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

Pepper-Aphid

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Green peach aphid colony on pepper

M. R. Bush, WA State University

Image related to Pepper-Aphid
Green peach aphid
Myzus persicae Sulzer
Adult on host
© Ken Gray Insect Image Collection
Image related to Pepper-Aphid
Green peach aphid
Myzus persicae Sulzer
Showing damage on leaves
© Ken Gray Insect Image Collection
Image related to Pepper-Aphid
Green peach aphid
Myzus persicae Sulzer
Female adult immature
© Ken Gray Insect Image Collection

This aphid, Aphis nerii, is sometimes commonly known as the sweet pepper aphid, the oleander aphid or suitable in this image, the milkweed aphid.

M. R. Bush, WA State University

Includes green peach aphid (Myzus persicae)

Pest description, crop damage and life history

See:

Common Pests of Vegetable Crops

Management-biological control

Many parasites and predators attack aphid. Monitor the proportion of aphid mummies to unparasitized adults and the number of predators such as lady beetles. If the biocontrol agents appear to be gaining control, avoid sprays which would disrupt this system. Most products available for aphid control are highly disruptive of natural enemy populations.

Management-cultural control

Aphid populations tend to be higher in plants that are fertilized liberally with nitrogen.

Home gardeners can use row covers or wash aphids from plants with a strong stream of water.

Management-chemical control: HOME USE

  • acetamiprid
  • azadirachtin (neem oil)-Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • bifenthrin (often as a mix with zeta-cypermethrin).
  • carbaryl
  • cyfluthrin
  • deltamethrin
  • esfenvalerate
  • horticultural oil.-Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • imidacloprid
  • kaolin-When 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.
  • 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.
  • zeta-cypermethrin

