Control of Rice Stink Bugs with Foliar Application of Dinotefuran and Clothianidin

The rice stink bug [Oebalus pugnax (F.)] is one of the important pests commonly found in Arkansas rice fields. When outbreaks in fields reach critical levels, an insecticide application is an option. Pyrethroid and organophosphate insecticides usually give excellent contact mortality, but both groups lack any significant residual activity. Two insecticides, dinotefuran and clothianidin, were tested in a field study for control of rice stink bugs through contact and residual activity. Both insecticides had excellent contact mortality and significantly better residual activity than historically provided from the commonly used pyrethroid and organophosphate insecticides. The residual activity decreased somewhat at the end of 7 days for clothianidin and at the end of 10 days for dinotefuran. However, the residual activity could have been affected by rainfall that occurred on the fourth, sixth, and ninth day of the test. Registration of both insecticides is being encouraged by researchers and pursued by the chemical companies.