Effect of Bt maize on development and survival of Diabrotica balteata

The banded cucumber beetle Diabrotica balteata LeConte, is a non-native pest of peanut in Georgia. In some areas of Georgia, this species is more abundant than other native rootworm species and can cause substantial economic loss to peanut pods at harvest. Chlorpyrifos was previously the only effective control strategy for this pest, but with this insecticide being revoked by the EPA in 2022, peanut growers have been left with very few control options. Previous research done by the University of Georgia (unpublished) has identified increase abundance and damage of this pest in peanut fields adjacent to corn fields. Due to limited control strategies for banded cucumber beetles, the object of this research is to identify alternative control strategies for banded cucumber beetles in corn that is being grown adjacent to peanut through the use of Bt field corn varieties that have genes that are effective against the western corn rootworm Diabrotica virgifera virgifera. Should Bt genes for use on western corn rootworm have effectiveness against banded cucumber beetle, Georgia peanut growers may once again have an option for protecting their peanuts.