Includes
Cowpea aphid (Aphis craccivora)
Pea aphid (Acyrthosiphon pisum)
Pest description and crop damage Pea aphid is the most common aphid on vetch. It is large with long legs and antennae, light green, and found on almost all legumes. Cowpea aphid is small and dark, almost black, while nymph is slate gray. Both pests feed by sucking plant juice. They build up quickly and stunt and yellow plants. Large populations of either aphid affect yield.
Management-chemical control
- azadirachtin (Aza Direct, Debug, AzaGuard® Botanical Insecticide/Nematicide)-Several brands. See label for concentrations. Use Aza Direct at 0.01875 to 0.0375 lb ai/A for most pest and crop conditions. REI 4 hr. Some formulation OMRI listed for organic production.
- malathion (Malathion 57 EC, Fyfanon 8 LB, and others) at 1 to 1.25 lb ai/A. PHI 7 days. REI 12 hr. Avoid applying spray on bloom. Malathion is toxic to all bees. To control pests when bloom is present, apply only in evening or early morning, when bees are not actively foraging in vetch. Always contact beekeeper before applying.
- zeta-cypermethrin (Mustang MAX, Mustang insecticide) at 0.014 to 0.025 lb ai/A. PHI 3 days for cutting or grazing. 7 days hay, seed. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.025 lb ai/A per cutting nor 0.075 lb ai/A per year.