Management-chemical control: COMMERCIAL USE

  • acephate (Acephate 90 WDG) at 0.5 to 1 lb ai/a. PHI 7 days. REI 24 hr. Do not exceed 2 lb ai/a bell type or 1 lb ai/a on bell peppers per season. Retreatment interval 7 days.
  • acetamiprid (Assail 30SG) at 0.038 to 0.075 lb ai/a. PHI 7 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.3 lb ai/a per season. Limit 4 treatments.
  • alpha-cypermethrin (Fastac EC) at 0.02 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)-See label for rates. Acts slowly; apply early. PHI 0 days. REI 4 hr. Thorough coverage and repeated applications are necessary. OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • Beauveria bassiana (Mycotrol ESO) at 0.25 to 1 quart/a. PHI 0 days. REI 4 hr. OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • beta-cyfluthrin/imidacloprid (Leverage 360) at 0.089 to 0.096 lb ai/a. PHI 7 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.12 lb ai/a beta-cyfluthrin or 0.24 lb ai/a imidacloprid per season.
  • bifenthrin/avermectin (Athena) at 0.05 to 0.12 lb ai/a. PHI 7 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 10 days. Do not exceed 0.056 lb ai/a avermectin or 0.4 lb ai/a bifenthrin per season.bifenthrin/imidacloprid (Brigadier) at 0.06 to 0.15 lb ai/a. PHI 7 days. REI 12 hr. Do not exceed 0.2 lb ai/a imidacloprid and 0.2 lb ai/a bifenthrin. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not graze treated areas or cut for feed.
  • borate complex (Prev-Am Ultra) apply as 0.8% solution to complete coverage. REI 12 hr. OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • Chenopodium ambrosioides extract (Requiem 25EC) at 4 to 6 pints formulated product per acre. REI 4 hr. Use high rate when conditions are favorable for heavy pressure. OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • chlorantraniliprole/thiamethoxam (Voliam Flexi) at 0.1 to 0.172 lb ai/a. PHI 1 day. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 5 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 0.6 to 0.9 lb ai/a per 100 gal. PHI 0 days. REI 4 hr. OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • cyantraniliprole (Exirel) at 0.088 to 0.133 lb ai/a. PHI 1 day. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 5 days. Do not exceed 0.4 lb ai/a per year.
  • dimethoate (Dimethoate 4E) at 0.25 to 0.33 lb ai/a. PHI 0 days when mechanically harvested. REI 48 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 1.65 lb ai/a per season.
  • dinotefuran (Scorpion 35SL) at 0.05 to 0.18 lb ai/a foliar and 0.23 to 0.27 lb ai/a for soil. PHI 1 day foliar and 21 days soil. REI 12 hr. Do not exceed per season 0.266 lb ai/a foliar or 0.532 lb ai/a for soil.
  • flonicamid (Beleaf 50SG) at 0.062 to 0.089 lb ai/a. PHI 0 days. REI 12 hr. Do not exceed 0.267 lb ai/a or three applications per season. Retreatment interval 7 days.
  • flupyradifurone (Sivanto 200 SL) at 0.091 to 0.156 lb ai/a foliar; 0.274 lb ai/a soil. PHI 1 day foliar; 45 days soil. REI 4 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.365 lb ai/a per season. Limit 3 treatments per season.
  • imidacloprid (Admire Pro) at 0.25 to 0.5 lb ai/a soil, 0.047 to 0.079 lb ai/a foliar, 0.016 lb ai/10,000 greenhouse plants. Retreatment interval 5 days. PHI 21 days soil; 0 days foliar. REI 12 hr. Do not exceed 0.5 lb ai/a soil per application or 0.24 lb ai/a foliar per season. Do not exceed 0.0156 lb ai/10,000 plants in planthouse.
  • imidacloprid (Provado, Prey) at 0.048 to 0.078 lb ai/a. PHI 0 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 5 days. Do exceed 0.24 lb ai/a per season.
  • insecticidal soap (M-Pede) at 1 to 2% solution. Potassium salts of fatty acids. See label for gal/a. PHI 0 days. REI 12 hr.
  • lambda-cyhalothrin/thiamethoxam (Endigo ZC) at 0.064 to 0.072 lb ai/a. PHI 5 days. REI 24 hr. Retreatment interval 5 days. Do not exceed 0.36 lb ai/a of lambda-cyhalothrin or 0.172 lb ai/a of thiamethoxam per season.
  • malathion (Malathion 8) at 1.5 lb ai/a. PHI 3 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 5 days. Limit 2 treatments per year.
  • methomyl (Lannate SP) at 0.45 to 0.9 lb ai/a. PHI 3 days. REI 48 hr. Do not exceed 4.5 lb ai/a per season.
  • naled (Dibrom 8E) at 0.9 to 1.9 lb ai/a. PHI 1 day. REI 48 hr. Do not exceed 5.4 lb ai/a per season. Retreatment interval 7 days. Limit 5 treatments.
  • oxamyl (Vydate L) at 0.5 to 1 lb ai/a. PHI 7 days. REI 48 hr. Do not exceed 6 lb ai/a per season.
  • pymetrozine (Fulfill) at 0.086 lb ai/a. PHI 0 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.172 lb ai/a per season.
  • pyrifluquinazon (PQZ Insecticide) at 0.035 to 0.047 lb ai/a. PHI 1 day. REI 12 hr. Limit 4 treatments. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.14 lb ai/a per year. Apply by ground equipment.
  • spirotetramat (Movento) at 0.06 to 0.08 lb ai/a. PHI 1 day. REI 24 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.16 lb ai/a per crop season.
  • sulfoxaflor (Closer SC) at 0.023 to 0.031 lb ai/a. PHI 1 day. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Limit 4 treatments. Do not exceed 0.266 lb ai/a per year.
  • thiamethoxam (Actara) at 0.031 to 0.047 lb ai/a. PHI 0 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 5 days. Do not exceed 0.172 lb ai/a per season.
  • thiamethoxam (Platinum) at 0.078 to 0.172 lb ai/a. PHI 30 days. REI 12 hr. Do not exceed 0.172 lb ai/a per season.
  • thiamethoxam/chlorantraniliprole (Durivo) at 0.195 to 0.257 lb ai/a. PHI 30 days. REI 12 hr. Do not exceed 0.172 lb ai/a of thiamethoxam or 0.2 lb ai/a of chlorantraniliprole per season.
  • tolfenpyrad (Torac) at 0.17 to 0.21 lb ai/a. PHI 1 day. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 14 days. Limit 4 treatments per year. Do not exceed 0.42 lb ai/a per year.
  • zeta-cypermethrin (Mustang) at 0.04 to 0.05 lb ai/a. PHI 1 day. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.3 lb ai/a per season.