Insect Control : New England Vegetable Management Guide : UMass Amherst

NOTES: For the insecticides listed below, one product trade name and formulation is provided for each active ingredient (AI) as an example of rates, preharvest interval (PHI), restricted entry interval (REI), and special instructions. In many cases, there are other products available with the same AI. Please see Table 27 and Insecticides Alphabetical Listing by Trade Name for more information on these insecticides.

The designation (Bee: L, M, or H) indicates a bee toxicity rating of low, moderate, or high. See the Protecting Honeybees and Native Pollinators section for more details.

The symbol * indicates a product is a restricted use pesticide. See Pesticide Safety and Use for more details.

The symbol ^OGindicates a product is listed by the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) as approved for use in organic production. See Organic Certification section for more details.

Aphids

See Pepper section for more information about green peach aphid.

acephate (Orthene 97): 0.5 to 1 lb/A; PHI 21d, REI 24h, Bee: H, Group 1B. Green pech aphid only. Tops must be removed before use; do not use tops for food or feed. Celery only.
acetamiprid (Assail 30SG): 2 to 4 oz/A; PHI 7d, REI 12h, Bee: H, Group 4A. Celery only.
afidopyropen (Versys): 1.5 fl oz/A; PHI 0d, REI 12 h, Bee: L, Group 9D. Celery only.
alpha-cypermethrin (Fastac* EC): 3.2 to 3.8 oz/A; PHI 1d, REI 12h, Bee: H, Group 3A.
Chromobacterium subtsugae strain PRAA4-1 (Grandevo^OG): 2 to 3 lb/A; PHI 0d, REI 4h, Bee: M. Group UN.
cyantraniliprole (Exirel): 13.5 to 20.5 oz/A; PHI 1d, REI 12h, Bee: H, Group 28. Cotton and green peach only for celeriac.
cyantraniliprole (Verimark): 6.75 to 13.5 oz/A at planting, 6.75-10 oz/A chemigation; PHI 1d chemigation, REI 4h, Bee: H, Group 28. For control of green peach and suppression of potato aphid only. Celery only.
dinotefuran (Venom): 1 to 3 oz/A foliar or 5 to 7.5 oz/A soil; PHI 7d foliar, 21d soil, REI 12h, Bee: H, Group 4A. Suppression of green peach and potato aphids. Soil application may be as a band during bedding, in-furrow at seeding, transplant or post-seeding drench, sidedress, or through drip. Celery only.
flonicamid (Beleaf 50SG): 2 to 2.8 oz/A; PHI 0d celery, 3d celeriac, REI 12, Bee: L, Group 9C.
flupyradifurone (Sivanto): 7 to 14 oz/A other aphids, 10.5 to 14 oz/A green peach aphid; PHI 1d, REI 4h, Bee: L, Group 4D.
imidacloprid (Admire Pro): 4.4 to 10.5 oz/A soil; 1.2 oz/A foliar celeriac; PHI 45d soil, 7d foliar, REI 12h, Bee: H, Group 4A. Foliar applications allowed for celeriac only.
insecticidal soap (M-Pede^OG): 1.25 to 2.5 oz/gal water; PHI 0d, REI 12h, Bee: L. Spray to wet all infested plant surfaces. May need to make repeated applications and/or use a companion insecticide.
malathion (Malathion 57EC): 1.5 pt/A; PHI 7d, REI 12h, Bee: H, Group 1B. Celery only.
petroleum oil (Suffoil X^OG): 1 to 2 gal/100 gal water; PHI 0d, REI 4h, Bee: L. Celery only.
pymetrozine (Fulfill): 2.75 oz/A; PHI 7d, REI 12h, Bee: L, Group 9B. Celery only.
pyrethrin (PyGanic EC5.0^OG): 4.5 to 17 oz/A; 0.25 to 0.50 oz/gal, 3 gal/1000 sq ft in greenhouse for backpack sprayers; PHI 0d, REI 12h, Bee: M, Group 3A.
sodium tetraborohydrate decahydrate (Prev-AM): 100 oz/100 gal; REI 12h, Bee: L, Group 25. Do not apply in midday sun or mix with copper, sulfur or oils. Celery only.
spirotetramat (Movento): 4 to 5 oz/A; PHI 3d, REI 24h, Bee: M, Group 23. Must be tank-mixed with a spray adjuvant with spreading and penetrating properties to maximize leaf uptake and sytemicity; don't use sticker adjuvants. Controls immature stages; may also reduce adult fertility. Celery only.
sulfoxaflor (Closer SC): 1.5 to 2 oz/A; PHI 3d, 7d celeriac, REI 12h, Bee: H, Group 4C. Application to celeriac foliage and celery only. Do not apply any time between 3 days prior to bloom and until after petal fall.
sulfoxaflor (Transform WG): 0.75 to 1.5 oz/A; PHI 7d, REI 24h, Bee: H, Group 4C. Celeriac only. Do not apply any time between 3 days prior to bloom and until after petal fall.
thiamethoxam (Actara): 1.5 to 3 oz/A; PHI 7d, REI 12h, Bee: H, Group 4A.
thiamethoxam (Platimum): 5 to 11 oz/A celery, 5 to 12 oz/A celeriac; PHI 30d celery, REI 12h, Bee: H, Group 4A. Systemic insecticide used as an in-furrow, banded, drench, or drip irrigation application to the seed/seedling root zone during or after planting/transplanting operations (celery and celeriac), or shanked into root zone after transplanting or establishment (celery only).
tolfenpyrad (Torac): 17 to 21 oz/A; PHI 1d, REI 12h, Bee: H, Group 21A. Celery only.

