Scutigerella immaculata
Pest description, crop damage and life history
See:
Common Pests of Vegetable Crops
Biology and Control of the Garden Symphylan
Pest Monitoring Infested soil can be treated with insecticides, but the effect is limited because of the symphylan's ability to migrate deep into the soil. Insecticides may help give the plants a chance to establish in a protected zone. In general, preplant field evaluation for symphylans involves grid sampling at one-acre intervals, digging 6 x 6 x 12-inch holes (0.25 cubic foot), spreading and carefully examining the soil from the hole, and using an action threshold of 0.5 to 1 symphylans per sample. In Ohio, 50 to 100 symphylans per corn plant is considered damaging to early corn.
Management-biological control
Many organisms prey on symphylans in the field, including true centipedes, predatory mites, predaceous ground beetles, and various fungi. However, little is known about their effect on symphylan populations.
Management-cultural control
Symphylan damage generally is associated with soils that are high in organic matter content and have good soil structure. Symphylans do not thrive in either compact or sandy soils, because these soils do not provide them with adequate tunnels for their movement (symphylans cannot make their own burrows). There is some evidence that packing down the soil surface after planting may reduce injury.
Flooding for 2 to 3 weeks has controlled symphylans in some situations but has been unsuccessful in others. Even in the best circumstances, flooding only reduces populations, and they can increase when conditions are again favorable. Effectiveness of rotations with non-host crops has not been studied.
Management-chemical control: HOME USE
- cyfluthrin
Management-chemical control: COMMERCIAL USE
- chlorethoxyfos/bifenthrin (Smart Choice 5G) at 3 to 3.5 oz 1,000 row ft. REI 48 hr, or 72 hr if annual rainfall is less than 25 inches.
- chloropicrin (Telone II)-Preplant.
- ethoprop (Mocap 15G) at 0.063 to 0.125 lb ai/A at plant. Rates for Mocap depend upon row spacing. Refer to label. REI 48 hr, or 72 hr if annual rainfall is less than 25 inches. Apply as a band on row or closed seed furrow, or sidedress from planting to lay-by.