Insecticide/Virus Completely Destroys Active Worms

Dr. Sebe Brown

Agritech has released Heligen to control corn earworms and Surtivo should be ready this summer to control soybean loopers. LSU AgCenter/Extension Service Entomologist Dr. Sebe Brown says it’s a virus control method and is applied like any other insecticide.

“You’ll spray it just like you would any other insecticide for any other soybean pest,” says Brown, “but the insect has to be present in the field.”

So, for instance, “if you’re going after corn earworms in soybeans you need to have corn earworms present in the field. The virus will sit on the leaf surface, the corn earmworm will feed on the infected tissue and once the virus enters their body, it infects them.”

But there is a difference, says Brown. “The difference is the virus is very lethal. It kills them and as a consequence of being infected with the virus the worm actually melts. They liquefy and in the process of liquification that allows the virus to be spread more readily across a field.”

Research done by the LSU AgCenter shows the virus can infect a field in as little as two weeks.