Pacific Northwest Insect Management Handbook

Melon (Cantaloupe, muskmelon, and watermelon)-Looper

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Cabbage looper
Trichoplusia ni Hubner
Adult
© Ken Gray Insect Image Collection
Image related to Melon (Cantaloupe, muskmelon, and watermelon)-Looper
Cabbage looper
Trichoplusia ni Hubner
Showing damage
© Ken Gray Insect Image Collection
Image related to Melon (Cantaloupe, muskmelon, and watermelon)-Looper
Cabbage looper
Trichoplusia ni Hubner
Egg(s) on host
© Ken Gray Insect Image Collection
Image related to Melon (Cantaloupe, muskmelon, and watermelon)-Looper
Cabbage looper
Trichoplusia ni Hubner
Immature
© Ken Gray Insect Image Collection

Includes cabbage looper (Trichoplusia ni)

Pest description, crop damage and life history

See:

Common Pests of Vegetable Crops

The major damage caused by larvae and pupae is contamination of the heads of cole crops and severe defoliation of alfalfa, peas, sugar beets, beans, mint, and spinach.

Management-chemical control: HOME USE

  • azadirachtin (neem extract)-Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki (Btk)-Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • bifenthrin (as a mix with zeta-cypermethrin)
  • carbaryl
  • cyfluthrin
  • esfenvalerate
  • horticultural oil-Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • permethrin
  • plant-derived essential oils (rosemary, peppermint, thyme 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 0.0175 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 repeat applications are necessary. Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • Bacillus thuringiensis (Javelin) at 0.12 to 1.5 lb/a. PHI 0 days. REI 4 hr. Acts slowly; may need multiple applications. Add an appropriate spreader-sticker to enhance control. Most effective on small larvae. Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • beta-cyfluthrin (Baythroid XL) at 0.013 to 0.019 lb ai/a. PHI 0 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.088 lb ai/a per season.
  • bifenthrin (Brigade 2EC) at 0.04 to 0.1 lb ai/a. PHI 3 days. REI 12 hr. Do not exceed 0.3 lb ai/a per season. Do not make more than two applications after bloom. Do not make applications less than 7 days apart.
  • 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 at planting, drip or foliar. PHI 1 day. REI 4 hr. Limit 4 treatments per year. Retreatment interval 5 days foliar, 10 days drip. Do not exceed 0.6 lb ai/a per season.
  • 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.
  • cyantraniliprole (Exirel) at 0.065 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.
  • cyfluthrin (Tombstone) at 0.025 to 0.038 lb ai/a. PHI 0 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.175 lb ai/a per season.
  • deltamethrin (Delta Gold) at 0.012 to 0.028 lb ai/a. PHI 3 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 3 days. Do not exceed 0.168 lb ai/a per season.
  • esfenvalerate (Asana XL) at 0.03 to 0.05 lb ai/a. PHI 3 days. REI 12 hr. Do not exceed 0.25 lb ai/a season.
  • indoxacarb (Avaunt) at 0.045 to 0.11 lb ai/a. PHI 3 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 5 days. Do not exceed 0.44 lb ai/a per season.
  • methomyl (Lannate SP) at 0.45 to 0.9 lb ai/a. PHI 1 at 0.45 lb ai/a or 3 days at 0.9 lb ai/a. REI 48 hr. Limit 12 treatments per year. Do not exceed 5.4 lb ai/a per season.
  • methoxyfenozide (Intrepid 2F) at 0.06 to 0.16 lb ai/a. PHI 3 days. REI 4 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 1.0 lb ai/a per season.
  • novaluron (Rimon 0.8EC) at 0.058 to 0.078 lb ai/a. PHI 1 day. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 14 days. Do not exceed 0.23 lb ai/a per season.
  • permethrin (Permethrin) at 0.1 to 0.2 lb ai/a. PHI 0 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 1.2 lb ai/a per season watermelons; cantaloupes 0.8 lb ai/a per season.
  • spinosad (Success, Entrust SC) at 0.0625 to 0.125 lb ai/a. PHI 3 days. REI 4 hr. Do not exceed six applications or 0.45 lb ai/a per crop. Entrust SC is OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • tebuconazole/lambda cyhalothrin (Crossover) at 0.14 to 0.16 lb ai/a. PHI 7 days. REI 24 hr. Do not exceed 0.48 lb ai/a tebuconazole or 0.18 lb ai/a lambda cyhalothrin per season.
  • 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.
  • zeta-cypermethrin (Mustang) at 0.035 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 year.

Note: Pesticides may injure cucurbits. The possibility of injury is less when foliage is dry at time of application.

Related Links

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.