Pepper-Armyworm, cutworm, and looper

Includes

Beet armyworm (Spodoptera exigua)
Bertha armyworm (Mamestra configurata)
Western yellowstriped armyworm (Spodoptera praefica)
Black cutworm (Agotis ipsilon)
Variegated cutworm (Peridroma saucia)
Alfalfa looper (Autographa californica)
Cabbage looper (Trichoplusia ni)

Pest description, crop damage and life history

See:

Common Pests of Vegetable Crops

Management-cultural control

Weed control is important. Lambsquarters and wild mustard attract egg-laying females and provide a source of food for larvae. Fall tillage can help destroy overwintering pupae.

Home gardeners: Control weeds, grasses, and debris in the vegetable garden that provide cover; hand-pick cutworm larvae, using a flashlight to find them, if practical. Scratch the soil at the base of plants to find larvae in the daytime.

Management-chemical control: HOME USE

• acetamiprid
• azadirachtin (neem oil)-Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
• Bacillus thuringiensis ssp. kurstaki (Btk)-Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
• bifenthrin (usually as a mix with zeta-cypermethrin).
• cyfluthrin
• deltamethrin
• esfenvalerate
• gamma-cyhalothrin
• 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
• zeta-cypermethrin

Management-chemical control: COMMERCIAL USE

• acephate (Acephate 90 WDG) at 0.05 to 1 lb ai/A. PHI 7 days. REI 24 hr. Bell pepper only. Do not exceed 2 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. Washington only.
• 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. A spreader-sticker improves control. Most effective on small larvae. Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
• beta-cyfluthrin (Baythroid XL) at 0.017 to 0.022 lb ai/A. PHI 7 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.132 lb ai/A per season.
• 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 (Brigade 2EC, Sniper) at 0.033 to 0.1 lb ai/A. PHI 7 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.2 lb ai/A per season. Brigade 2EC only for Oregon and Washington.
• bifenthrin (Capture LFR) at 0.04 to 0.08 lb ai/A soil application (armyworm, cutworm), at 0.033 to 0.1 lb ai/A foliar (armyworm, cutworm, looper). PHI 7 days foliar. Retreatment interval 7 days foliar. REI 12 hr. Do not exceed 0.2 lb ai/A per season as an at plant application.
• bifenthrin/IBA (Empower 2) at 0.04 to 0.1 lb ai/A. PHI 9 days. REI 7 days. Do not exceed 0.2 lb ai/A per season. No longer registered for use in Oregon.
• bifenthrin/imidacloprid (Brigadier) at 0.08 to 0.15 lb ai/A. PHI 7 days. REI 12 hr. Do not exceed 0.24 lb ai/A imidacloprid and 0.2 lb ai/A bifenthrin. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not graze treated areas or cut for feed.
• 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 0.266 lb ai/A per season.
• borate complex (Prev-Am Ultra)-apply at 0.4% solution to complete coverage. REI 12 hr. OMRI-listed for organic use. Not registered in Oregon.
• 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 2 lb ai/A bait. PHI 3 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 8 lb ai/A per season. Limit 4 bait treatments per year.
• chlorantraniliprole (Coragen) at 0.045 to 0.065 lb ai/A a) at plant; drip; foliar. PHI 1 day. REI 4 hr. Retreatment interval 3 days. Do not exceed 0.2 lb ai/A per season.
• chlorantraniliprole/thiamethoxam (Voliam Flexi) at 0.1 to 0.175 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.
• chlorfenapyr (Pylon) at 0.1 to 0.2 lb ai/A. PHI 0 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 5 days. Do not exceed 0.6 lb ai/A per season. Greenhouse only.
• 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 4 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.16 lb ai/A per year. Armyworm and looper only.
• cyfluthrin (Tombstone) at 0.033 to 0.044 lb ai/A. PHI 7 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.263 lb ai/A per season.
• deltamethrin (Delta Gold) at 0.012 to 0.028 lb ai/A. PHI 1 day. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 5 days. Do not exceed 0.168 lb ai/A per season.
• diflubenzuron (Dimilin 2L) at 0.063 to 0.125 lb ai/A. PHI 7 days. REI 12 hr. Do not exceed 6 oz ai/A per season.
• emamectin benzoate (Proclaim) at 0.008 to 0.015 lb ai/A. PHI 7 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.045 lb ai/A per season. Do not graze. Armyworm and looper only.
• esfenvalerate (Asana XL) at 0.03 to 0.05 lb ai/A. PHI 7 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 to 10 days. Do not exceed 0.35 lb ai/A per season. Armyworm and looper only.
• fenpropathrin (Danitol 2.4EC) at 0.2 lb ai/A. PHI 3 days. REI 24 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.8 lb ai/A per season.
• gamma-cyhalothrin (Declare) at 0.0075 to 0.015 lb ai/A. PHI 5 days. REI 24 hr. Retreatment interval 5 days. Do not exceed 0.18 lb ai/A per season.
• GS-omega/kappa-Hxtx-Hv1a (Spear Lep) at 0.02 to 0.04 lb ai/A. PHI 0 days. REI 4 hr. Retreatment interval 3 to 10 days. Do not exceed 2 lb ai/A per year.
• indoxacarb (Avaunt) at 0.045 to 0.065 lb ai/A. PHI 3 days. REI 12 hr. Use of a wetting agent is recommended. Allow at least 5 days between applications. Do not exceed 0.26 lb ai/A per season. Limit 4 treatments. Armyworm and looper only.
• lambda-cyhalothrin (Warrior II) at 0.015 to 0.03 lb ai/A. PHI 5 days. REI 24 hr. Retreatment interval 5 days. Do not graze or feed to livestock. Do not exceed 0.36 lb ai/A per season.
• lambda-cyhalothri/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.
• methomyl (Lannate SP) at 0.23 to 0.9 lb ai/A. PHI 3 days. REI 48 hr. Do not exceed 3.6 lb ai/A per season. Limit to 8 applications per year.
• methoxyfenozide (Intrepid 2F) at 0.06 to 0.12 lb ai/A early season and 0.12 to 0.25 lb ai/A mid to late season. PHI 1 day. REI 4 hr. Re-treatment period 7 days. Do not exceed 1 lb ai/A per season.
• novaluron (Rimon 0.83EC) at 0.058 to 0.078 lb ai/A. PHI 1 day. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.23 lb ai/A per season. Armyworm and looper only.
• permethrin (Permethrin, Permethrin Cutworm Bait) at 0.1 to 0.2 lb ai/A. PHI 3 days. REI 12 hr. Bell pepper only. Do not exceed 0.8 lb ai/A per season. Retreatment interval 5 days.
• 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. Do not apply to seedling fruiting vegetables grown for transplant within a greenhouse, shade house, or field plot.
• spinosad (Success, Entrust SC) at 0.046 to 0.125 lb ai/A. PHI 1 day. REI 4 hr. Do not exceed 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 early-season, or 0.12 to 0.25 lb ai/A mid- to late-season. PHI 7 days. REI 4 hr. Do not exceed 0.25 lb ai/A per application or 2 lb ai/A per calendar year. Reapplication on a 10- to 14-day schedule may be necessary for heavy infestations. Use of a spreader-binder is recommended. Oregon and Washington only.
• thiamethoxam/chlorantraniliprole (Durivo) at 0.195 to 0.254 lb ai/A applied to the soil. 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.
• 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.

These products contain commonly used active ingredients for control of armyworm, cutworm, and looper in pepper. There are other materials available. Please consult a licensed crop advisor for additional recommendations.