Control of conifer defoliators with neem-based systemic bioinsecticides using a novel injection device

Abstract

A systemic tree injection tube was designed to introduce the required volumes of neem-based bioinsecticides into conifer trees. The device consists of plastic tubing attached with hose clamps to a maple sap spile at one end and a tubeless automobile tire valve at the other end. A hole is drilled in the tree, the spile is hammered into the hole, the device is filled with the systemic insecticide, and the system is pressurized by attaching a bicycle pump to the tire valve. The parts are readily available, the device is simple to construct and easy and quick to install on a tree, application volumes are adjustable, and the device is reusable. This device has been used successfully to inject 188 trees representing four conifer species in either spring or fall, primarily with neem formulations but also with dimethoate, imidacloprid, and acephate. In most cases, all of the material was injected into the trees without leakage, although neem formulations were characteristically slow to enter the trees and certain neem formulations were not injected completely at volumes above 15 mL per injection tube. Dosages of 0.2 g azadirachtin/cm of diameter at breast height (dbh) or less provided control of pine false webworm, spruce budworm, cedar leafminers, gypsy moth, and introduced pine sawfly on red pine, white spruce, eastern white cedar, white pine, and white pine, respectively. Dosages as low as 0.005 g active ingredient/cm of dbh applied with injection tubes in either one or two holes per tree resulted in a 95% reduction in defoliation of mature (mean dbh ± SD = 23.4 ± 3.3 cm) red pine caused by pine false webworm.

Systemic applications of azadirachtin in the control of Corythucha ciliata (Say, 1832)(Hemiptera, Tingidae), a pest of Platanus sp.

“…The water-dissolved substance was injected into the tree at a concentration of 1:20 (g substance to ml water) for 10 hours. This was done using a tree injector according to Helson et al (2001). The 'injection' consisted of a maple sap spile, a piece of plastic tubing cut to the length needed to accommodate the required volume of insecticide, a tubeless automobile tire stem with a valve, and two hose clamps.…”

Effects of azadirachtin injection in litchi trees (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) on the litchi stink bug (Tessaratoma papillosa Drury) in northern Thailand

“…However, it has been shown that the systemic eVect of azadirachtin on herbivores can last much longer. Helson et al (2001) applied injection of azadirachtin (0.1 g active ingredient/cm trunk diameter) to white pine (Pinus strobus) and achieved mortality rates of the pine sawXy Diprion similes of 83-100%, sustained over a period of 77 days. Altogether, these results show that the duration of eVects of systemic tree injection of azadirachtin varies within a wide range.…”

“…The water-dissolved substance was injected into the tree at a concentration of 1:40 (g substance to ml water) for 10 h. This was done using a tree injector after Helson et al (2001), which was modiWed according to product application recommendation (one drill hole per meter crown diameter) of Trifolio-M for the use in litchi trees. The components of the tree injector ( Fig.…”

“…This systemic eVect can be achieved by the application of azadirachtin to the soil with uptake by the roots (e.g. Gill and Levis 1971;Arpaia and van Loom 1993;Thoeming et al 2003), or by injection into the plant, especially in trees (Marion et al 1990;Helson et al 2001). Advantages of tree injection over soil and foliar applications include a more economic use of the applied product, avoidance of environmental contamination and generally a higher accuracy of eVects on target species (Zamora and Escobar 2000).…”

Application of liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry in assessment of potential use of azadirachtins (TreeAzin™) against Asian longhorned beetle

“…A wide variety of extracts of the Neem tree have been developed 25 and used both historically, and up until present day, for an equally wide variety of benefits including crop protection, veterinary and human health 2, 3 . More recently, azadirachtins have been developed as natural, systemic insecticides for use in integrated pest management strategies against exotic invasive 30 wood-boring insect pests such as Emerald Ash Borer [4][5][6][7] . Formulated products based on Neem seed extracts contain high levels of different azadirachtin analogues, being the major forms Azadirachtin A and B 8 .…”