Exploratory Studies with Soil Toxicants to Control the Mexican Fruit Fly

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Abstract
Endrin, isodrin, dieldrin, heptachlor, and aldrin were the most promising of 27 wettable-power or emulsifiable insecticides screened in the laboratory as soil toxicants against the Mexican fruit fly (Anastrepha ludens (Loew)). Granulated aldrin appeared to have higher initial toxicity than similar formulations of endrin, dieldrin, or heptachlor in laboratory tests, but the latter were more effective after 294 days. Endrin emulsifable and wettable-powder formulations were still highly toxic 1134 days after application to small field plots during the dry season but less effective when the applications were made during the rainy season. A dieldrin emulsifiable formation at the rate of 12.1 pounds per acre was the best treatment 1037 days after application in a second series of field tests. However, 5 pounds in either emulsifiable or granulated formulations was not an adequate dosage. Heptachlor gave good initial kill in all tests but its efficiency declined rapidly within 6 months. The toxicants appeared to be more effective on loamy sand than on sandy loam but the amount of spray per acre did not affect performance.