Insect Control 77

Insect Control - 77

Project Leader and Principal UC Investigators

A.A. Grigarick, Entomology, UC Davis

M.O. Way

D.R. Johnson

C.A. Hekkanen

F.C. Zalom

Research to control rice crop insect damage has earned us nearly $9 million since 1969 twice the cost of the total research program to date. Control of the water weevil is here; progress has been made toward control of the midge larvae. Safer, improved control of other insect pests such as the tadpole shrimp and rice leaf miner have been developed. Research also is helping ensure that current insecticides remain registered for use while seeking even more effective and safer insecticides.

Post-doctoral and graduate students provide important scientific assistance on all UCD rice research projects. These students, working under the direction of UCD entomologist Dr. A.A. Grigarick, carefully collect data needed to improve rice water weevil control.

Injury such as this to germinating seeds by rice seed midges is usually not detected until it is too late to replant. No control is yet available, but the conditions leading to greatest injury have been identified. The later in the season a field is flooded the greater the chances for higher water temperatures and more rapid development of midge larvae. Delayed planting after flooding also may result in significant midge injury to seeds. Research revealed that seeding 6 to 7 days after flooding late in the season resulted in high midge damage.

Field experiments helped UCD's Dr. A.A Grigarick develop data that led to the registration of two insecticides (Bux and Furadan) for control of water weevil. The cages with thin stands contain heavy weevil populations.