Pointers for Insect Control in Garden Vegetables

Dr. Ayanava MajumdarExt. Entomologist, State SARE Coordinator

Tel: (251) 331-8416bugdoctor@auburn.edu

Start with a Clean Garden• Remove plant debris

• Bring weeds under control quickly

• Choose vigorous hybrids

• Choose good crop rotation (especially think disease carryover)

Insect monitoring with traps

Pheromone traps are sold as kits by many companies (Planet Natural, Arbico Organics) and effective in detecting low insect populations.Shown here are two low-cost wing traps that can be used for monitoring corn earworm & tobacco budworm in the backyard.

ACES Insect monitoring project(started in 2009)

• What does trap catch tell you?

Catch = Density x Activity• Commercial traps/lures were used

• Advantages of IPM traps: Specificity, Sensitivity, Simplicity, Safety

Sites monitored for pest insects in 2009 commercial crops are marked with a star >>

Trap catches in 2009Insect catches (June-Oct.):

Total = 8,586Lesser cornstalk borer = 3,586Fall armyworm = 1,386Beet armyworm = 1,377Corn earworm = 589

Southern armyworm = 393Tobacco budworm = 342Soybean looper = 230Cabbage looper = 223Corn rootworm: Southern = 253; Western = 13

Black cutworm = 125Diamondback moth = 65Tomato pinworm = 4European corn borer = 0 Stink bugs = 0 (trap/lure

problem)

Expect these insects in your backyard too

Insect monitoring with pit-fall trapsEstimate insect activity on soil surface. Insects follow the guide sticks and drop into the trap (a ½ cup of water).

Guide stick

Light trapping insects: The quick & easy way

Water-filled bowl under porch light can be a simple light trap in summer. Add some dish detergent to the water to drown moths and beetles that will be attracted to the light. During rain, remember to remove the container. Keep records of your collection.

IF you do insect trapping…• Maintain a record of start and finish each year• Record number of insects in trap each week• Draw chart of insect numbers and note the peak flight

period (see next slide for example)• Scout your main crop for larvae/crop damage• Correlate the insect number in trap to actual crop

damage• Do these steps in multiple years and you will become a

true entomologist!• Be able to predict a pest outbreak using population data

Example of insect monitoring using pheromone trap:

Corn earworm/tomato fruitworm

1611

Monthly average activity

Population density in Mobile & Baldwin Co.

Year 2009

Arrows (above) indicate peak activity periods.

Try different IPM tactics• Deep tillage, soil solarization…can expose and kill insects.

• Trap crops (squash, sunflower) for sucking pests + contact poison

Main crop (watermelon, cantaloupe, cucumber)

Trap crop (squash)

Trap

Main crop Main crop

Try different IPM tacticsPhysical barriers to insects:

• Reflective mulch (white, silvery)…when plants are small

• Row covers for insect control (light weight material)

• Insect nets from fine cotton material (sold in Walmart)

• Plant collars to repel soil insects

Use insecticides after proper identification & as a last resort…

Selecting Pesticides for Home Gardens:

It is a Jungle out there!

Insecticides displayed by bottle size, not the Active Ingredient (AI)

Who doesn’t love Malathion?

• Spidermites, aphids, stink bugs

• At least 7 companies make formulations

• Read label before use in vegetables

Friend of friends – Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt)

• Caterpillars in cool-season crops, tomatoes, pepper

• Frequent appl., thorough coverage needed

• 0 Pre Harvest Interval (PHI)

Pyrethrin on Vegetables

• Broad-spectrum• RTU on select vegetables

Has sulfur, can burn leaves

Green Light Organic Products

Pyrethrin(armyworm, loopers, cutworm, aphids, psyllids)

Neem (oil)

Neem II (oil + pyrethrin)

Insect control granules in vegetables• Contact & stomach poison

• Back of the bag has broad vegetable label for ants, armyworms, grubs, etc.

• Long residual

Bifenthrin (AI) granules: can be applied once when preparing soil or after planting (mix well in soil). Bifenthrin spray or RTU can be applied multiple times 7 days apart. Try rotatin Sevin or BugBGon with alternative insecticides.

Bayer’s line-up of products…

Product on rebate on BayerAdvanced.com!

• Systemic poison

• Apply at first sign of insects (aphid, thrips, WF, beetles)

• Best as PoE drench

Bayer Advanced FCV

Spinosad…a good rotation partner

• Excellent for thrips, leafminers, looper, DBM, CPB, control

• 1 day PHI

Toxicity of formulations

Source: Penn State Univ. IPM Program

For downloading a quick chart on insecticides for home gardens, please visit

https://sites.aces.edu/group/commhort/vegetable/vegfactsheets/default.aspx