Insect Control

Aphids

See the Pepper section for more information on green peach aphid.

IRAC Group 1:

• acephate (Orthene 97): 0.5 to 1 lb/A; PHI 21d, REI 24h, Bee: H, Group 1B. For green peach aphid. Celery tops must be removed before marketing. Do not use tops for food or feed. Celery only.
• malathion (Malathion 57EC): 1.5 pt/A; PHI 7d, REI 12h, Bee: H, Group 1B. Celery only.

IRAC Group 3:

• alpha-cypermethrin (Fastac* CS): 2.2 to 3.8 oz/A celery, 3.2 to 3.8 oz/A celeriac; PHI 1d, REI 12h, Bee: H. See resistance statement on label. Control may be variable depending on species and host-plant relationships. Aids in control on celeriac.
• pyrethrin (PyGanic EC5.0^OG): 4.5 to 15.61 oz/A, or 0.25 to 0.50 oz/gal and 3 gal/1000 sq ft in greenhouse for backpack sprayers; PHI 0d, REI 12h, Bee: M.

IRAC Group 4:

• acetamiprid (Assail 30SG): 2 to 4 oz/A; PHI 7d, REI 12h, Bee: H, Group 4A. Celery only.
• dinotefuran (Venom): 1 to 3 oz/A foliar, 5 to 7.5 oz/A soil; PHI 7d foliar, 21d soil, REI 12h, Bee: H, Group 4A. Do not apply to vegetables grown for seed. Suppression of green peach and potato aphids. Celery only.
• flupyradifurone (Sivanto): 10.5 to 14 oz/A for green peach aphid in celery, 7 to 14 oz/A for celeriac and other aphids in celery; PHI 1d celery, 7d celeriac, REI 4h, Bee: L, Group 4D. 
• imidacloprid (Admire Pro): 4.4 to 10.5 oz/A soil celery and celeriac, 1.2 oz/A foliar celeriac; PHI 45d soil celery, 21d soil celeriac, 7d foliar, REI 12h, Bee: H, Group 4A. Foliar applications allowed for celeriac only.
• sulfoxaflor (Closer SC): 1.5 to 2 oz/A celery, 1.5 to 7.75 oz/A celeriac; PHI 3d celery, 7d celeriac, REI 12h, Bee: H, Group 4C. Not for use in greenhouses or high tunnels. 
• sulfoxaflor (Transform WG): 0.75 to 1.5 oz/A; PHI 7d, REI 24h, Bee: H, Group 4C. Celeriac only. 
• thiamethoxam (Actara): 1.5 to 3 oz/A; PHI 7d, REI 12h, Bee: H, Group 4A.
• thiamethoxam (Platimum 75SG): 1.66 to 3.67 oz/A celery, 1.7 to 4.01 oz/A celeriac; PHI 30d for celery, REI 12h, Bee: H, Group 4A. Systemic insecticide used at planting.

IRAC Group 8:

• sodium tetraborohydrate decahydrate (Prev-AM): 100 oz/100 gal; REI 24h, Bee: L, Group 8D. Do not apply in midday sun or mix with copper. Celery only.

IRAC Group 9:

• afidopyropen (Versys): 1.5 oz/A; PHI 0d, REI 12 h, Bee: L, Group 9D. Celery only.
• pymetrozine (Fulfill): 2.75 oz/A; PHI 7d, REI 12h, Bee: L, Group 9B. Translaminar. Celery only.

IRAC Group 21:

• tolfenpyrad (Torac): 17 to 21 oz/A; PHI 1d, REI 12h, Bee: H. Celery only. 

IRAC Group 23:

• spirotetramat (Movento): 4 to 5 oz/A; PHI 3d, REI 24h, Bee: M. Must be tank-mixed with a spray adjuvant with spreading and penetrating properties to maximize leaf uptake and systemicity. Don't use sticker adjuvants. Controls immature stages, may also reduce adult fertility. Not for use in greenhouses or high tunnels. Celery only.

