Controlling pests of sweet peppers with reduced amounts of acephate and an intermittent sprayer [Ostrinia nubilalis, Myzus persicae]

Applications of acephate (0.84 kg of AI/ha) once very 2 weeks (biweekly) to sweet peppers during 1980-1981 with a conventional sprayer gave excellent control of European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis (Huebner), and reduced insecticide usage to almost half of that required by recommended weekly sprays. Applications at the same rate with an intermittent sprayer also gave excellent control and reduced usage of acephate by 68%. Weekly applications at one-half the recommended rate (0.42 kg of AI/ha) with either sprayer were almost as effective as the biweekly sprays and saved about as much insecticide. Biweekly applications at the lower rate, using either sprayer, however, gave poorer control. Regardless of rate of application, acephate gave satisfactory control of the green peach aphid, Myzus persicae (Sulzer).