Effect of Host Plant on the Susceptibility of the Southern Armyworm to Calcium Arsenate

Abstract

In carefully controlled tests, using the southern armyworm, Prodenia eridania, as the test insect, a zinc-safened Ca arsenate as the test insecticide, and the cranberry bean as the standard food in comparison with other food, it was found that it is not unreasonable to expect the MLD of a stomach insecticide for a polyphagous insect to depend in part on the species of leaf upon which the insecticide is offered to the insect, or its previous diet, or both. The influence of food on the effectiveness of a stomach insecticide may be due to the reaction of the insecticide with constituents of the food.