Effects of Certain Herbicides on Some Insects and Spiders Found in Louisiana Cotton Fields2

Abstract
Experiments were conducted to determine if some widely used herbicides affected certain insects and spiders found in Louisiana colton fields. Bioassays with dinoseb, diuron, and MSMA were conducted in the laboratory on Coleomegilla maculata (De Geer), Eretmocerus haldemani Howard, Orius insidiosus (Say), Geocoris punctipes (Say), and Scymnus louisianae Chapin. Dinoseb was the most toxic but did not appear to be as toxic as insecticides. Diuron and MSMA were relatively nontoxic to the insects tested. In field experiments, no significant effect (P>0.05) was observed on insects and spider populations where these herbicides were applied as directed sprays to the base of the colton plants. However. foliar applications of MSMA significantly (P<0.01) reduced population of Psetulatomoscelis seriatus (Reuter). Most other arthropods observed appeared to be unaffected by MSMA.

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