IRAC Group 28:

• cyantraniliprole (Exirel): 13.5 to 20.5 oz/A; PHI 1d, REI 12h, Bee: H. Cotton/melon and green peach aphid only for celeriac.
• cyantraniliprole (Verimark): 6.75 to 13.5 oz/A soil at planting, 6.75 to 10 oz/A chemigation; PHI 1d chemigation, REI 4h, Bee: H. For control of green peach aphid and suppression of potato aphid only. Celery only.

IRAC Group 29:

• flonicamid (Beleaf 50SG): 2 to 2.8 oz/A; PHI 0d celery, 3d celeriac, REI 12h, Bee: L.

IRAC Group UN:

• Chromobacterium subtsugae strain PRAA4-1 (Grandevo^OG): 2 to 3 lb/A; PHI 0d, REI 4h, Bee: M.
• insecticidal soap (M-Pede^OG): 1.25 to 2.5 oz/gal water; PHI 0d, REI 12h, Bee: L. Use in combination with a specified rate of another labeled product. Do not mix with sulfur. Celery only.
• mineral oil (SuffOil-X^OG): 1 to 2 gal/100 gal water; PHI 0d, REI 4h, Bee: L. Celery only.

Cabbage Looper and Imported Cabbageworm

See the Cabbage, Broccoli, Cauliflower, and Other Brassica Crops insect control section for more information on cabbage looper (CL) and imported cabbageworm (ICW).

IRAC Group 1:

• acephate (Orthene 97): 1 lb/A; PHI 21d, REI 24h, Bee: H, Group 1B. Celery tops must be removed before marketing. Do not use tops for food or feed. CL on celery only.
• carbaryl (Sevin XLR Plus): 1 to 2 qt/A; PHI 14d, REI 12h, Bee: H, Group 1A. Do not apply to crops or weeds in bloom. ICW on celery only. 
• methomyl (Lannate* LV): 3 pt/A; PHI 7d, REI 48h, Bee: H, Group 1A. Celery only. 

IRAC Group 3:

• alpha-cypermethrin (Fastac* CS): 2.2 to 3.8 oz/A for ICW in celery, 3.2 to 3.8 oz/A for CL in celery and ICW in celeriac, 1.8 to 3.8 oz/A for CL in celeriac; PHI 1d, REI 12h, Bee: H.
• beta-cyfluthrin (Baythroid* XL): 1.6 to 2.4 oz/A; PHI 0d, REI 12h, Bee: H. Celery only.
• permethrin (Pounce* 25WP): 3.2 to 12.8 oz/A; PHI 1d, REI 12h, Bee: H. CL on celery only.
• pyrethrin (PyGanic EC5.0^OG): 4.5 to 15.61 oz/A, or 0.25 to 0.50 oz/gal and 3 gal/1000 sq ft in greenhouse for backpack sprayers; PHI 0d, REI 12h, Bee: M.
• zeta-cypermethrin (Mustang* Maxx): 2.24 to 4 oz/A for ICW in celery, 3.2 to 4 oz/A for ICW in celeriac and CL in celery, 1.76 to 4 oz/A for CL in celeriac; PHI 1d, REI 12h, Bee: H.

IRAC Group 5:

• spinetoram (Radiant SC): 5 to 10 oz/A celery, 6 to 8 oz/A celeriac; PHI 1d celery, 7d celeriac, REI 4h, Bee: M. 
• spinosad (Entrust SC^OG): 3 to 6 oz/A; PHI 1d celery, 3d celeriac, REI 4h, Bee: M. Do not apply to celery seedlings intended for transplant. CL only on celeriac.

IRAC Group 6:

• emamectin benzoate (Proclaim*): 3.2 to 4.8 oz/A; PHI 7d, REI 12h, Bee: H. CL on celery only.

