Southeastern U.S. Vegetable Crop Handbook - 2023 - 194

INSECT CONTROL
TABLE 2-30. ALTERNATIVE IPM & BIOINSECTICIDE RECOMMENDATIONS IN VEGETABLE CROPS (CONT'D)
NOTE: Many organic insecticides have not been tested thoroughly in the commercial vegetable production systems. Use systems-based and pest
exclusion practices to reduce the overall infestation levels before using approved insecticides in organic farming systems. Targeted insecticide
applications at correct rate can protect natural enemies. Always read the insecticide label before application and purchase bioinsecticides from reliable
sources.
Target Pest
Aphid
Cropping
System
Multiple crops
Systems-based Practices
(for pest prevention)
Timely planting and harvest reduce water
stress on crops. Use appropriate plant
spacing to reduce spread and improve air
movement
Armyworms
Bean leaf beetle
Blister beetle
Cabbage
looper (small
caterpillars)
Colorado potato
beetle
Corn earworm/
Tomato fruitworm
Cowpea curculio
Multiple crops
Snap, lima
pole beans
Multiple crops
Multiple crops
Multiple crops
Multiple crops
Cowpeas,
Snap, Lima,
Pole beans
Cucumber beetle Multiple crops
Cutworm
Diamondback
moth & Imported
cabbage worm
European corn
borer
Flea beetle
Grasshopper
Hornworm
Multiple crops
Weed control, field sanitation, control soil
organic residue (larvae hide under thick
organic residue), timely planting & harvest
to avoid late-season infestation
Sanitation (removal of crop debris), timely
planting
-
Remove alternate host plants (wild mustard,
shepherd's purse), sanitation
Crop rotation, planting tolerant varieties
Field sanitation, removal of weedy hosts.
Use pheromone traps for monitoring moth
activity
Crop rotation, sanitation, early harvest of
crop, tillage in fall or early spring
Perimeter trap cropping with Hubbard
squash is highly effective. Use organic
insecticides on trap crops
Need-based soil tillage and organic
matter management
Collard & Mustard
greens
Multiple crops
Multiple crops
Multiple crops
Tomato
Use pheromone traps to monitor moths.
Collards and Yellow Rocket can be used
as trap crop (planted before main crop)
Use tolerant cultivars when possible
Timely planting of crops, Perimeter trap
cropping with eggplants
Maintain grassy patch (non-crop habitat)
and use nematode insecticidal bait
Timely harvesting of fruits, remove crop
debris. Cotesia parasitizes caterpillars
naturally
Japanese beetle Multiple crops
Fruiting
Leaffooted bug
vegetables
(tomato, okra,
eggplant)
Sunflower and sorghum trap crops may
deter feeding on main crop
Trap cropping with Peredovik sunflower
& NK300 sorghum provides significant
reduction. Plant extra rows of trap crop in
drought year. Plant okra away from other
susceptible crops
Mechanical tactics
(for pest prevention)
Use of reflective mulches to protect
transplants or use insect barrier fabric
immediately after transplanting
Remove & destroy egg masses,
Insect netting for gardens or short
rows*, High tunnel pest exclusion for
commercial producers^
Row cover or pest exclusion (Super
Light Insect Barrier, AgroFabric)
Row cover or pest exclusion (Super
Light Insect Barrier, AgroFabric)
Insect netting for gardens or short
rows*. High tunnel pest exclusion for
commercial producers^
Insect netting for gardens or short
rows* Hand remove larvae & adults
Insect netting for gardens or short
rows*, High tunnel pest exclusion for
commercial producers^
Row cover or pest exclusion (Super
Light Insect Barrier, AgroFabric).
Row cover or pest exclusion (Super
Light Insect Barrier, AgroFabric) for
early season protection
Row cover or pest exclusion (Super
Light Insect Barrier, AgroFabric Pro)
for early season protection
Insect netting over short rows to block
moths* (soon after transplanting),
destroy caterpillar clusters on leaves
before dispersal
Remove plant stalks
Insect netting (Super Light Insect
Barrier or AgroFabric) immediately
after transplanting*
Row cover or pest exclusion (Super
Light Insect Barrier, AgroFabric).
