Evaluación de insecticidas curasemillas para el control de Sternechus subsignatus Boheman (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) en las primeras etapas de desarrollo del cultivo de soja

sternechus subsignatus boheman, 1836 (curculionidae: sternechini) is one of the most important soybean pests in northwestern argentina (noa). it has potential for considerable damage, since both larvae and adults are harmful to the crop. s. subsignatus management is difficult primarily due to its behaviour and peculiarities of its biology. in the search for an alternative to control the pest, we studied the use of chemical insecticides for soybean seed treatment as a method for protecting the crop in its early development stages. three products at different doses, thiamethoxan, acetamiprid and imidacloprid, and a control were evaluated during three crop seasons: 2002/2003, 2006/2007 and 2007/2008. the evaluated parameter was the percentage of damaged plants. assessments were made at different times, from trial sowing date onwards. thiamethoxam 35% fs was the product that offered best control in all evaluated assays, providing adequate protection up to three weeks after crop sowing.