Efficacy, persistence, and phytotoxicity of aldicarb applied as a pretransplant treatment to eggplant for Colorado potato beetle (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) protection [Leptinotarsa decemlineata, Solanum melongena]

Aldicarb was applied pretransplant to potted eggplant, Solanum melongena , to determine the duration of Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata , control and residues in fruit relative to aldicarb application time and dose. Eggplants, treated 1 week pretransplant with 0.4, 0.8, or 1.6 g of aldicarb 15G per 425 cm super(3) of potting soil, were protected from L. decemlineata) for >3 weeks after transplanting; no residues of aldicarb were detected in first-harvest fruit. Foliage protection for this period would eliminate three to five of the foliar sprays currently being applied for early-season L. decemlineata control. Aldicarb phytotoxicity to eggplant was acclimation temperature dose dependent.