Evaluation of Systemic Insecticides in Protecting Container-Grown Nursery Plants from Damage Caused by Field-Collected Populations of Redheaded Flea Beetle, Systena frontalis (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), Adults

Abstract Systena frontalis (F.) is a major insect pest of nursery production systems in the Midwest, Northeast, and Southeast regions United States. Adults feed on plant leaves, which reduces salability nursery-grown plants. There are limited options available to protect plants from S. adult feeding damage, foliar insecticide applications labor intensive. Systemic insecticides applied growing medium may feeding. Consequently, 2021 2022, we conducted two laboratory greenhouse experiments determine if systemic thiamethoxam, dinotefuran, cyantraniliprole, acephate, imidacloprid, cyfluthrin + imidalcoprid by field-collected populations adults. In experiments, containing Itea was treated with aforementioned insecticides. Seven 25 d after treatments were applied, leaves collected placed into Petri dishes single adult. observation cages. Eight adults released each cage an plant. associated thiamethoxam dinotefuran resulted 100% mortality 72 h. acephate protected 7 applying treatments. Therefore, can mitigate damage caused