1. Insect
  2. Vegetable Crops
  3. Vegetable Crops
  4. Hosts and Pests of Vegetable Crops

Parsley-Armyworm, cutworm, and looper

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Alfalfa looper
Autographa californica Speyer
Showing damage on leaves
© Ken Gray Insect Image Collection
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Cabbage looper
Trichoplusia ni Hubner
Immature
© Ken Gray Insect Image Collection
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Cabbage looper
Trichoplusia ni Hubner
Egg(s) on host
© Ken Gray Insect Image Collection
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Alfalfa looper
Autographa californica Speyer
Parasitized immature
© Ken Gray Insect Image Collection
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Variegated cutworm
Peridroma saucia Hubner
Adult
© Ken Gray Insect Image Collection
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Western yellowstriped armyworm
Spodoptera praefica Grote
Adult
© Ken Gray Insect Image Collection
Image related to Parsley-Armyworm, cutworm, and looper
Alfalfa looper
Autographa californica Speyer
Egg(s) on host
© Ken Gray Insect Image Collection
Image related to Parsley-Armyworm, cutworm, and looper
Western yellowstriped armyworm
Spodoptera praefica Grote
Egg(s) on host
© Ken Gray Insect Image Collection
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Western yellowstriped armyworm
Spodoptera praefica Grote
Young immature showing damage on leaves
© Ken Gray Insect Image Collection
Image related to Parsley-Armyworm, cutworm, and looper
Cabbage looper
Trichoplusia ni Hubner
Adult
© Ken Gray Insect Image Collection
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Bertha armyworm
Mamestra configurata Walker
Adult
© Ken Gray Insect Image Collection
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Beet armyworm
Spodoptera exigua Hubner
Adult
© Ken Gray Insect Image Collection
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Variegated cutworm
Peridroma saucia Hubner
Immature
© Ken Gray Insect Image Collection
Image related to Parsley-Armyworm, cutworm, and looper
Alfalfa looper
Autographa californica Speyer
Adult
© Ken Gray Insect Image Collection
Image related to Parsley-Armyworm, cutworm, and looper
Black cutworm
Agrotis ipsilon Hugnagel
Adult
© Ken Gray Insect Image Collection
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Bertha armyworm
Mamestra configurata Walker
Immature
© Ken Gray Insect Image Collection
Image related to Parsley-Armyworm, cutworm, and looper
Beet armyworm
Spodoptera exigua Hubner
Egg(s) on host
© Ken Gray Insect Image Collection
Image related to Parsley-Armyworm, cutworm, and looper
Beet armyworm
Spodoptera exigua Hubner
Immature female adult
© Ken Gray Insect Image Collection
Image related to Parsley-Armyworm, cutworm, and looper
Variegated cutworm
Peridroma saucia Hubner
Newly hatched on host
© Ken Gray Insect Image Collection
Image related to Parsley-Armyworm, cutworm, and looper
Cabbage looper
Trichoplusia ni Hubner
Showing damage
© Ken Gray Insect Image Collection

Includes

Beet armyworm (Spodoptera exigua)
Bertha armyworm (Mamestra configurata)
Western yellowstriped armyworm (Spodoptera praefica)
Black cutworm (Agotis ipsilon)
Variegated cutworm (Peridroma saucia)
Alfalfa looper (Autographa californica)
Cabbage looper (Trichoplusia ni)

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 ssp. kurstaki (Btk)-Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • carbaryl
  • cyfluthrin
  • kaolin-Applied as a spray to foliage and stems it acts as a repellent to some insect pests. Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • malathion
  • permethrin
  • plant-derived essential oils (rosemary, peppermint etc.)-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.
  • zeta-cypermethrin

