Insecticidal Management of Rangeland Grasshoppers Using a Remotely Piloted Aerial Application System
Daniel E. Martin,
Roberto Rodriguez,
Derek A. Woller,
K. Chris Reuter,
Lonnie R. Black,
Mohamed A. Latheef,
Mason Taylor,
Kiara M. López Colón
Affiliations
Daniel E. Martin
USDA ARS Aerial Application Technology Research Unit, College Station, TX 77845, USA
Roberto Rodriguez
Spatial Data Analysis and Visualization Laboratory, University of Hawai‘i at Hilo, 200 West Kawili Street Room 273a, Hilo, HI 96720, USA
Derek A. Woller
USDA APHIS PPQ Science and Technology Insect Management and Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory (Phoenix Station) Rangeland Grasshopper and Mormon Cricket Management Team, Phoenix, AZ 85040, USA
K. Chris Reuter
USDA APHIS PPQ Science and Technology Insect Management and Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory (Phoenix Station) Rangeland Grasshopper and Mormon Cricket Management Team, Phoenix, AZ 85040, USA
Lonnie R. Black
USDA APHIS PPQ Science and Technology Insect Management and Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory (Phoenix Station) Rangeland Grasshopper and Mormon Cricket Management Team, Phoenix, AZ 85040, USA
Mohamed A. Latheef
USDA ARS Aerial Application Technology Research Unit, College Station, TX 77845, USA
Mason Taylor
USDA APHIS PPQ Science and Technology Insect Management and Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory (Phoenix Station) Rangeland Grasshopper and Mormon Cricket Management Team, Phoenix, AZ 85040, USA
Kiara M. López Colón
USDA APHIS PPQ Science and Technology Insect Management and Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory (Phoenix Station) Rangeland Grasshopper and Mormon Cricket Management Team, Phoenix, AZ 85040, USA
Grasshoppers are integral parts of rangeland ecosystems but also have the potential to reach population densities high enough (outbreaks) to cause serious economic damage from forage loss and affect adjacent crops. The objective of this study was to investigate the efficacy of treating grasshopper population hotspots with a liquid insecticide using a remotely piloted aerial application system (RPAAS), as opposed to fixed-wing aircraft, which is the most common method currently in use. A liquid insecticide, Sevin XLR PLUS (containing carbaryl), was applied on replicated 4.05-hectare (10-acre) plots with an RPAAS on a ranch in New Mexico. Our results demonstrated that Sevin XLR PLUS significantly suppressed grasshopper populations over a 14-day period (normalized population reduction was 79.11 ± 8.35% SEM) and quite rapidly (mostly by day 3) compared to untreated controls. These results are comparable to those achieved with fixed-wing aircraft. The RPAAS covered the whole test area in a single flight in approximately 5 min, making these population hotspot treatment applications relatively rapid, potentially more cost-effective, and more targeted in comparison to fixed-wing aircraft. Before adoption as an application method option, further research is recommended on using an RPAAS to cover larger areas in combination with using diflubenzuron-based insecticides, which are often preferred.
