Semester of Graduation

Spring 2026

Degree

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Entomology

Document Type

Thesis

Abstract

Soybean and cotton are major field crops in Louisiana, US, that suffer substantial economic losses each year from insect pest damage. Insecticides are the primary control methods, typically applied with conventional ground tractor sprayers or manned aircraft. Sprayer unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) or sprayer drone is an emerging technology with growing potential for field-crop insecticide applications, but their adoption in the US remains limited. One of the reasons for this is the lack of validated research data regarding their field performance. This study evaluated the efficacy of sprayer UAVs for managing redbanded stink bug (Piezodorus guildinii) in soybean and tarnished plant bug (Lygus lineolaris) in cotton through a series of field experiments. First, operational parameters were optimized by testing nozzle type, insecticide class, spray rate, and flight height. Hydraulic and centrifugal nozzles, although producing different spray characteristics, provided similar levels of pest control. In cotton, acephate, isocycloseram, and sulfoxaflor performed best against tarnished plant bug; in soybean, acephate, isocycloseram, and clothianidin showed superior efficacy against redbanded stink bug. Across both crops, spray rates of 2–5 gallons per acre (GPA) and flight heights of 1015 ft above the canopy generally showed better control. Subsequently, sprayer UAV performance was compared with conventional spraying tools, including ground tractor sprayers and a piloted aircraft. UAV applications achieved pest suppression comparable to that of ground sprayers, and equal or better efficacy than the piloted aircraft in producer soybean fields. Finally, the potential role of sprayer UAVs within an integrated pest management (IPM) framework was evaluated using a border trap-crop system to manage redbanded stink bug. This tactic did not successfully suppress infestations in the main crop, indicating a need for more system-level IPM studies. Overall, this work provides a comprehensive evaluation of UAV-based insecticide applications in Louisiana field crops and provides growers with evidence-based guidance to support the effective adoption of sprayer UAVs for pest management.

Date

3-26-2026

Committee Chair

Davis, Jeff A.

LSU Acknowledgement

1

LSU Accessibility Acknowledgment

1

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