Management-chemical control: COMMERCIAL USE

  • alpha-cypermethrin (Fastac EC) at 0.014 to 0.025 lb ai/A. PHI 1 day. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.075 lb ai/A per season. Washington only.
  • azadirachtin (Neemix 4.5) at 0.021 to 0.049 lb ai/A. PHI 0 days. REI 4 hr. OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • Bacillus thuringiensis (Javelin) at 0.12 to 1.5 lb ai/A. PHI 0 days. REI 4 hr. Acts slowly; may need multiple applications. An adjuvant improves control. Most effective on small larvae. Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • beta-cyfluthrin (Baythroid XL) at 0.007 to 0.025 lb ai/A. PHI 0 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.1 lb ai/A per season.
  • beta-cyfluthrin/imidacloprid (Leverage 360) at 0.07 lb ai/A. PHI 7 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.1 lb ai/A beta-cyfluthrin or 0.2 lb ai/A imidacloprid per season.
  • bifenthrin (Brigade 2EC, Sniper) at 0.08 to 0.1 lb ai/A. PHI 21 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.5 lb ai/A per season. Brigade 2EC only for Oregon and Washington.
  • bifenthrin/zeta-cypermethrin (Hero EW) at 0.025 to 0.1 lb ai/A. PHI 21 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 21 days. Do not exceed 0.45 lb ai/A per season. Turnip-rooted parsley only.
  • borate complex (Prev-Am Ultra) apply as 0.8% solution to complete coverage. REI 12 hr. OMRI-listed for organic use. Not registered in Oregon.
  • 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 0.065 lb ai/A. PHI 1 day. REI 4 hr. Retreatment interval 3 days. Do not exceed 0.8 lb ai/A per season. Limit 4 treatments.
  • chlorantraniliprole/thiamethoxam (Voliam Flexi) at 0.1 to 0.175 lb ai/A. PHI 7 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.172 lb ai of thiamethoxam or 0.2 lb ai of chlorantraniliprole per acre per growing season.
  • Chromobacterium subtsugae (Grandevo) at 0.3 to 0.9 lb ai/A per 100 gal. PHI 0 days. REI 4 hr. OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • cyantraniliprole (Exirel) at 0.045 to 0.11 lb ai/A. PHI 1 day. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 5 days. Do not exceed 0.4 lb ai/A per year.
  • cyclaniliprole (Harvanta 50SL) at 0.036 to 0.054 lb ai/A. PHI 1 day. REI 4 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.16 lb ai/A per year. Armyworm and looper only.
  • cyfluthrin (Tombstone) at 0.013 to 0.05 lb ai/A. PHI 0 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.2 lb ai/A per season.
  • emamectin benzoate (Proclaim) at 0.008 to 0.015 lb ai/A. PHI 7 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.045 lb ai/A per season. Armyworm and looper only.
  • GS-omega/kappa-Hxtx-Hv1a (Spear Lep) at 0.02 to 0.04 lb ai/A. PHI 0 days. REI 4 hr. Retreatment interval 3 to 10 days. Do not exceed 2 lb ai/A per year.
  • indoxacarb (Avaunt) at 0.045 to 0.11 lb ai/A. PHI 3 days REI 12 hr. Do not exceed 0.44 lb ai/A per crop. Retreatment interval 3 days.
  • methomyl (Lannate SP) at 0.45 to 0.9 lb ai/A. PHI 10 days. REI 48 hr. Do not exceed 3.6 lb ai/A per season. Limit 8 treatments.
  • methoxyfenozide (Intrepid 2F) at 0.06 to 0.12 lb ai/A early season; 0.12 to 0.16 lb ai/A mid and late season. PHI 1 day. REI 4 hr. Retreatment interval 10 days. Do not exceed 1 lb ai/A per season.
  • permethrin (Loveland Permethrin, Permethrin Cutworm Bait) at 0.05 to 0.2 lb ai/A as foliar; 0.1 to 0.2 lb ai/A as bait. PHI 1 day. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 3 days. Do not exceed 0.2 lb ai/A per season.
  • spinetoram (Radiant SC) at 0.039 to 0.0625 lb ai/A. PHI 1 day. REI 4 hr. Retreatment interval 4 days. Do not exceed 0.305 lb ai/A per season. Limit 5 treatments per season. Do not apply to seedling leafy vegetables grown for transplant within a greenhouse, shade house, or field plot.
  • spinosad (Success, Entrust) at 0.063 to 0.094 lb ai/A. PHI 1 day. REI 4 hr. Treat eggs at hatch and small larvae. Do not exceed 0.45 lb ai/A per crop. Entrust SC is OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • tebufenozide (Confirm 2F) at 0.09 to 0.12 lb ai/A early-season; 0.12 lb ai/A mid- to late-season. PHI 7 days. REI 4 hr. Do not exceed 1.88 lb ai/A per calendar year. Retreatment interval 10 days. Use of a spreader-binder is recommended. Armyworm and looper only. Oregon and Washington only.
  • thiamethoxam/chlorantraniliprole (Durivo) at 0.194 to 0.254 lb ai/A applied to the soil. PHI 30 days. REI 12 hr. Do not exceed 0.172 lb ai of thiamethoxam or 0.2 lb ai of chlorantraniliprole per acre per growing season.
  • tolfenpyrad (Torac) at 0.21 lb ai/A. PHI 1 day. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 14 days. Limit 4 treatments. Do not exceed 0.42 lb ai/A per year. Armyworm and cutworm only. Suppression.
  • zeta-cypermethrin (Mustang) at 0.028 to 0.05 lb ai/A for cutworm, and 0.04 to 0.05 lb ai/A for armyworm and looper. PHI 1 day. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not graze or cut for feed. Do not exceed 0.3 lb ai/A per season.

These products contain commonly used active ingredients for control of armyworm, cutworm, and looper in parsley. There are other materials available. Please consult a licensed crop advisor for additional recommendations.