Wildlife Damage Management, Internet Center for
Date of this Version
October 1973
Abstract
Methiocarb [3,5-dimethyl-4-(methylthio)phenol methylcarbamate = R Mesurol1] showed promise as a bird repellent for protecting crops in 1964, when field tests in South Dakota indicated reduced pheasant damage to sprouting corn (West et al., 1969). Stickley and Guarino (1972) then showed marked reduction of blackbird damage to sprouting corn in South Carolina when methiocarb in a water slurry formulation was used as a seed treatment at the 0.5-percent level by weight of seed. Our test, in 1973, was conducted to determine the repellent efficacy of methiocarb on sprouting field corn when the powdered chemical is placed directly in the planter hopper with the corn seed. Ease of chemical application makes this “hopper box” technique preferred by farmers and, hence, the manufacturer.