Tank Mix vs. Worm Resistance: Dramatic Control

Soybean farmers fighting pests resistant to pyrethroids have found a new weapon. A new tank mix of DiPel ES and pyrethroids is proving to be a real solution for those struggling with increasing pest resistance to pyrethroids and organophosphates alone.

Helicoverpa armigera (Cotton Bollworm, Earworm)

Helicoverpa armigera is a difficult pest to pin down for a variety of reasons. It goes by numerous common names, including cotton bollworm or ear worm, as well as several others depending on the part of the world and on what crop it is found. H. armigera is also found on all the major continents and has numerous host plants. With all that versatility it’s probably not a huge surprise that it has developed resistance to several insecticides, such as pyrethroids.

Cabbage Looper (Trichoplusia ni)

“Feast or famine” is a phrase that applies to the cabbage looper. While it’s a voracious consumer of vegetable crops (especially cole crops) and can skeletonize plants in short order, the pest is so sensitive to certain viruses that some years entire populations are wiped out. However, because they can produce up to seven generations a year, and a single generation can cause tremendous damage, growers need to keep a watchful eye for these pests that literally “loop” through a field.