• Dimond, J.B.
  Department of Entomology
  
• Kitteredge, Mark
  Department of Forestry
  
• Schaufler, Douglas
  University of Maine - Department of Agricultural Engineering
  
• Pratt, Daniel
  Maine Forest Service
  

In May 1978, Bacillus thuringiensis, formulated as Thuricide 16B,

was applied operationally for the first time against spruce budworm in

Maine. This operation was a part of the 1978 Maine Cooperative spruce

Budworm suppression Project, a cooperative undertaking of the Maine

Forest Service, the USDA Forest Service, and the state's forest landowners.

The planning for this project was based on a series of past

experimental trials in Maine going back to 1963 (Morrlson and Dimond,

1978, p. 3) and an experience in Canada.

Efficacy studies were conducted by Prof. John Dimond, Dept. of

Entomology, UMO. In terms of foliage protection, the operation was

successful. Larval mortality was 81% in the treated area compared to

72% in the unsprayed controls, and survivors were smaller and retarded

in development compared to the untreated area.

In cooperation with the Department of Agricultural Engineering at

UMO, an evaluation of the mixing system was obtained and meteorological

measurements taken.

Additional analysis will be performed using data gathered in this

project.

Mixtures of "BT' with sub lethal doses of chemical insecticides have

been successfully used elsewhere (Morris, 1977a, 1977b), but this program

used "BT" with no additives of any kind.