Row cover or pest exclusion (Super
Light Insect Barrier, AgroFabric).
High tunnel pest exclusion system for
commercial producers^
Row cover or pest exclusion (Super
Light Insect Barrier, AgroFabric)
High tunnel pest exclusion for commercial
producers^
Biorational Insecticides#
Insecticidal soap, oil blends (Pyola & others), paraffinic
oil, pyrethin, Chromobacterium (Gandevo),
Azera (insecticide premix). Do not spray oils in high
heat
Bacillus thuringiensis (Xentari, Dipel, or premix),
Insecticidal soap & oil, Spinosad, Neem, Chromobacterium
(Grandevo), Leap (insecticide premix),
Spear-Lep (Synergist)
Pyrethrins (single a.i. or premix), Spinosad
Spinosad, Pyrethrin (single a.i. or premix)
Bacillus thuringiensis (single a.i. or premix),
Insecticidal soap, Neem, Pyrethrins (single a.i. or
premix), Spinosad, Chromobacterium (Grandevo),
Spear-Lep (Synergist)
Neem, Pyrethrins (use for larval control), Spinosad
(watch for insecticide resistance)
Bacillus thuringiensis (single a.i. or premix), Insecticidal
soap & oil, Spinosad, Neem, Chromobacterium
(Grandevo), Spear-Lep (tankmix with Bt, not OMRI
approved)
Pyrethrins (single a.i. or premix), Spinosad (adults
are difficult to kill due to insecticide resistance)
Pyrethrins (single a.i. or premix), Neem, Parasitic
nematodes (weekly soil drench for caterpillars) as
needed
Bacillus thuringiensis (single a.i. or premix with
directed spray at plant base); Spinosad foliar and
stem spray; spinosad-based bait (Seduce, Bug-NSluggo)
Bacillus
thuringiensis (single a.i. or premix), Insecticidal
soap (for small caterpillars), Neem, Pyrethrins
(single a.i. or premix), Azera (insecticide premix),
Spear-Lep (tank-mix with Bt, not OMRI approved)
Bacillus thuringiensis (single a.i. or premix), Insecticidal
soap, Neem, Pyrethrins
Spinosad, Parasitic nematodes (drench in soil),
Pyrethrins (single a.i. or premix), Azera (premix
insecticide)
Pyrethrins or Spinosad (multiple applications needed),
Nolo Bait (Nosema locustae) for use in grassy
areas or near fences (non-crop areas)
Spinosad, Bacillus thuringiensis, Pyrethrins (single
a.i. or premix), Neem, Spear-Lep (tank- mix with Bt,
not OMRI approved)
Pyrethrins (single a.i. or premix), Neem (multiple
sprays), Milky spore disease, Bacillus thuringiensis
subsp. galleriae (beetleJUS!)
Pyrethrins and spinosad for killing nymphs in trap
crops (adults are difficult to control). Kaolin clay may
be effective temporarily (reapply after rain).
^ High tunnel pest exclusion using 50 percent woven shade cloth on side- and end-walls can exclude large moths and reduce caterpillar pressure.
Details at https://southern.sare.org/resources/high-tunnel-pest-exclusion-system/
# Organic insecticides are currently available as single active ingredient (AI) or in the form of premixes, such as Azera (neem + pyrethrins), Leap (BT + methyl salicylate),
and BotaniGard Maxx (pyrethrins + Beauveria bassiana).
* Relatively low-cost, temporary insect netting products include the Super-Light Insect Barrier (GardensAlive.com), AgroFabric Pro (https://www.7springsfarm.com) or other
lightweight exclusion material are suitable for early season pest prevention.
194
2023 Vegetable Crop Handbook for Southeastern United States
https://southern.sare.org/resources/high-tunnel-pest-exclusion-system/ http://www.GardensAlive.com https://www.7springsfarm.com
Southeastern U.S. Vegetable Crop Handbook - 2023

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