Pacific Northwest Insect Management Handbook

Mustard greens-Armyworm and looper

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Cabbage looper
Trichoplusia ni Hubner
Immature
© Ken Gray Insect Image Collection
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Beet armyworm
Spodoptera exigua Hubner
Immature female adult
© Ken Gray Insect Image Collection
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Bertha armyworm
Mamestra configurata Walker
Adult
© Ken Gray Insect Image Collection
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Cabbage looper
Trichoplusia ni Hubner
Showing damage
© Ken Gray Insect Image Collection
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Bertha armyworm
Mamestra configurata Walker
Immature
© Ken Gray Insect Image Collection
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Beet armyworm
Spodoptera exigua Hubner
Adult
© Ken Gray Insect Image Collection
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Alfalfa looper
Autographa californica Speyer
Adult
© Ken Gray Insect Image Collection
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Western yellowstriped armyworm
Spodoptera praefica Grote
Young immature showing damage on leaves
© Ken Gray Insect Image Collection
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Alfalfa looper
Autographa californica Speyer
Showing damage on leaves
© Ken Gray Insect Image Collection
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Cabbage looper
Trichoplusia ni Hubner
Adult
© Ken Gray Insect Image Collection
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Western yellowstriped armyworm
Spodoptera praefica Grote
Egg(s) on host
© Ken Gray Insect Image Collection
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Western yellowstriped armyworm
Spodoptera praefica Grote
Adult
© Ken Gray Insect Image Collection
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Alfalfa looper
Autographa californica Speyer
Egg(s) on host
© Ken Gray Insect Image Collection
Image related to Mustard greens-Armyworm and looper
Beet armyworm
Spodoptera exigua Hubner
Egg(s) on host
© Ken Gray Insect Image Collection
Image related to Mustard greens-Armyworm and looper
Alfalfa looper
Autographa californica Speyer
Parasitized immature
© Ken Gray Insect Image Collection
Image related to Mustard greens-Armyworm and looper
Cabbage looper
Trichoplusia ni Hubner
Egg(s) on host
© Ken Gray Insect Image Collection

Includes

Beet armyworm (Spodoptera exigua)
Bertha armyworm (Mamestra configurata)
Western yellowstriped armyworm (Spodoptera praefica)
Alfalfa looper (Autographa californica)
Cabbage looper (Trichoplusia ni)

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 preharvest interval (PHI) varies with crop.

  • acetamiprid
  • azadirachtin (neem oil)-Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki (Btk)-Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • bifenthrin (often as a mix with zeta-cypermethrin).
  • capsaicin-Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • carbaryl
  • cyfluthrin
  • horticultural oil-Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • 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.
  • lambda-cyhalothrin
  • permethrin
  • 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 0.02 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) at 0.18 to 0.25 lb ai/a. PHI 0 days. REI 4 hr. OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • beta-cyfluthrin (Baythroid XL) at 0.013 to 0.025 lb ai/a. PHI 0 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.1 lb ai/a.
  • beta-cyfluthrin/imidacloprid (Leverage 360) at 0.07 lb ai/a. PHI 7 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.1 lb ai/a beta-cyfluthrin or 0.2 lb ai/a imidacloprid per season.
  • bifenthrin (Brigade 2EC) at 0.033 to 0.1 lb ai/a. PHI 7 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.4 lb ai/a per season.
  • bifenthrin (Capture LFR) at 0.04 to 0.08 lb ai/a at planting. REI 12 hr. Do not exceed 0.4 lb ai/a per year at-plant plus foliar. Some formulations are
  • bifenthrin/imidacloprid (Brigadier) at 0.06 to 0.095 lb ai/a. PHI 7 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Limit 5 treatments after bloom. Do not exceed 0.24 lb ai/a imidacloprid and 0.5 lb ai/a bifenthrin.
  • bifenthrin/zeta-cypermethrin (Hero EW) at 0.04 to 0.1 lb ai/a. PHI 7 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.45 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 4F) at 1 to 2 lb ai/a. PHI 14 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Limit 4 treatments. Do not exceed 6 lb ai/a per season.
  • chlorantraniliprole (Coragen) at 0.045 to 0.098 lb ai/a at plant, drip or foliar. PHI 3 days. REI 4 hr. Limit 4 treatments per year. Retreatment interval 3 days foliar, 10 days drip. Do not exceed 0.2 lb ai/a per season.
  • chlorantraniliprole/thiamethoxam (Voliam Flexi) at 0.1 to 0.172 lb ai/a. PHI 7 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed or 0.172 lb ai of thiamethoxam 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 use.
  • cyantraniliprole (Exirel) at 0.045 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.
  • cyclaniliprole (Harvanta 50SL) at 0.036 to 0.054 lb ai/a. PHI 1 day. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 5 days. Limit 3 treatments. Do not exceed 0.22 lb ai/a per year.
  • cyfluthrin (Tombstone) at 0.025 to 0.05 lb ai/a. PHI 0 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.2 lb ai/a per season.
  • cyfluthrin/imidacloprid (Leverage 2.7) at 0.08 lb ai/a. PHI 7 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.17 lb ai/a cyfluthrin or 0.24 lb ai/a imidacloprid per year.
  • cypermethrin (Holster) at 0.075 to 0.1 lb ai/a. PHI 1 day. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.4 lb ai/a per season.
  • emamectin benzoate (Proclaim) at 0.0075 to 0.015 lb ai/a. PHI 14 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.09 lb ai/a per season. Do not graze.
  • esfenvalerate (Asana XL) at 0.05 lb ai/a. PHI 7 days. REI 12 hr. Do not exceed 0.2 lb ai/a per season. Loopers only.
  • indoxacarb (Avaunt) at 0.045 to 0.065 lb ai/a. PHI 3 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 3 days. Do not exceed 0.26 lb ai/a per season.
  • malathion (Malathion 8) at 1.0 lb ai/a. PHI 7 days. REI 12 hr. Limit 3 treatments. Retreatment interval 5 days.
  • methomyl (Lannate SP) at 0.45 to 0.9 lb ai/a. PHI 10 days. REI 48 hr. Do not exceed 3.6 lb ai/a or 8 treatments per season.
  • methoxyfenozide (Intrepid 2F) at 0.06 to 0.12 lb ai/a for early-season application and 0.12 to 0.16 lb ai for mid to late-season application or heavy infestation. PHI 1 day. REI 4 hr. Adding adjuvant improves performance. Do not exceed 1 lb ai/a per season.
  • spinetoram (Radiant SC) at 0.039 to 0.078 lb ai/a. PHI 1 day. REI 4 hr. Retreatment interval 4 days. Do not exceed 0.266 lb ai/a per season. Limit 6 treatments per season.
  • spinosad (Success, Entrust SC) at 0.047 to 0.156 lb ai/a. PHI 1 day. REI 4 hr. Do not exceed six applications or 0.45 lb ai/a per crop. Entrust SC is OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • tebufenozide (Confirm 2F) at 0.09 to 0.12 lb ai/a for early season; 0.12 lb ai/a for mid to late season. PHI 7 days. REI 4 hr. Do not exceed 0.63 lb ai/a per crop. Retreatment interval 10 days. Use of a spreader-binder is recommended.
  • thiamethoxam/chlorantraniliprole (Durivo) at 0.194 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 0.2 lb ai of chlorantraniliprole per acre per growing season.
  • 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.

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.