Cabbage Looper and Imported Cabbageworm

See Cabbage and Other Brassica Crops for more information on cabbage looper and imported cabbageworm.

acephate (Orthene 97): 1 lb/A; PHI 21d, REI 24h, Bee: H, Group 1B. Tops must be removed before use; do not use tops for food or feed. Cabbage Looper on celery only.
alpha-cypermethrin (Fastac* EC): 2.2 to 3.8 oz/A for ICW, 3.2 to 3.8 oz/A for looper on celery and 1.8 to 3.8 oz/A for looper on celeriac; PHI 1d, REI 12h, Bee: H, Group 3A.
azadirachtin (Azatin O^OG): 4 to 16 oz/A foliar or drench, 4 to 16 oz/100 gal in greenhouses; PHI 0d, REI 4h, Bee: L, Group UN. When using lower rates, combine with adjuvant for improved spray coverage and translaminar uptake.
Bacillus thuringiensis aizawai (XenTari^OG): 0.5 to 1.5 lb/A; PHI 0d, REI 4h, Bee: L, Group 11. Must be ingested; apply in evening or early morning, before larvae are actively feeding. Adherence and weather-fastness will improve with use of an approved spreader-sticker. Use high rate at cool temperatures. For resistance management, may be rotated with Bt kurstaki products (Dipel).
Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki (Dipel DF^OG): 0.5 to 2 lb/A looper, 0.25 to 1 lb/A ICW; PHI 0d, REI 4h, Bee: L, Group 11. Must be ingested; apply in evening or early morning, before larvae are actively feeding. Adherence and weather-fastness will improve with use of an approved spreader-sticker. Use high rate at cool temperatures. For resistance management, may be rotated with Bt aizawai products (XenTari).
beta-cyfluthrin (Baythroid* XL): 1.6 to 2.4 oz/A; PHI 0d, REI 12h, Bee: H, Group 3A. Celery only.
carbaryl (Sevin XLR Plus): 1 to 2 qt/A; PHI 14d, REI 12h, Bee: H, Group 1A. Imported cabbageworm only.
chlorantraniliprole (Coragen): 3.5 to 7.5 oz/A; PHI 1d, REI 4h, Bee: L, Group 28. May be applied to soil at planting, through chemigation and as a foliar spray. For drip application, must be applied uniformly in the root zone. For foliar application an adjuvant may be used. Cabbage looper only.
Chromobacterium subtsugae strain PRAA4-1 (Grandevo^OG): 1 to 3 lb/A; PHI 0d, REI 4h, Bee: M, Group UN. Cabbage looper only.
cyantraniliprole (Exirel): 10 to 17 oz/A cabbage looper on celery, 10 to 20.5 loopers on celeriac; PHI 1d, REI 12h, Bee: H, Group 28.
cyantraniliprole (Verimark): 6.75 to 13.5 oz/A at planting, 6.75 to 10 oz/A chemigation; PHI 1d chemigation, REI 4h, Bee: H, Group 28. For cabbage looper only. Celery only.