IRAC Group 8:

• sodium tetraborohydrate decahydrate (Prev-AM): 50 oz/100 gal; REI 24h, Bee: L, Group 8D. Do not apply in midday sun or mix with copper. CL on celery only.

IRAC Group 11:

• Bacillus thuringiensis aizawai (XenTari^OG): 0.5 to 1.5 lb/A; PHI 0d, REI 4h, Bee: L. Must be ingested. For resistance management, may be rotated with Bt kurstaki products (e.g. Dipel).
• Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki (Dipel DF^OG): 0.5 to 2 lb/A for celeriac and ICW in celery, 0.5 to 1.5 lb/A for CL in celery; PHI 0d, REI 4h, Bee: L. Must be ingested. For resistance management, may be rotated with Bt aizawai products (e.g. XenTari).

IRAC Group 18:

• methoxyfenozide (Intrepid 2F): For celery, 4 to 8 oz/A early season on young plants, 8 to 10 oz/A mid- to late-season; For celeriac, 8 to 16 oz/A; PHI 1d, REI 4h, Bee: L. 
• tebufenozide (Confirm 2F): 6 to 8 oz/A early season on young plants, 8 oz/A mid- to late-season; PHI 7d, REI 4h, Bee: L. Celery only.

IRAC Group 22:

• indoxacarb (Avaunt): 3.5 oz/A; PHI 3d, REI 12h, Bee: H. CL on celery only.

IRAC Group 28:

• chlorantraniliprole (Coragen): 3.5 to 7.5 oz/A; PHI 1d, REI 4h, Bee: L. May be applied to soil at planting, through chemigation, and as a foliar spray. Foliar only for celeriac. CL only. 
• cyantraniliprole (Exirel): 10 to 17 oz/A celery, 10 to 20.5 celeriac; PHI 1d, REI 12h, Bee: H. CL only.
• cyantraniliprole (Verimark): 6.75 to 13.5 oz/A soil at planting, 6.75 to 10 oz/A chemigation; PHI 1d chemigation, REI 4h, Bee: H. CL on celery only.

IRAC Group UN:

• 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. When using lower rates, combine with adjuvant for improved spray coverage and translaminar uptake.
• Chromobacterium subtsugae strain PRAA4-1 (Grandevo^OG): 1 to 3 lb/A; PHI 0d, REI 4h, Bee: M. CL only.
• mineral oil (SuffOil-X^OG): 1 to 2 gal/100 gal water; PHI 0d, REI 4h, Bee: L. CL in celery only.

Leafminers (Liriomyza spp.)

There are several species of leafminers in the genus Liriomyza, including the serpentine leafminer (L. 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 (2.0–2.5 mm), 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 3–4 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 parasites are 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 Swiss Chard insect control section for information about leafminers that occur in the Amaranthaceae crop group (spinach, beets, chard).

IRAC Group 1:

• dimethoate (Dimethoate 4EC): 1 pt/A; PHI 7d, REI 48h, Bee: H, Group 1B. Celery only.

IRAC Group 3:

• permethrin (Pounce* 25WP): 6.4 to 12.8 oz/A; PHI 1d, REI 12h, Bee: H. Celery only.

IRAC Group 4:

• dinotefuran (Venom): 1 to 3 oz/A foliar, 5 to 7.5 oz/A soil; PHI 7d foliar, 21d soil, REI 12h, Bee: H, Group 4A. Soil application may be as a band during bedding, in-furrow at seeding, as a transplant or post-seeding drench, as a sidedress, or through drip. Do not apply to vegetables grown for seed. Celery only.

IRAC Group 5:

• spinetoram (Radiant SC): 6 to 10 oz/A celery, 6 to 8 oz/A celeriac; PHI 1d celery, 7d celeriac, REI 4h, Bee: M. Control may be improved with the addition of an adjuvant.
• spinosad (Entrust SC^OG): 6 to 10 oz/A celery, 3 to 6 oz/A celeriac; PHI 1d celery, 3d celeriac, REI 4h, Bee: M. Control may be improved with the addition of an adjuvant. Do not apply to celery seedlings intended for transplant.

