Field development of flubendiamide (Belt~R, Fame~R, Fenos~R, Amoli~R) - a new insecticide for the control of lepidopterous pests

摘要

Belt~R shows excellent performance for the control of a broad range of lepidopterous pests. Due to its new mode of action as a ryanodine receptor modulator, Belt is free from cross resistance to any other commercial insecticide. It shows very good plant compatibility. Flubendiamide is a fast acting compound leading to the cessation of feeding immediately after ingestion of the product. It is therefore best applied at the beginning of infestation. Moreover, the product shows excellent residual activity. Applied at 24-48 g a.i./ha, Belt controls the lepidoteran pest complex in cabbage. The product shows an excellent performance in tomatoes, over a range of 24-60 g a.i./ha, against economically important Lepidoptera like Helicoverpa armigera, Spodoptera exigua or Tula ab-soluta. Belt also provides good to excellent control of various pests in cotton, including Helicoverpa armigera, Heliothis virescens and Spodoptera littoralis. Additionally, Belt is well suited for the control of pests like Helicoverpa zea and Spodoptera frugiperda in corn. Finally, Belt has shown the potential for the control of various economic important Lepi-doptera in rice. Selectivity towards beneficial insects and predatory mites is a requirement of a modern plant protection product suitable for IPM. Belt has been tested under semi-field and field conditions for its selectivity against key beneficial arthropods like ladybird beetles, soldier beetles, predatory bugs, parasitoids and earwigs. The product is harmless to most of the relevant beneficial insects and does not harm predatory mites. The prey/predator ratio, an indicator of selectivity, is always low after a treatment with the product, making Belt highly suitable for IPM programs in many crops. Registrations have beenachieved in the Philippines, Pakistan, Chile and India. Further registrations are expected until 2008 in the USA, Brazil and Australia amongst other countries.