Due to an increasing pest diversity in maize crop during the off-season, two autumn-winter experiments were conducted in the Medium Paranapanema region, State of São Paulo, Brazil, designated as Fields A and B, both in Cândido Mota County. The aim of the experiments were to evaluate the effect of insecticides on the control of pests occurring in the initial plant development. Treatments were the recommended dosage of the insecticides thiamethoxam (Cruiser 700 WS), carbofuran (Furazin 310 TS), imidacloprid (Gaucho FS), imidacloprid (Gaucho FS) + carbofuran (Furazin 310 TS), fipronil (Regent 800 WG), thiodicarb (Semevin 350 RPA); and the control (without insecticide). The soil insects (burrowing bugs and grubs) populations were evaluated at 14th and 28th days after plant emergency (DAE), in Field A, and at 7th and 21th DAE, in the Field B. Spodoptera frugiperda incidence and corn plant parameters were evaluated at 14th and 28th DAE. Fipronil and carbofuran performed best on the control of Scaptocoris castanea. Fipronil alone provided also the best control for grubs (Phyllophaga spp.). Carbofuran and thiodicarb reduced damages from fall armyworm. The chemical control of corn pests in the initial stage of the crop enhanced grain productivity only in the field A were the number of grubs in the soil was highest.
Pest management; Scaptocoris castanea; Phyllophaga spp; Spodoptera frugiperda; Zea mays
