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.
- azadirachtin (neem oil)-Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
- bifenthrin (often as a mix with zeta-cypermethrin).
- carbaryl
- cyfluthrin
- insecticidal soap (as a mix with spinosad)-Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
- plant-derived essential oils (rosemary, peppermint etc.)-These have some efficacy against lepidopteran larvae. 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.
- azadirachtin (Neemix 4.5) at 0.14 to 0.35 lb ai/a. PHI 0 days. REI 4 hr. OMRI-listed for organic use.
- Bacillus thuringiensis (Javelin) at 0.12 to 1.5 lb/a. PHI 0 days. REI 4 hr. An adjuvant improves control. Small larvae only. Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
- bifenthrin (Brigade WSB) 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.
- bifenthrin/zeta-cypermethrin (Hero EW) at 0.025 to 0.1 lb ai/a. PHI 21 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.45 lb ai/a per season.
- borate complex (Prev-Am Ultra) apply 0.8% solution to complete coverage. REI 12 hr. 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. PHI 1 day. REI 4 hr. Retreatment interval 3 days. Do not exceed 0.2 lb ai/a per season. Limit 4 treatments.
- 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.
- deltamethrin (Delta Gold) at 0.018 to 0.028 ai/a for armyworms, and 0.012 to 0.028 lb ai/a for cutworms. PHI 3 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 3 days. Do not exceed 0.14 lb ai/a per season.
- methoxyfenozide (Intrepid 2F) at 0.06 to 0.12 lb ai/a early season; 0.12 to 0.16 lb ai/a mid to late season. PHI 1 day. REI 4 hr. Do not exceed 1 lb ai/a per season.
- spinetoram (Radiant SC) at 0.039 to 0.078 lb ai/a. PHI 3 days. Retreatment interval 4 days. Do not exceed 0.219 lb ai/a per season. Limit 4 treatments per season. Armyworms only.
- spinosad (Success, Entrust SC) at 0.063 to 0.125 lb ai/a. PHI 3 days. REI 4 hr. Do not exceed 0.47 lb ai/a per season. Entrust SC is OMRI-listed for organic use.
- zeta-cypermethrin (Mustang) at 0.028 to 0.05 lb ai/a. PHI 1 day. REI 12 hr. Do not exceed 0.3 lb ai/a per year. Retreatment interval 7 days.