Chard, Swiss-Aphid

Includes

Bean aphid (Aphis fabae)
Green peach aphid (Myzus persicae)

Pest description and crop damage The bean aphid is dark olive green to black with light-color legs. It is usually more of an early-year pest. The green peach aphid is slender, dark green to yellow, and has no waxy bloom. Green peach aphid infestations may result in wilting.

See:

Common Pests of Vegetable Crops

Biology and life history

See:

Common Pests of Vegetable Crops

Slug Control

Pest monitoring Check fields frequently after seedling emergence. If aphids become numerous, increase frequency of sampling. Aphids often are concentrated in hot spots or near the field margin. Note the presence of any hot spots, but avoid sampling only those areas. Also, be sure to look for evidence of biological control; i.e., the presence of predators, parasites (aphid mummies), and disease. Aphid flights are most common during periods of moderate temperatures (60° to 80°F). Monitor fields particularly closely during April and May.

Management-biological control

Many parasites and predators attack aphids. Early year aphids have many natural enemies that frequently bring them under control later in the year. Among the more common predators are lady beetles and their larvae, lacewing larvae, and syrphid fly larvae. Populations of green peach aphids are reduced in winter by a parasitic fungus, Entomophthora aphidis.

Monitor the proportion of aphid mummies relative to unparasitized aphids and the numbers of predators such as lady beetles. If the proportion of mummies is increasing, or predators appear to be gaining control, and aphid populations are not yet damaging, avoid sprays that will disrupt these natural enemies. Most materials available for aphid control are highly disruptive of natural enemy populations.

Management-cultural control

Destroy infested crops immediately after harvest to prevent dispersal. Destroying weed hosts late in the year may help destroy overwintering populations. Aphid populations tend to be higher in crops that are fertilized liberally with nitrogen. Roguing diseased plants early may help slow the spread of aphid-vectored diseases. Home gardeners can often get effective control by washing aphids with a strong stream of water.

Management-chemical control: HOME USE

Apply to both tops and undersides of leaves as label indicates.

• acetamiprid
• azadirachtin (neem oil)-Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
• bifenthrin-Not registered for home use in WA.
• capsaicin-Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
• carbaryl
• cyfluthrin
• imidacloprid
• insecticidal soap-May require several applications. Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
• malathion
• permethrin
• plant-derived essential oils (rosemary, peppermint etc.)-These have some efficacy against aphids. Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
• pyrethrins-Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
• zeta-cypermethrin

Management-chemical control: COMMERCIAL USE

Please refer to label as some chemistries are only available in dust formulations.

• acetamiprid (Assail 30SG) at 0.038 to 0.075 lb ai/A. PHI 7 days. REI 12 hr. Do not exceed five applications per year or 0.375 lb ai/A per season. Retreatment interval 7 days.
• 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 0.18 to 0.25 lb ai/A. PHI 0 days. REI 4 hr. OMRI-listed for organic use. Not registered for use in OR.
• Beauveria bassiana (Mycotrol ESO) at 0.25 to 1 quart/A. REI 4 hr. PHI 0 days. OMRI-listed for organic use.
• bifenthrin (Brigade WSB) at 0.033 to 0.1 lb ai/A. PHI 7 days. REI 12 hr. Do not exceed 0.5 lb ai/A per season. Retreatment interval 7 days.
• borate complex (Prev-Am Ultra) applied as a 0.4% solution. Spray to complete coverage. REI 24 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. OMRI-listed for organic use.
• Chenopodium ambrosioides extract (Requiem Prime) at 2 to 4 quarts formulated product per acre. PHI 0 days. REI 4 hr. Not listed for aphid in Swiss chard.
• 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 0.6 to 0.9 lb ai/A per 100 gal. PHI 0 days. REI 4 hr. OMRI-listed for organic use.
• clothianidin (Belay) at 0.05 to 0.067 lb ai/A foliar or 0.15 to 0.2 lb ai/A soil treatment. PHI 7 days foliar, 21 days soil. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 10 days foliar. Do not exceed 0.2 lb ai/A per season.
• 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.
• dinotefuran (Scorpion 35SL) at 0.05 to 0.13 lb ai/A foliar or 0.23 to 0.27 lb ai/A soil. PHI 7 days for foliar; 21 days for soil. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.266 lb ai/A foliar or 0.532 lb ai/A soil application per season.
• 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 0.14 to 0.16 lb ai/A. PHI 1 day. 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 0.156 to 0.38 lb ai/A. Soil application only. PHI 45 days. REI 12 hr. Do not exceed 0.38 lb ai/A per season.
• insecticidal soap (M-Pede) as 1 to 2% solution. Potassium salts of fatty acids. See label for gal/A. PHI 0 days. REI 12 hr.
• malathion (Malathion 8) at 1 lb ai/A. PHI 14 days. REI 12 hr. Limit 2 applications. Retreatment interval 7 days.
• naled (Dibrom 8E) at up to 0.94 lb ai/A. PHI 2 days. REI 48 hr. Do not exceed 6.6 lb ai/A per season. Retreatment interval 7 days.
• permethrin (Pounce 25 WP) at 0.1 to 0.2 lb ai/A. PHI 1 day. REI 12 hr. Do not graze or feed. Do not exceed 1 lb ai/A per season. Retreatment interval 7 days.
• pymetrozine (Fulfill) at 0.086 lb ai/A. Adding a penetrating adjuvant improves performance. REI 12 hr. PHI 7 days. Do not exceed 0.17 lb ai/A per season. Retreatment interval 7 days. Not registered for use in OR.
• pyrifluquinazon (PQZ Insecticide) at 0.035 to 0.047 lb ai/A. PHI 1 day. REI 12 hr. Limit 6 treatments. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.21 lb ai/A per year. Apply by ground equipment.
• spirotetramat (Movento) at 0.06 to 0.08 lb ai/A. PHI 3 days. 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. REI 12 hr. PHI 3 days. Retreatment interval 7 days. Limit 4 treatments. Do not exceed 0.266 lb ai/A per year.
• 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.
• thiamethoxam (Actara) at 0.023 to 0.047 lb ai/A. PHI 7 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.172 lb ai/A per season.
• thiamethoxam (Platinum) at 0.078 to 0.172 lb ai/A. Soil applied. PHI 30 days. REI 12 hr. Do not exceed 0.172 lb ai/A per season.
• thiamethoxam/chlorantraniliprole (Durivo) at 0.196 to 0.257 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.
• zeta-cypermethrin (Mustang) at 0.028 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.