emamectin benzoate (Proclaim*): 3.2 to 4.8 oz/A; PHI 7d, REI 12h, Bee: H, Group 6. Cabbage looper on celery only.
indoxacarb (Avaunt): 3.5 oz/A; PHI 3d, REI 12h, Bee: H, Group 22. Cabbage looper on celery only.
methomyl (Lannate* LV): 3 pt/A; PHI 7d, REI 48h, Bee: H, Group 1A. For cabbage looper on celery only.
methoxyfenozide (Intrepid 2F): 4 to 10 oz/A celery, 8 to 16 oz/A celeriac (root); PHI 1d, REI 4h, Bee: L, Group 18. Use lower rates when plants are small or infestations are light.
permethrin (Pounce* 25WP): 3.2 to 12.8 oz/A; PHI 1d, REI 12h, Bee: H, Group 3A. Cabbage looper on celery only.
petroleum oil (Suffoil X^OG): 1 to 2 gal/100 gal water; PHI 0d, REI 4h, Bee: L. Celery only. Not for ICW.
pyrethrin (PyGanic EC5.0^OG): 4.5 to 17 oz/A; 0.25 to 0.50 oz/gal, 3 gal/1000 sq ft in greenhouse for backpack sprayers; PHI 0d, REI 12h, Bee: M, Group 3A.
sodium tetraborohydrate decahydrate (Prev-AM): 50 oz/100 gal; REI 12h, Bee: L, Group 25. Do not apply in midday sun or mix with copper, sulfur or oils. Cabbage looper only. Celery only.
spinetoram (Radiant SC): 5 to 10 oz/A celery, 6 to 8 oz/A celeriac; PHI 1d celery, 3d celeriac, REI 4h, Bee: M, Group 5. Looper only on celeriac.
spinosad (Entrust SC^OG): 3 to 6 oz/A; PHI 1d celery, 3d celeriac, REI 4h, Bee: M, Group 5. Do not apply to celery seedlings intended for transplant. Not for ICW on celeriac.
tebufenozide (Confirm 2F): 6 to 8 oz/A; PHI 7d, REI 4h, Bee: L, Group 18. Use lower rate for early season applications to young, small plants. Use of an adjuvant is recommended. Celery only.
zeta-cypermethrin (Mustang*): 3.2 to 4 oz/A for ICW on celeriac and CL on celery, 2.24 to 4 oz/A for ICW on celery, 1.76 to 4 oz/A for looper on celeriac; PHI 1d, REI 12h, Bee: H, Group 3A.

Leafminers (Liriomyza species)

There are several species of leafminers in the genus Liriomyza, including the serpentine leafminer (Liriomyza trifolii), the vegetable leafminer (L. sativae), pea leafminer (L. huidobrensis) and cabbage leafminer (L. brassicae). Most of these species feed on a broad range of vegetables, weeds, flowers, and wild plants. Cabbage leafminer is most often found on brassicas, and rarely on other crop groups. In southern regions of the US, Liriomyza leafminers can be pests of basil, beans, cabbage and other brassicas, celery, lettuce, pepper, eggplant, tomato, and cucurbits. In New England, especially with greater use of selective insecticides that conserve natural enemies, these leafminers rarely reach pest status.

