Selection of insecticides for lure and kill studies against Spodoptera littoralis (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Four pyrethroids, two carbamates, two organophosphates, and one formamadine were evaluated by topical bioassay against adult male Spodoptera littoralis Boisduval to test their suitability for lure and kill or attracticide crop protection systems. The pyrethroid lambda-cyhalothrin had the greatest toxicity at 24 and 48 h; this compound was selected for further investigation. Studies on cotton leaves sprayed at 500 microgram/ml (AI) showed that 10-s exposure of adult male moths to surface residues resulted in appreciable knockdown within 30 m. At 1,000 microgram/ml, marked disruption of mating was observed for 7-14 d after exposure under simulated field conditions. Subsequent field studies in Egypt showed that lambda-cyhalothrin (2,000 microgram/ml, 10-s exposure) gave excellent control of feral male S. littoralis for 14 d and apparently had no repellent activity