Milford chronicle., 1962-10-26
Corn Borer Limiting
Pepper Production

! European corn borer infestations
in peppers must be controlled if
the crop is to continue to be a
profitable one in Delaware, accord
ing to DR.. Paul p. Burbutis, en-
ltomologist at the University OF
Delaware.
The corn borer problem in pep
ers is really twofold, he explains.
First, the borer causes the peppers
to rot, reducing the yield. Second,
since most Delaware peppers are
produced for canning, corn borer
linfestation contaminates them and
often makes them unfit to use.
The European corn borer W S
first found on the Eastern Shore
of Virginia in 1881. Since that time
this pest has become universally
distributed, causing extensive dam
age annually to field corn, sweet
corn and Irish potatoes. Peppers
in particular have been hard hit
and the corn borer has become a
limiting factor in the production of
this crop on the Eastern Shore.
The seriousness of these prob
lens promoted a cooperative study
by research personnel of the Uni
lversities of Delaware, Maryland
and the Virginia Truck Expert
ment Station. These specialists be-
gan extensive research on the biol
ogy and control of the corn borer
in pepprs. Screening and testing
of insecticides, for their effective
ness against this pest, is also
initiated.
Entomologists and agricultural
engineers at the University of
Maryland designed and built ex-
Iperimental equipment for the p
plication of insecticides on p p
pers. The result was uniform COW
erage of the entire plant.
According to Burbutis, the ex-
periments in Delaware were in
lpart supported by funds given by
! H. P. Cannon and Sons Inc, o
Bridgeville. These experiments at
| Bridgeville were designed to test
dosages, formulation, schedules,
and sticker, primarily using DDT
in an attempt to control the Eu-
| ropean corn borer.
Samples were taken periodically
after spraying, to see if DDT was
effective against the corn borer.
The very low percentage of n
tested peppers in the DDT treat
ments as compared with checks,
Especially during the height of
borer attacks, is substantial evil
ldence of the excellent control ach-
ieved by this insecticide, Burbutis
| said. 1t is encouraging to note that
in over 1900 peppers examined
from tht DDT plots, less than /
iper cent were infested. everal
Iother insecticides were also found
to be very effective in controlling
| this pest.
Spray residues on the peppers
were checked and found to COM
lply with Federal Food and Drug
regulations. In an experimental
test, peppers of all DDT treatments
were processed in the normal COM
mercial manner. DDT residues
were reduced but not eliminated
by processing. Residues resulting
from emulsion sprays were more
persistent during processing than
those of wettable powder formula
tions, says Burbutis. Residues in
the canned product from all treat
ments, however, were below Fed
eral tolerance
In the field of biological control
entomologists at Delaware in CO.
operation with USDA entomolo-
gists, have introduced a parasite OF
the corn borer in an attempt to
suppress the increasing borer pop
ulations.
E. N. Rain, horticultural special
ist at the University of Delaware,
says that weeds began to appear in
pepper fields during August a
September, causing damage to the
plants by competing for water and
nutrients. 'At this time of year we
want to reduce cultivation so as
not to distribute tobacco mosaic ;
he says.
AT present, only one chemical
weed control is being used. 1t is
for trial use only Tillam 10 Gran
ular has already given evidence
that when used as directed will
leave no residue on the plants.
| The Delaware pepper industry is
rapidly showing an increase n
yields and profit, due to combined
research of entomologists, plant
pathologists, and horticulturists