Comparison of Aerial and Ground Application of Three Granular Insecticides for Control of First Generation European Corn Borer in Corn

A 3-yr (1976–78) study was completed comparing aerial and ground applications of similar rates of carbofuran G. fonofos G, and phorate G for control of 1st brood Ostrinia nubilalis (Hubner) in field corn in northeast Nebraska. Ground applications of these insecticides were found to be significantly more effective ( P = 0.10) in reducing borer damage as measured by reductions in number of feeding cavities per plant (1976–77). The insecticide × method of application interaction was not significant. The combined number of feeding cavities per plant, averaged over methods of application for each insecticide, indicated that carbofuran 10G treatments were either significantly better (1976 and 1978) or equal to (1977) the next best treatment in reducing 1st brood ECB cavities ( P = 0.05). Applications of fonofos 20G were significantly better than phorate 15G in reducing ECB cavities (1976 and 1978). No difference was detected between fonofos 20G and phorate 15G in 1977.