Pacific Northwest Insect Management Handbook

Corn, sweet-Western bean cutworm

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Image related to Corn, sweet-Western bean cutworm
Western bean cutworm
Loxagrotis albicosta Smith
Female adult
© Ken Gray Insect Image Collection
Image related to Corn, sweet-Western bean cutworm
Western bean cutworm
Loxagrotis albicosta Smith
Showing damage
© Ken Gray Insect Image Collection
Image related to Corn, sweet-Western bean cutworm
Western bean cutworm
Loxagrotis albicosta Smith
Newly hatched
© Ken Gray Insect Image Collection

Loxagrotis albicosta

Pest description, crop damage and life history

See:

Common Pests of Vegetable Crops

Management-chemical control: HOME USE

Apply any one of these materials to the soil surface at first sign of cutworm activity. Consult label. Minimum pre-harvest 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. Beans, tomatoes, and late corn are most often "hoed" by cutworms. Attack varies in severity with locality and year.

  • azadirachtin (neem oil)-Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • bifenthrin (often as a mix with zeta-cypermethrin)
  • carbaryl
  • cyfluthrin
  • deltamethrin
  • esfenvalerate
  • gamma-cyhalothrin
  • insecticidal soap (as a mix with spinosad)-Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • lambda-cyhalothrin
  • kaolin-When applied as a spray to leaves, stems, and fruit, it acts as a repellant to some insect pests. Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use. Not registered for use in OR.
  • 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

  • Bacillus thuringiensis (Javelin WG, XenTari) at 0.12 to 1.5 lb/A Javelin WG, and 0.5 to 1.5 lb/A of XenTari. PHI 0 days. REI 4 hr. Slow acting. May need multiple applications. Add an appropriate spreader-sticker to enhance control. Most effective on small larvae. Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic production.
  • beta-cyfluthrin (Baythroid XL) at 0.016 to 0.022 lb ai/A soil application. PHI 0 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 2 days. Do not exceed 0.22 lb ai/A per year.
  • bifenthrin/zeta-cypermethrin (Hero) at 0.04 to 0.1 lb ai/A. PHI 3 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 3 to 5 days. Do not exceed 0.266 lb ai/A per season.
  • Burkholderia spp. (Venerate XC) at 1 to 4 quarts/A product. PHI 0 days. REI 4 hr. OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • carbaryl (Sevin 5 Bait) at 1 to 2 lb ai/A. PHI 2 days for harvest of ears, 14 days for forage, 48 days for fodder. REI 24 hr. Retreatment interval 3 days. Limit 8 treatments per year. Do not exceed 16 lb ai/A per year.
  • chlorantraniliprole (Coragen) at 0.045 to 0.098 lb ai/A. PHI 1 day. REI 4 hr. Limit 4 treatments per crop. Retreatment interval 1 day. Do not exceed 0.2 lb ai/A per season.
  • chlorantraniliprole/lambda-cyhalothrin (Besiege) at 0.06 to 0.1 lb ai/A. PHI 1 day. REI 24 hr. Retreatment interval 1 day. Do not exceed 0.48 lb ai of lambda-cyhalothrin 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 production.
  • cyfluthrin (Tombstone) at 0.025 to 0.044 lb ai/A. PHI 0 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.44 lb/A per season.
  • esfenvalerate (Asana XL) at 0.015 to 0.03 lb ai/A. PHI 1 day. REI 12 hr. Do not exceed 0.5 lb ai/A per year. Do not apply within 25 ft of an aquatic habitat, 150 ft if applied by air.
  • gamma-cyhalothrin (Declare) at 0.0025 lb ai/1,000 row ft at planting or 0.01 to 0.015 lb ai/A foliar application. PHI 1 day. Do not exceed 0.24 lb ai/A total application per season.
  • lambda-cyhalothrin (Warrior II) at 0.02 to 0.03 lb ai/A. PHI 1 day. REI 24 hr. Do not exceed 0.48 lb ai/A per year. Do not harvest for feed or graze livestock for 21 days. Retreatment interval 4 days.
  • lambda-cyhalothrin/tebuconazole (Crossover) at 0.14 to 0.16 lb ai/A. REI 19 days. PHI 21 days for ears & forage; 49 days for fodder. Do not exceed 0.48 lb ai/A tebuconazole or 0.12 lb ai/A lambda-cyhalothrin. Product not registered for use in WA.
  • methoxyfenozide (Troubadour 2F) at 0.06 to 0.25 lb ai/A. PHI 3 days for ears or forage; 21 days for dry fodder. REI 4 hr. Do not exceed 1 lb ai/A per season. An adjuvant improves performance. Retreatment interval 5 days.
  • spinetoram (Radiant SC) at 0.023 to 0.0469 lb ai/A. PHI 1 day for ears, 3 days for forage. REI 4 hr. Retreatment interval 4 days. Do not exceed six applications or 0.281 lb ai/A per season. Follow resistance management procedures on the label.
  • spinosad (Success, Entrust SC) at 0.047 to 0.094 lb ai/A. PHI 1 day for ears, 7 days for forage. REI 4 hr. Treat eggs at hatch and small larvae. Do not exceed 0.45 lb ai/A per crop. Spinosad takes several days to achieve full effect. Monitor fields and pest populations carefully. Multiple applications may be necessary. Entrust SC is OMRI-listed for organic use.

Kaur, N. (Ed.). 2024 Pacific Northwest Insect Management Handbook.
© Oregon State University.

Use pesticides safely!

  • Wear protective clothing and safety devices as recommended on the label. Bathe or shower after each use.
  • Read the pesticide label—even if you’ve used the pesticide before. Follow closely the instructions on the label (and any other directions you have).
  • Be cautious when you apply pesticides. Know your legal responsibility as a pesticide applicator. You may be liable for injury or damage resulting from pesticide use.

Trade-name products and services are mentioned as illustrations only. This does not mean that the participating Extension Services endorse these products and services or that they intend to discriminate against products and services not mentioned.