Insect Control

Cabbage Looper, Imported Cabbageworm, and Other Caterpillars

For more information, see cabbage looper (CL) and imported cabbageworm (ICW) in the Cabbage section. Parsley worm, the larva of the black swallowtail butterfly (Papilio polyxenes), may invade small plantings but are not abundant enough to reach pest status on larger plantings. Hand picking or selective insecticides provide control.

IRAC Group 1:

• carbaryl (Sevin XLR Plus): 1 to 2 qt/A; PHI 14d, REI 12h, Bee: H, Group 1A. Not for CL. Do not apply to crops or weeds in bloom. Parsley only. 
• malathion (Malathion 57EC): 1 to 2 pt/A; PHI 7d, REI 24h, Bee: H, Group 1B. For ICW and CL. Parsley only. 
• methomyl (Lannate* LV): 1.5 to 3 pt/A; PHI 10d, REI 48h, Bee: H, Group 1A. Parsley only.

IRAC Group 3:

• beta-cyfluthrin (Baythroid* XL): 1.6 to 2.4 oz/A; PHI 0d, REI 12h, Bee: H. Parsley only.
• permethrin (Pounce* 25WP): 3.2 to 12.8 oz/A CL, 6.4 to 12.8 oz/A others; PHI 1d, REI 12h, Bee: H. Not for ICW. Parsley only.
• pyrethrin (PyGanic EC5.0^OG): 4.5 to 15.61 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.
• zeta-cypermethrin (Mustang* Maxx): 2.24 to 4 oz/A ICW and others; 3.2 to 4 oz/A loopers and armyworms; PHI 1d, REI 12h, Bee: H.

IRAC Group 5:

• spinetoram (Radiant SC): 5 to 10 oz/A parsley, 5 to 8 oz/A cilantro; PHI 1d, REI 4h, Bee: M. Control of loopers and armyworms may be improved with addition of adjuvant on cilantro. 
• spinosad (Entrust SC^OG): 1.5 to 3 oz/A diamondback moth, 3 to 6 oz/A CL and ICW, 4 to 8 oz/A for armyworms; PHI 1d, REI 4h, Bee: M. 

IRAC Group 6:

• emamectin benzoate (Proclaim*): 3.2 to 4.8 oz/A; PHI 7d, REI 12h, Bee: H. CL only. Apply when larvae are first observed.

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 only.

IRAC Group 11:

• Bacillus thuringiensis aizawai (XenTari^OG): 0.5 to 1.5 lb/A all caterpillars except 0.5 to 2 lb/A armyworms; PHI 0d, REI 4h, Bee: L. Must be ingested. For resistance management, may be rotated with Bt kurstaki products (Dipel).
• Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki (Dipel DF^OG): 0.5 to 2 lb/A; PHI 0d, REI 4h, Bee: L. Must be ingested. For resistance management, may be rotated with Bt aizawai products (XenTari).

IRAC Group 18:

• methoxyfenozide (Intrepid 2F): 4 to 8 oz/A early season on young plants, 8 to 10 oz/A mid- to late-season; 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. Parsley only.

IRAC Group 21:

• tolfenpyrad (Torac): 21 oz/A; PHI 1d, REI 12h, Bee: H. Suppression only. Not for CL.

IRAC Group 22:

• indoxacarb (Avaunt): 2.5 to 3.5 oz/A CL, 3.5 to 6.0 oz/A beet armyworm and corn earworm; PHI 3d, REI 12h, Bee: H. Parsley 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 drip chemigation, and as a foliar spray. Not for ICW. 
• cyantraniliprole (Exirel): 10 to 17 oz/A CL, 7 to 13.5 oz/A other caterpillars; PHI 1d, REI 12h, Bee: H.
• 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. Not for ICW. Parsley only.
• cyclaniliprole (Harvanta 50SL): 10.9 to 16.4 oz/A; PHI 1d, REI 4h, Bee: H.

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.

Carrot Weevil (Listronotus oregonensis)

Carrot weevil females lay eggs near the base of plants that have 4 or more true leaves, and larvae tunnel into root systems. Aboveground foliage will appear severely chlorotic. Symptoms are easily confused with those caused by Pythium; to distinguish, dig up yellowing or wilting plants. Carrot weevil larvae will cause orange gouges near the crown. Alternatively, if the roots appear shortened with reddish to orangish root tips, Pythium is the likely pathogen. See Carrot and Parsnip section for more information.

Cutworm 

Look for missing or cut-off plants. When this occurs, cutworms can often be found in nearby soil under clods, debris, or rocks. See cutworms in the Pepper and Tomato (Outdoor) sections for more information on black and variegated cutworms.

Root-Knot Nematode (Meloidogyne spp.)

Parasitized crops will appear less vigorous, stunted, or nutrient-deficient in circular patterns in the field. If suspected, carefully dig up the plant and look for galls; if present, send to diagnostic lab for confirmation. If confirmed, rotate with non-hosts such as cereals. Soil solarization or field fumigation in the fall may help reduce nematode populations.