Effects of Spinosad and Neem on the Efficacy of a Nucleopolyhedrovirus on Pickleworm Larvae1

ABSTRACT Formulations of neem (Neemix® 4.5) and spinosad (SpinTor® 2SC) were tested for their effects when mixed with the multicapsid nucleopolyhedrovirus virus (AgMNPV) from the velvetbean caterpillar, Anticarsia gemmatalis Hubner (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), for control of pickleworm larvae, Diaphania nitidalis (Stoll) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). In these experiments, neem had no additive effects in combination with AgMNPV. However, combinations of AgMNPV with spinosad as low as 1.0 × 10−6 of the original 22.8% suspension showed added efficacy against pickleworm larvae. These biorational insecticides are compatible with nucleopolyhedrovirues and may be useful in management of this primary pest of cucurbits.