Laboratory tests with Diadegma insulare (Cresson), a parasitoid of the diamondback moth ( Plutella xylostella (L.)), were conducted to evaluate the viability of cocoons stored at 4 ° C for varying lengths of time and also the effects of parasitism by D. insulare on the feeding rate of diamondback moth larvae. The percentage of adults emerging from cocoons declined steadily with time spent in st...

Laboratory bioassays were conducted to determine the response of larvae of a susceptible strain of diamondback moth Plutella xylostella (L.) from the Rio Grande Valley of south Texas to five classes of insecticides. Test insecticides were permethrin, methamidophos, endosulfan, methomyl and Bacillus thuringiensis. Three monitoring techniques were developed and tested as methods of determining th...

Thuricide, a Bacillus thuringiensis formulation, is active against more than 200 lepidopterous species in their larval stage. Best efficacy is obtained when Thuricide is applied at hatching time and/or on 1st to 3rd larval instars during their intensive feeding period. Since Thuricide must be eaten by the insect to be effective, thorough leaf coverage is essential for best results. Thuricide HP...