Includes
Beet armyworm (Spodoptera exigua)
Bertha armyworm (Mamestra configurata)
Western yellowstriped armyworm (Spodoptera praefica)
Black cutworm (Agotis ipsilon)
Variegated cutworm (Peridroma saucia)
Pest description, crop damage and life history
See:
Common Pests of Vegetable Crops
Pest monitoring In California, in fresh market tomatoes, sampling should begin when fruit appears. A 5-minute timed search helps determine the need for treatment. On average, if one or more larvae or egg masses are found in 5 minutes, treatments may be justified.
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
- 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).
- carbaryl
- cyfluthrin
- deltamethrin
- esfenvalerate
- gamma-cyhalothrin
- kaolin-Applied as a spray to foliage, it acts as a repellent to some insect pests. Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
- lambda-cyhalothrin
- permethrin
- plant essential oils (rosemary, etc.)-Some have demonstrated 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 0.014 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)-See label for rates. Acts slowly; apply early. 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. 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 0.017 to 0.022 lb ai/a. PHI 0 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 0 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 (Brigade WSB) at 0.033 to 0.08 lb ai/a. PHI 1 day. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 10 days. Limit 4 treatments. Do not exceed 0.32 lb ai/a per season.
- bifenthrin/avermectin (Athena) at 0.048 to 0.116 lb ai/a. PHI 7 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 10 days. Do not exceed 0.056 lb ai/a avermectin or 0.2 lb ai/a bifenthrin per season.
- bifenthrin/imidacloprid (Brigadier) at 0.06 to 0.15 lb ai/a. PHI 1 day. REI 12 hr. Do not exceed 0.24 lb ai/a imidacloprid and 0.4 lb ai/a bifenthrin. Retreatment interval 10 days. Do not graze livestock in treated areas or cut for feed.
- bifenthrin/zeta-cypermethrin (Hero EW) at 0.04 to 0.1 lb ai/a. PHI 1 day. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 10 days. Do not exceed 0.42 lb ai/a per season. Limit 4 treatments.
- borate complex (Prev-Am Ultra) apply at 0.4% solution. Spray to complete coverage. REI 12 hr. OMRI-listed for organic use.
- 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, Sevin 5 Bait) at 1 to 2 lb ai/a foliar; 2 lb ai/a bait. PHI 3 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 8 lb ai/a per season.
- chlorantraniliprole (Coragen) at 0.045 to 0.098 lb ai/a as soil, chemigation or foliar treatment. PHI 1 day. REI 4 hr. Do not exceed 0.2 lb ai/a per season. Retreatment interval 5 days for foliar and 10 days for chemigation.
- chlorantraniliprole/lambda-cyhalothrin (Voliam Xpress) at 0.049 to 0.088 lb ai/a. PHI 5 days. REI 24 hr. Retreatment interval 5 days. Do not exceed 0.36 lb ai of lambda-cyhalothrin or 0.2 lb ai of chlorantraniliprole per acre per growing 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.
- chlorfenapyr (Pylon) at 0.1 to 0.2 lb ai/a. PHI 0 days. REI 12 hr. Do not exceed 0.6 lb ai/a per season. Retreatment interval 5 days. Greenhouse only. Do not use on tomato varieties with a diameter of less than one inch when mature.
- 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 0.088 lb ai/a. PHI 1 day. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 5 days. Limit 6 treatments per year. 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 5 days. Do not exceed 0.22 lb ai/a per year.
- cyfluthrin (Tombstone) at 0.033 to 0.044 lb ai/a. PHI 0 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.263 lb ai/a per season.
- cyfluthrin/imidacloprid (Leverage 2.7) at 0.08 to 0.11 lb ai/a. PHI 0 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.
- 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.
- diazinon (Diazinon 50W) at 2 to 4 lb ai/a preplant. REI 2 days. One treatment per season. Cutworms only.
- 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 0.09 lb ai/a per season.
- esfenvalerate (Asana XL) at 0.03 to 0.05 lb ai/a. PHI 1 day. REI 12 hr. Do not exceed 0.5 lb ai/a per season.
- flubendiamide/buprofezin (Vetica) at 0.25 to 0.35 lb ai/a. PHI 7 days. REI 12 hr. Limit 3 treatments. Retreatment interval 5 days. Do not exceed 0.79 lb ai/a per year.
- 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.
- indoxacarb (Avaunt) at 0.065 lb ai/a. PHI 3 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 5 days. Do not exceed 0.26 lb ai/a per season. An adjuvant improves control.
- 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 exceed 0.36 lb ai/a per season.
- lambda-cyhalothrin/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) 0.45 to 0.9 lb ai/a. PHI 1 day. REI 48 hr. Do not exceed 6.3 lb ai/a per season.
- methoxyfenozide (Intrepid 2F) at 0.06 to 0.12 lb ai/a (early-season) or 0.12 to 0.25 lb ai/a (mid- to late-season). PHI 1 day. REI 4 hr. Retreatment interval 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.
- permethrin (Loveland Permethrin and Permethrin Bait) at 0.05 to 0.2 lb ai/a foliar and 0.1 to 0.2 lb ai/a bait. PHI 0 days. REI 12 hr. Do not exceed 0.6 lb ai/a per season. Retreatment interval 7 days.
- spinetoram (Radiant SC) at 0.039 to 0.078 lb ai/a. PHI 1 day. 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 0.063 to 0.125 lb ai/a. PHI 1 day. REI 4 hr. Do not exceed 0.45 lb ai/a per crop. Limit 6 treatments per season. Entrust SC is OMRI-listed for organic use.
- Spodoptera frugipereda (Fawligen) at 1 to 2.4 fl oz product per acre. PHI 0 day. REI 4 hr. Beet armyworm.
- tebufenozide (Confirm 2F) at 0.09 to 0.12 lb ai/a early-year, or 0.12 to 0.25 lb ai/a mid- to late-year. PHI 7 days. REI 4 hr. Do not exceed 1 lb ai/a per season. Use of a spreader-binder is recommended.
- thiamethoxam/chlorantraniliprole (Durivo) at 0.195 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. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.3 lb ai/a per season.
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