Includes alfalfa looper (Autographa californica)
Pest description and crop damage Mottled gray moth, 1.5 inches in length, with silver markings on forewings. Worms are slender (1 inch) and dark olive-green with a paler head marked with three light stripes.
Management-chemical control
- azadirachtin (Neemix) at 7 to 16 fl oz/A (0.021 to 0.047 lb ai/A). For use on crops grown in a greenhouse for transplants, apply at 4 to 16 fl oz/A (0.012 to 0.049 lb ai/A). PHI 0 days. REI 4 hr. Begin applications at first sign of infestation. Multiple applications and thorough coverage are necessary for effective control. Apply every 7 to 10 days as needed. This botanical pesticide acts slowly. Spray early, well before harvest, and check for effect. Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
See also:
Spinach-Alfalfa looper