Soil Treatments in Lieu of Spraying for Plum Curculio Control in Peach Orchards1

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Abstract
In soil-box experiments aldrin and dieldrin prevented emergence of adults of the plum curculio (Conotrachelus nenuphar Hbst.) for eight seasons, and heptachlor dust for seven and granules for four seasons. Chlordane granules were more effective than those of isodrin, endrin, or Thiodan® (6,7,8,9,10,10-hexachloro-1,5,5a,6,9,9a-hexahydro-6,9-methano-2,4,3-benzodioxathiepin-3- oxide. No differences due to formulation were found. A soil treatment with 2.3 pounds of aldrin per acre in a peach on-hard in March 1957 held the percentage of harvested, infested peaches to 1.6 ill 1957, 2.9 in 1958, and 0.7 in 1959 without the help of insecticides applied to the trees. Only small numbers of adults were jarred from the trees during those years. In another orchard 2 pounds of aldrin per acre prevented the development of adults from most of the larvae placed on the soil under the spread of sample trees over a 3-year period. Soil treatments with aldrin, dieldrin, or heptachlor are now being used as a supplement to spraying by a number of Georgia peach growers.

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