Insect Control

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 ^OG   indicates 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, primarily Green Peach Aphid (Myzus persicae)

Aphids in spinach are primarily green peach aphids (see Pepper section for more information). Thresholds used in other regions may apply, including 1 aphid/plant on seedlings and 4-10 aphids per plant on older plants. Natural enemies often provide control. Aphid outbreaks can occur after using broad-spectrum insecticides due to the loss of natural enemies, so aphid-selective products should be used whenever possible. Take measures to cover the undersides of leaves if using materials that do not have translaminar or systemic movement.

• acetamiprid (Assail 30SG): 2 to 4 oz/A; PHI 7d, REI 12h, Bee: M, Group 4A. Do not apply to greenhouse or high tunnel crops.
• afidopyropen (Versys): 1.5 fl oz/A; PHI 0d, REI 12h, Bee: L, Group 9D. Do not apply to greenhouse or high tunnel crops.
• azadirachtin (Azatin O^OG): 5 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.
• 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. Do not use adjuvants in tank mix with Exirel in spinach. Do not apply to greenhouse or high tunnel crops.
• 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 control of green peach and suppression of potato aphid only. Do not apply to greenhouse or high tunnel crops.
• cyclaniliprole (Harvanta): 10.9 to 16.4 fl oz.; PHI 1d, REI 12 h, Bee: H, Group 28. For best results, use with an effective adjuvant. Use high labeled rate for best perfromance. Melon aphid only. Do not apply to greenhouse or high tunnel crops.
• dinotefuran (Venom): 1 to 3 oz/A foliar or 5 to 7.5 oz/A soil; PHI 7d foliar, PHI 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.
• flonicamid (Beleaf 50SG): 2 to 2.8 oz/A; PHI 0d, REI 12h, Bee: L, Group 9C.
• flupyradifurone (Sivanto): 10.5 to 14 oz/A for green peach aphid foliar, 7 to 14 oz/A for other aphids foliar, 21 to 28 oz/A for soil; PHI 1d foliar, 21d soil, REI 4h, Bee:L, Group 4D.
• imidacloprid (Admire Pro): 1.3 oz/A foliar, 4.4 to 10.5 oz/A soil; PHI 7d foliar, PHI 21d soil, REI 12h, Bee: H, Group 4A. For foliar applications, apply only to fully leafed-up canopies. Do not apply to greenhouse or high tunnel crops.
• 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. For enhanced and residual control, apply with a companion labeled insecticide. For green peach aphid, must use companion insecticide.
• malathion (Malathion 57EC): 1.6 pt/A; PHI 7d, REI 12h, Bee: H, Group 1B.
• permethrin (Pounce* 25WP): 6.4 to 12.8 oz/A; PHI 1d, REI 12h, Bee: H, Group 3A.
• pymetrozine (Fulfill): 2.75 oz/A; PHI 7d, REI 12h, Bee:L, Group 9B. Translaminar. Apply when aphids first appear, before populations build up.
• 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.
• 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. Do not apply to greenhouse or high tunnel crops.
• sulfoxaflor (Closer SC): 1.5 to 2 oz/A; PHI 3d, REI 12h, Bee: H, Group 4C. Do not apply to greenhouse or high tunnel crops.
• tolfenpyrad (Torac): 17 to 21 oz/A; PHI 1d, REI 12h, Bee: H, Group 21A. Except lettuce aphids.
• zeta-cypermethrin (Mustang*): 2.24 to 4 oz/A; PHI 1d, REI 12h, Bee: H, Group 3A. Aphid control may be variable depending on species present and host-plant relationships.

Blister Beetles

See Blister Beetles in the Beets and Swiss Chard section for more information on blister beetle life cycle and management. A single spot spray with a broad-spectrum insecticide registered for caterpillars on spinach will control the beetles.

• 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.

Cabbage Looper (Trichoplusiani) and Fall Armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda)

See Cabbage section for more information on cabbage looper and Sweet Corn section for more information on fall armyworm.

