Bean, lima-Corn earworm

Helicoverpa zea

Pest description, crop damage and life history

See:

Common Pests of Vegetable Crops

Management-biological control

Many predators and parasites attack corn earworm eggs, including several species of Trichogramma. Most parasitized eggs turn black, but there may be a lag period before they do so. Commercial releases of Trichogramma wasps have been used with mixed results. Generalist predators such as lacewings, minute pirate bugs, and damsel bugs feed on corn earworm eggs and small larvae.

• HCNPV (Gemstar LC) at 4 to 10 fl oz formulated product. PHI 0 days. REI 4 hr. A liquid concentrate biological insecticide for control of corn earworm.

Management-chemical control: HOME USE

• azadirachtin (neem oil)-Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
• bifenthrin (usually as a mix with zeta-cypermethrin)
• pyrethrins (sometimes combined with other ingredients)-Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
• spinosad-Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
• zeta-cypermethrin

Management-chemical control: COMMERCIAL USE

• acephate (numerous products) at 0.75 to 1 lb ai/a. PHI 14 days, 1 day for lima beans harvested in succulent form. REI 24 hr. Do not feed treated vines. Do not exceed 2 lb ai/a per year.
• beta-cyfluthrin (Baythroid XL, Tombstone Helios) at 0.019 to 0.025 lb ai/a. PHI 7 days. REI 12 hr. Do not exceed 0.05 lb ai/a per season. Do not feed treated vines or hay to livestock.Only registered for use in WA.
• bifenthrin (Brigade 2EC, Sniper) at 0.033 to 0.1 lb ai/a. PHI 3 days. REI 12 hr. Do not exceed 0.2 lb ai/a per year. Do not apply within 25 ft of an aquatic habitat, 150 ft if applied by air.
• chlorantraniliprole (Coragen) at 0.045 to 0.065 lb ai/a. PHI 1 day. REI 4 hours. Do not exceed a total of 15.4 fl oz of chlorantranilprole containing products per season.
• cyfluthrin (Tombstone) at 0.01 to 0.015 lb ai/a. PHI 7 days. REI 24 hr. Retreatment interval 5 days. Do not exceed 0.01 lb ai/a per season. Do not graze livestock or harvest for vines for forage or hay.
• esfenvalerate (Asana XL) at 0.03 to 0.05 lb ai/a. PHI 21 days. REI 12 hr. Do not exceed 0.2 lb ai/a per season. Dry beans only.
• lambda-cyhalothrin (Warrior II) at 0.02 to 0.03 lb ai/a. PHI 7 days for green beans, 21 days for dry beans. REI 24 hr. Do not graze or feed to livestock. Do not exceed 0.12 lb ai/a per year. Do not apply within 25 ft of an aquatic habitat, 150 ft if applied by air.
• methomyl (Lannate SP) at 0.45 to 0.9 lb ai/a. PHI 1 to 3 days for succulent beans, 14 days for dry beans, 3 days for feeding vines, 7 days for hay. REI 48 hr. Do not exceed 4.5 lb ai/a per year.
• methoxyfenozide (Intrepid 2F) at 0.16 to 0.25 lb ai/a. PHI 7 days. REI 4 hr. Do not exceed 1 lb ai/a per season. Do not exceed four applications per season.
• spinetoram (Radiant SC) at 0.0313 to 0.0625 lb ai/a. PHI 3 days. REI 4 hr. Retreatment interval 4 days. Do not exceed six applications or 0.219 lb ai/a per season. Follow resistance management procedures on the label.
• spinosad (Success) at 0.06 to 0.09 lb ai/a. PHI 28 days for dry, 3 days for succulent. REI 4 hr. Treat eggs at hatch and small larvae. Do not exceed 0.19 lb ai/a per year (dry) or 0.45 lb ai/a (succulent). Do not feed forage or hay to livestock. Spinosad takes several days to achieve full effect. Monitor fields and pest populations carefully. Multiple applications may be necessary. Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
• zeta-cypermethrin (Mustang, Mustang Max) at 0.017 to 0.025 lb ai/a (Mustang Max) or 0.035 to 0.05 lb ai/a (Mustang). PHI 1 day. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 5 days. Do not exceed 0.15 lb ai/a (Mustang Max) or 0.3 lb ai/a (Mustang) per season. Do not apply within 25 ft of an aquatic habitat, 150 ft if applied by air.