Project Overview
FS07-212
Project Type: Farmer/Rancher
Funds awarded in 2007: $999.00
Projected End Date: 12/31/2008
Region: Southern
State: Georgia
Commodities
- Nuts: pecans
- Vegetables: sweet corn
Practices
- Crop Production: application rate management
- Education and Training: extension, workshop
- Pest Management: biological control
Summary:
The purpose of our project was to determine if Brazilian free-tailed bat predation can decrease corn earworm infestation levels in sweet corn. We planted a sweet corn plot in close proximity to permanent free-tailed bat colonies. The corn was planted in early, middle, and late stages with a control plot corresponding with the early stage corn. Results indicate early sweet corn had one-half of the corn earworm infestation as the control. Earworm infestation rates in the middle and late corn increased successively. Our project indicated that bat predation is an effective control of corn earworm moths in early sweet corn, but not in late season sweet corn.
Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and should not be construed to represent any official USDA or U.S. Government determination or policy.