Adults in this group are small (2.0-2.5mm), hump-backed, clear-winged flies with black and yellow markings. Females lay eggs within the leaf, and larvae feed between the upper and lower surfaces of the leaf, creating winding mines. When fully grown, larvae emerge and form a brown pupa about the size of a rice grain on the leaf or in the soil. The life cycle takes 3 to 4 weeks, depending on temperature. Mines render the leaf unmarketable, reduce photosynthetic capacity, and provide entry for pathogens. Leafminers are generally controlled by naturally occurring parasites unless disrupted by broad-spectrum insecticide applications. There is also a commercially available biological control, the tiny wasp parasitoid, Diglyphus isaea, used against Liriomyza leafminers in many crops; this works best in warm weather.

In the southern and western US, pesticide resistance has become a problem. Avoid obtaining transplants from outside the Northeast, which could carry resistant strains. Control broadleaf weeds in and around the crop. Incorporate infested crop residues after harvest to prevent emergence and movement to new plantings. Most importantly, use selective insecticides on other pests to conserve natural enemies. Scouting methods include catching adults on yellow sticky traps placed in the mid or lower canopy or trapping pupae in trays underneath the plants. Counting mines is a good index of past activity, but mines may be vacant, and searching for larvae in mines is time-consuming. Treatment may be warranted if damage is delaying growth, if marketable parts of the plant are being damaged, or if adult fly populations are increasing.

See the beets and chard section for leafminers that occur in the Amaranthaceae (spinach, beets, chard) crop group.

abamectin (Agri-Mek* SC): 1.75 to 3.5 oz/A; PHI 7d, REI 12h, Bee: H, Group 6. Must be mixed with a non-ionic wetting, spreading and/or penetrating spray adjuvant; do not use binder or sticker type adjuvant. Celery only.
chlorantraniliprole (Coragen): 5 to 7.5 oz/A; PHI 1d, REI 4h, Bee: L, Group 28. May be applied to soil at planting, through drip chemigation and as a foliar spray. For foliar application an adjuvant may be used. Larvae only. Celery only.
cyantraniliprole (Exirel): 13.5 to 20.5 oz/A; PHI 1d, REI 12h, Bee: H, Group 28. Celery only.
cyantraniliprole (Verimark): 6.75 to 13.5 oz/A at planting, 6.75 to 10 oz/A chemigation; PHI 1d chemigation, REI 4h, Bee: H, Group 28. Celery only.
cyromazine (Trigard): 2.66 oz/A; PHI 7d, REI 12h, Bee: M, Group 17. Celery only.
dimethoate (Dimethoate 4EC): 1 pt/A; PHI 7d, REI 48h, Bee: H, Group 1B. Celery only.
dinotefuran (Venom): 1 to 3 oz/A foliar or 5 to 7.5 oz/A soil; PHI 1d foliar, 21d soil, REI 12h, Bee: H, Group 4A. Soil application may be as a band during bedding, in-furrow at seeding, transplant or post-seeding drench, sidedress, or through drip. Celery only.
emamectin benzoate (Proclaim*): 3.2 to 4.8 oz/A; PHI 7d, REI 12h, Bee: H, Group 6. Suppression only. Celery only.
insecticidal soap (M-Pede^OG): 1.25 to 2.5 oz/gal water; PHI 0d, REI 12h, Bee: L. Spray to wet all infested plant surfaces. May need to make repeated applications and/or use a companion insecticide. Apply this product only in a tank mix combination with a labeled companion insecticide.
permethrin (Pounce* 25WP): 6.4 to 12.8 oz/A; PHI 1d, REI 12h, Bee: H, Group 3A. Celery only.
petroleum oil (Suffoil X^OG): 1 to 2 gal/100 gal water; PHI 0d, REI 4h, Bee: L. Celery only.
spinetoram (Radiant SC): 6 to 10 oz/A celery, 6 to 8 oz/A celeriac; PHI 1d celery, 3d celeriac, REI 4h, Bee: M, Group 5. Control may be improved with the addition of an adjuvant to the spray mixture.
spinosad (Entrust SC^OG): 3 to 6 oz/A celeriac, 6 to 10 oz/A celery; PHI 1d celery, 3d celeriac, REI 4h, Bee: M, Group 5. Control may be improved with the addition of an adjuvant. Do not apply to celery seedlings intended for transplant.

