Entomology, Department of
Date of this Version
1-1973
Citation
E. A. Heinrichs, E. E. Burgess, Charles A. Mullins. 1973. Collard insect control. Tennessee Farm and Home Science Progress Report 85, January, February, March: pp 33-34.
Abstract
Collards, Brassica oleracea var. viridis, because of their nutritional value, are important vegetables in the diets of many Tennesseans. According to a survey conducted by R. D. Freeland of the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, Tennessee produced 1,544 acres of fresh and 4,405 acres of processor collards in 1971. Most were grown on the Cumberland Plateau and in West Tennessee. Many insects attack collard foliage. Flea beetle feeding causes "shot holes" in the leaf. Various caterpillars such as the cabbage looper, Trichoplusia ni (Hubner) , and the imported cabbageworm, Pieris rapae (L.), are capable of severe defoliation (Figure 1). If controls are not applied, heavy losses will generally occur. Some chemicals currently recommended by the Institute of Agriculture for collard insect control were tested and some new chemicals and biological preparations were evaluated for effectiveness. Results are herein reported.