mites including arthropod predators and fungal pathogens. The frequent use of fungicides to control diseases and insecticide applications to control lepidoptera pests are major factors. Leafspot advisories more rigorously schedule fungicide applications and elevated thresholds for caterpillar control reduce foliar insecticide applications. However, spider mite outbreaks still occur. The use of baculoviruses for caterpillar control has the potential to reduce the threat of spider mite outbreaks by preserving beneficial arthropods in the crop canopy more than can be accomplished with the use of synthetic chemistries. Tank mixes of fungicides and baculoviruses that target emerging populations of caterpillars may provide a cost-effective and environment-friendly tobacco budworm (Helicoverpa armigera) and corn earworm (Helicoverpa zea) control option without the potential to flare spider mite populations.