Mites

See Eggplant for more information about mites.

abamectin (Agri-Mek* SC): 1.75 to 3.5 oz/A; PHI 7d, REI 12h, Bee: H, Group 6. Must be mixed with a non-ionic wetting, spreading and/or penetrating spray adjuvant; do not use binder or sticker type adjuvant. Use high rate on celeriac.
Chromobacterium subtsugae (Grandevo^OG): 2 to 3 lb/A; PHI 0d, 4h REI, Bee: M, Group UN. Celery only.
malathion (Malathion 57EC): 1.5 pt/A; PHI 7d, REI 12h, Bee: H, Group 1B. Celery only.
Metarhizium anisopliae Strain F52 (Met 52 EC): 40 to 80 oz/100 gal soil, 8 to 64 oz/A foliar; PHI 0d, REI 4h, Bee: L, Group UN. Celery only.
petroleum oil (Suffoil X^OG): 1 to 2 gal/100 gal water; PHI 0d, REI 4h, Bee: L. Celery only.
sulfur (Microthiol Disperss^OG): 4 to 6 lb/A; REI 24h, Bee: L, No IRAC classification. Celery only.

Slugs

Damage appears as shredded foliage. Look for silvery slime trails on leaves or turn over soil clods or debris to find slugs during daylight hours. Grow plants away from moist, shaded habitats, use clean cultivation, control weeds, hand-pick/crush slugs, or scatter baits on the ground near infested plants. See the Cabbage section for more information on slugs.

metaldehyde (Deadline Bullets): 25 lb/A; REI 12h, Bee: L. Soil surface treatment broadcast pre-planting, or band treatment between rows after formation of edible parts. Apply to moist soil in the evening. Do not apply directly to or contaminate edible portions of plants. Celery only.

Tarnished Plant Bug (Lygus lineolaris)

See Lettuce for information about tarnished plant bugs. Bugs may feed on leaf petioles or produce lesions or small sunken cavities on stalks. Injury to the inner growing tip can cause foliar discoloration and tissue destruction similar to the physiological condition known as blackheart. If your crop is near weedy fallow fields or alfalfa, scout weekly from when celery is 4" tall until 3 weeks before harvest to detect TPB and injury, as the economic injury level is low. Treat if there are 2 to 4 bugs per 20 plants. Control weeds in and around the field. Do not plant near legume crops that may be harvested during the season, or TPB may migrate to celery.

beta-cyfluthrin (Baythroid* XL): 2.4 to 3.2 oz/A; PHI 0d, REI 12h, Bee: H, Group 3A. Celery only.
carbaryl (Sevin XLR plus): 1 to 2 qt/A; PHI 7d, REI 12h, Bee: H, Group 1A. Celeriac only.
flonicamid (Beleaf 50SG): 2 to 2.8 oz/A; PHI 0d celery, 3d celeriac, REI 12, Bee: L, Group 9C.
insecticidal soap (M-Pede^OG): 1.25 to 2.5 oz/gal water; PHI 0d, REI 12h, Bee: L. Spray to wet all infested plant surfaces. May need to make repeated applications and/or use a companion insecticide.
petroleum oil (Suffoil X^OG): 1 to 2 gal/100 gal water; PHI 0d, REI 4h, Bee: L. Celery only.
pyrethrin (PyGanic EC5.0^OG): 4.5 to 17 oz/A, 0.25 to 0.50 oz/gal, 3 gal/1000 sq ft in greenhouse for backpack sprayers; PHI 0d, REI 12h, Bee: M, Group 3A.

Insect Control