Includes
Beet armyworm (Spodoptera exigua)
Bertha armyworm (Mamestra configurata)
Western yellowstriped armyworm (Spodoptera praefica)
Black cutworm (Agotis ipsilon)
Variegated cutworm (Peridroma saucia)
Pest description, crop damage and life history
See:
Common Pests of Vegetable Crops
Management-cultural control
Weed control is important. Lambsquarters and wild mustard attract egg-laying females and provide a source of food for larvae. Fall tillage can help destroy overwintering pupae.
Home gardeners: Control weeds, grasses, and debris in the vegetable garden that provide cover; hand-pick cutworm larvae, using a flashlight to find them, if practical. Scratch the soil at the base of plants to find larvae in the daytime.
Management-chemical control: HOME USE
Apply any one of these materials to the soil surface at first sign of cutworm activity. Consult label. Minimum preharvest interval (PHI) varies with crop. Difficult to control. Where cutworms are on the soil surface, a carbaryl drench, when bees are not present, may help.
- acetamiprid
- azadirachtin (neem oil)-Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
- Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki (Btk)-Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
- capsaicin-Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use
- deltamethrin
- gamma-cyhalothrin
- lambda-cyhalothrin
- permethrin
- plant-derived essential oils (such as rosemary) -These have some efficacy against lepidopteran pests. Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
- pyrethrins-Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
- spinosad-Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use. Oregon only.
- zeta-cypermethrin
Management-chemical control: COMMERCIAL USE
- azadirachtin (Azatin, Neemix) at up to 0.04 lb ai/a. PHI 0 days. REI 4 hr. Use higher rates for severe infestations. May need repeat applications at intervals of 7 days or less. Monitor pest populations and avoid rescue situations. Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
- Bacillus thuringiensis (Javelin, Xentari) 0.12 to 1.5 lb/a. PHI 0 days. REI 4 hr. Acts slowly; may need multiple applications. Add an appropriate spreader-sticker to enhance control. Most effective on small larvae. Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
- Burkholderia spp. (Venerate XC) at 1 to 4 quarts/a product. PHI 0 days. REI 4 hr. OMRI-listed for organic use.
- chlorantraniliprole (Coragen) at 0.045 to 0.098 lb ai/a foliar, at planting or as drip chemigation. PHI 1 day. REI 4 hr. Foliar retreatment interval 7 days and limit of 4 treatments. Do not exceed 0.6 lb ai/a per season.
- Chromobacterium subtsugae (Grandevo) at 0.3 to 0.9 lb ai lb/a. PHI 0 days. REI 4 hr. OMRI-listed for organic use.
- deltamethrin (Delta Gold) at 0.012 to 0.018 lb ai/a. PHI 1 day. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 5 days. Do not exceed 0.112 lb ai/a per season.
- gamma-cyhalothrin (Declare) at 0.0075 to 0.015 lb ai/a. PHI 14 days. REI 24 hr. Do not exceed 0.12 lb ai/a per season. Use of a COC or nonionic surfactant improves performance.
- lambda-cyhalothrin (Warrior II) at 0.015 to 0.03 lb ai/a. PHI 14 days. REI 24 hr. Retreatment interval 5 days. Do not exceed 0.24 lb ai/a per season. Addition of a 1% COC or one-quarter percent of a silicone surfactant improves performance.
- methomyl (Lannate SP) at 0.45 lb ai/a. PHI 7 days. REI 48 hr. Limit 6 treatments per year. Do not exceed 2.7 lb ai/a per season. A surfactant increases efficacy.
- permethrin (Loveland Permethrin) at 0.1 to 0.3 lb ai/a. PHI 1 day. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 10 days. Do not exceed 0.8 lb ai/a per season.
- permethrin (Loveland Permethrin Bait) at 0.1 to 0.2 lb ai/a. PHI 1 day. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 10 days. Do not exceed 0.8 lb ai/a per season.
- spinosad (Success, Entrust SC) at 0.05 to 0.1 lb/a. PHI 1 day. REI 4 hr. Retreatment interval 4 days. Do not exceed 0.45 lb ai/a per crop or make more than 5 application per year. Entrust SC is OMRI-listed for organic use.
- Spodoptera exigua (Spexit) at 1 to 2.4 fl oz product per acre. PHI 0 days. REI 4 hr. Beet armyworm and fall armyworm only
- zeta-cypermethrin (Mustang) at 0.028 to 0.05 lb ai/a. PHI 7 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.25 lb ai/a per season.