IRAC Group 6:

• abamectin (Agri-Mek* SC): 1.75 to 3.5 oz/A; PHI 7d, REI 12h, Bee: H. Celery only.
• emamectin benzoate (Proclaim*): 3.2 to 4.8 oz/A; PHI 7d, REI 12h, Bee: H. Suppression only. Celery only.

IRAC Group 17:

• cyromazine (Trigard): 2.66 oz/A; PHI 7d, REI 12h, Bee: M. Celery only.

IRAC Group 28:

• chlorantraniliprole (Coragen): 5 to 7.5 oz/A; PHI 1d, REI 4h, Bee: L. May be applied to soil at planting, through drip chemigation, and as a foliar spray. Leafminer larvae on celery only.
• cyantraniliprole (Exirel): 13.5 to 20.5 oz/A; PHI 1d, REI 12h, Bee: H. Celery only.
• cyantraniliprole (Verimark): 6.75 to 13.5 oz/A soil at planting, 6.75 to 10 oz/A chemigation; PHI 1d chemigation, REI 4h, Bee: H. Celery only.

IRAC Group UN:

• insecticidal soap (M-Pede^OG): 1.25 to 2.5 oz/gal water; PHI 0d, REI 12h, Bee: L. Apply this product only in a tank-mix combination with a labeled companion insecticide. Do not mix with sulfur. Celery only. 
• mineral oil (SuffOil-X^OG): 1 to 2 gal/100 gal water; PHI 0d, REI 4h, Bee: L. Celery only.

Mites

See the Eggplant insect control section for more information about mites.

IRAC Group 1:

• malathion (Malathion 57EC): 1.5 pt/A; PHI 7d, REI 24h, Bee: H, Group 1B. Celery only.

IRAC Group 6:

• abamectin (Agri-Mek* SC): 1.75 to 3.5 oz/A; PHI 7d, REI 12h, Bee: H. Use high rate for two-spotted spider mite on celeriac.

IRAC Group UN:

• Chromobacterium subtsugae (Grandevo^OG): 2 to 3 lb/A; PHI 0d, 4h REI, Bee: M. Celery only.
• Metarhizium anisopliae Strain F52 (Met 52 EC): 40 to 80 oz/100 gal drench, 8 to 64 oz/A foliar; PHI 0d, REI 4h, Bee: L. Celery only.
• mineral 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. 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, Broccoli, Cauliflower, and Other Brassica Crops insect control section for more information on slugs.

IRAC Group UN:

• 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 the Lettuce, Endive, and Escarole insect control section 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 2–4 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. 

IRAC Group 1:

• carbaryl (Sevin XLR plus): 1 to 2 qt/A; PHI 7d, REI 12h, Bee: H, Group 1A. Do not apply to crops or weeds in bloom. Celeriac only.

IRAC Group 3:

• beta-cyfluthrin (Baythroid* XL): 2.4 to 3.2 oz/A; PHI 0d, REI 12h, Bee: H. Celery only. See insecticide resistance statement on label. 
• pyrethrin (PyGanic EC5.0^OG): 4.5 to 15.61 oz/A, or 0.25 to 0.50 oz/gal and 3 gal/1000 sq ft in greenhouse for backpack sprayers; PHI 0d, REI 12h, Bee: M.

IRAC Group 29:

• flonicamid (Beleaf 50SG): 2 to 2.8 oz/A; PHI 0d celery, 3d celeriac, REI 12h, Bee: L.

IRAC Group UN:

• insecticidal soap (M-Pede^OG): 1.25 to 2.5 oz/gal water; PHI 0d, REI 12h, Bee: L. Do not mix with sulfur. Celery only.
• mineral oil (SuffOil-X^OG): 1 to 2 gal/100 gal water; PHI 0d, REI 4h, Bee: L. Celery only.