1. Insect
  2. Small Fruit Crops
  3. Cranberry Pests

Cranberry-Cutworm

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Numerous species

Pest description and crop damage There are a number of moth species with larvae (cutworms) that have a wide range of colors, markings, and patterns. The foliage-feeding larvae generally feed at night, and clip off tips of uprights and runners.

Management-cultural control

Light traps placed on or near beds can be used to reduce problematic populations of cutworms over time.

Management-chemical control: COMMERCIAL USE

  • acephate (Orthene and others) at 1.0 lb ai/A. PHI 90 days (some allow 75 days). Do not apply within 10 days of start of bloom due to bee concerns.
  • azadirachtin (Ecozin and other brands)-Consult label for rate. PHI 0 days. Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) (Dipel and others)-Consult label for rate. PHI 0 days. A spreader-sticker increases efficacy. Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • carbaryl (Sevin and other brands) at 1.5 to 2 lb ai/A. PHI 7 days. Do not apply during bloom; hazardous to bees. Latex-based formulations such as Sevin XLR Plus are less hazardous to bees.
  • cyclaniliprole (Verdepryn 100SL) at 0.054 to 0.072 lb ai/A. PHI 1 day. Highly toxic to bees.
  • fenpropathrin (Danitol 2.4EC) at 0.3 to 0.4 lb ai/A. PHI 3 days. Do not apply during bloom. Restricted use pesticide.
  • indoxacarb (Avaunt) at 0.07 to 0.11 lb ai/A. PHI 30 days. The effectiveness of Avaunt for controlling cutworms has not been determined, but as it controls other lepidopteran larvae, it might be effective for controlling cutworms. Hazardous to bees.
  • methoxyfenozide (Intrepid 2F, Invertid 2F and several others) at 0.16 to 0.25 lb ai/A. PHI 7 days. No more than 0.75 lb ai/A per year.
  • spinetoram (Delegate WG) at 0.05 to 0.10 lb ai/A. PHI 21 days. Apply to small larvae; may provide some suppression. Do not apply to bloom; material is hazardous to bees for three hours following treatment. Do not apply more than 0.281 lb ai/A per year.
  • spinosad (Entrust) at 0.06 to 0.16 lb ai/A. PHI 21 days. Apply to small larvae; may provide some suppression. Entrust is OMRI-listed for organic use. Do not apply to bloom; material is hazardous to bees for three hours following treatment.