• Bacillus thuringiensis aizawai (XenTari^OG): 0.5 to 1.5 lb/A for looper, 0.5 to 2.0 lb/A for armyworms; 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, 1 to 2 lb/A armyworm; 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 for CL, 2.4 to 3.2 oz/A for FAW; PHI 0d, REI 12h, Bee: H, Group 3A. For FAW, controls first and second instar larvae only.
• bifenthrin (Brigade* 2EC): 2.1 to 6.4 oz/A; PHI 40d, REI 12h, Bee: H, Group 3A.
• carbaryl (Sevin XLR Plus): 1 to 2 qt/A; PHI 14d, REI 12h, Bee: H, Group 1A. For fall armyworm only. Do not apply to crops in bloom. 
• 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 drip chemigation and as a foliar spray. For soil applications, must be applied uniformly in the root zone. For CL and beet armyworm only. Do not apply to greenhouse or high tunnel crops.
• Chromobacterium subtsugae strain PRAA4-1 (Grandevo^OG): 1 to 3 lb/A; PHI 0d, REI 4h, Bee: M, Group UN.
• cyantraniliprole (Exirel): 10 to 17 oz/A loopers, 7 to 13.5 oz/A armyworm; PHI 1d, REI 12h, Bee: H, Group 28. Do not use adjuvants in tank mix with Exirel in spinach. Do not apply to greenhouse or high tunnel crops.
• 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. Cabbage looper only. Do not apply to greenhouse or high tunnel crops.
• emamectin benzoate (Proclaim*): 2.4 to 4.8 oz/A for armyworm, 3.2 to 4.8 oz/A for looper; PHI 7d, REI 12h, Bee: H, Group 6. Do not apply to greenhouse or high tunnel crops.
• indoxacarb (Avaunt): 3.5 oz/A; PHI 3d, REI 12h, Bee: H, Group 22. For cabbage looper only. 
• methomyl (Lannate* LV): 1.5 to 3 pt/A; PHI 7d, REI 48h, Bee: H, Group 1A. Do not apply if minimum daily temperature is less than 32°F. Do not apply to seedlings less than 3" in canopy diameter. Cabbage loopers may be resistant.
• methoxyfenozide (Intrepid 2F): 4 to 10 oz/A; 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 for cabbage looper, 6.4 to 12.8oz/A for fall armyworm; PHI 1d, REI 12h, Bee: H, Group 3A.
• 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.
• spinetoram (Radiant SC): 5 to 10 oz/A; PHI 1d, REI 4h, Bee: M, Group 5. Do not apply to greenhouse or high tunnel crops.
• spinosad (Entrust SC^OG): 3 to 6 oz/A looper, 4 to 8 oz/A armyworm; PHI 1d, REI 4h, Bee: M, Group 5. Do not apply to seedlings for transplant.
• 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. Begin applications when first signs of feeding damage appear. Use higher rate for later season applications and heavier infestations. Use of an adjuvant is recommended.
• tolfenpyrad (Torac): 21 oz/A; PHI 1d, REI 12h, Bee: H, Group 21A. Suppression of armyworm only.
• zeta-cypermethrin (Mustang*): 3.2 to 4 oz/A; PHI 1d, REI 12h, Bee: H, Group 3A.

Leafminer, Beet and Spinach

See Leafminers in Beet and Swiss Chard section for more information on the life cycle, scouting, and management of beet and spinach leafminers.

• 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. Do not apply to greenhouse or high tunnel crops.
• 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. Leafminer larvae only.
• bifenthrin (Brigade* 2EC): 2.1 to 6.4 oz/A; PHI 40d, REI 12h, Bee: H, Group 3A.
• chlorantraniliprole (Coragen): 5.0 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 soil applications, must be applied uniformly in the root zone. Do not apply to greenhouse or high tunnel crops. For leafminer larvae only. 
• cyantraniliprole (Exirel): 13.5 to 20.5 oz/A; PHI 1d, REI 12h, Bee: H, Group 28. Do not use adjuvants in tank mix with Exirel in spinach. Do not apply to greenhouse or high tunnel crops.
• 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. Do not apply to greenhouse or high tunnel crops.
• cyclaniliprole (Harvanta): 10.9 to 16.4 fl oz/A; PHI 1d, REI 4h, Bee: H, Group 28. Do not apply to greenhouse or high tunnel crops.
• cyromazine (Trigard): 2.66 oz/A; PHI 7d, REI 12h, Bee: M, Group 17. Do not apply to greenhouse or high tunnel crops.
• dinotefuran (Venom): 1 to 3 oz/A foliar or 5 to 7.5 oz/A soil; PHI 7d foliar, PHI 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.
• emamectin benzoate (Proclaim*): 3.2 to 4.8 oz/A; PHI 7d, REI 12h, Bee: H, Group 6. Suppression only. Do not apply to greenhouse or high tunnel crops.
• 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. For enhanced and residual control, apply with a companion labeled insecticide.
• permethrin (Pounce* 25WP): 6.4 to 12.8 oz/A; PHI 1d, REI 12h, Bee: H, Group 3A.
• spinetoram (Radiant SC): 6 to 10 oz/A; PHI 1d, REI 4h, Bee: M, Group 5. Efficacy improves with the addition of an adjuvant. Do not apply to greenhouse or high tunnel crops.
• spinosad (Entrust SC^OG): 6 to 10 oz/A; PHI 1d, REI 4h, Bee: M, Group 5. Do not apply to seedlings for transplant. Control may be improved with addition of an adjuvant.

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.

Winter Cutworms (Noctua pronuba)

Winter cutworm is a newer, emerging pest in winter high tunnels. They are climbing, foliar-feeding cutworms that are particularly cold-hardy. The adults are known as large yellow underwing moths and are about 1-in in length and are active in the summer and fall. They lay eggs in masses on leaves. Winter cutworms vary in color with a dotted line along their backs and have a brown head capsule with black markings. Larvae are usually observed starting in August and feed in high tunnels throughout the fall and winter. Pupation occurs in the spring. They are active during our coldest months, with the worst damage occurring in November and December.

Damage includes large feeding holes and feeding on leaf margins in spinach, Swiss chard, lettuce, and carrots. These cutworms are nocturnal feeders and hide in the soil during the day. They are also highly mobile caterpillars.  

Row covers or exclusion netting may work in some situations but needs to be timed with moth flights to prevent egg laying. Products used to target caterpillars may work for insecticides, but they need to be registered for use in high tunnels. Some efficacy has been seen with Bt products and spinosyns, but research is ongoing."