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Fruiting Vegetables [North]
Courtesy of Clemson University –
USDA Cooperative Extension Slide Series,
www.InsectImages.org.
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Armyworms (There are many species of armyworm. The following is a description that depicts some armyworm species.)
Armyworm larvae can grow up to 11/4 inches long. They have three lightly colored stripes running the length of their body. Black spots accompany the stripes on the second segment located behind the head.
Larvae pupate at fifth instar and the pupae are about 1/2 to 3/4 inch long. They are light brown with dark brown margins along their abdominal segments.
Forewings of adult armyworms are mottled gray or brown with a pale spot near the center of each wing. Their wingspan is 1/2 to 1 inch long, and the hind wings are white with darker veins and a fringelike border.
The armyworm infects many weeds, trees, grasses, legumes, truck crops and field crops and is attracted to wild hosts such as plantain, lambsquarters and redroot pigweed.
Recommendations
Intrepid ® 2F insecticide, with the active ingredient methoxyfenozide, and SpinTor® 2SC Naturalyte® insect control, with the active ingredient spinosad, are ideal rotational partners. Products containing the active ingredient methomyl can be substituted in a foliar treatment program for the pest. |
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Courtesy of Alton N. Sparks, Jr., University of Georgia,
www.InsectImages.org.
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Cabbage Loopers
Cabbage looper larvae are green caterpillars with white stripes running the length of their body. Larvae can grow up to 1 1/2 inches long and the body tapers toward the head. There are three pairs of legs near the head, and three pairs of fleshly prolegs near the posterior. The body is humped or “looped” when moving or resting.
After five instars, larvae pupate into a fragile, silken cocoon. Young pupae are a light greenish color that gradually turns dark brown when mature. They grow to 3/4 inch long.
Adult cabbage loopers are mottled, grayish-brown and have a wing span of 1/2 inch, with a small silvery-white figure eight in the middle area of each of the front wings. Forewings have two shades of grey and blackish zig-zag stripes with hind wings being a pale brown in color. Another characteristic is a tuft of hair arising from behind the back of the moth’s head.
Recommendations
Intrepid and SpinTor may be rotated in foliar treatments for control of cabbage loopers. Products with the active ingredient acephate or zeta-cypermethrin can also be utilized in a resistance management program. |
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Courtesy of Joseph Berger,
www.InsectImages.org. |
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Courtesy of Robert L. Anderson,
USDA Forest Service, www.InsectImages.org.
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Hornworms
Tomato hornworms are more common to the northern United States than tobacco hornworms. A distinguishing feature of the hornworm is a pointed structure or “horn” that will be found on the terminal abdominal segment, which will often be black in color. Larvae can be 3 1/2 to 4 inches long. A pale green body color will be distinctly marked by eight whitish or yellowish “V”-shaped marks on each side that point toward the head. The marks are not edged in black like on the tobacco hornworm.
Two generations of hornworms are often common during a growing season. Larvae are defoliators and feed on foliage, blossoms and green fruits. Because of their greenish color, they often blend in foliage and can be hard to detect.
Pupae are brown, hard, spindle-shaped, and about 2 inches long. Both types of hornworms have a curved, projecting case, but the tomato hornworm’s case is longer and more curved than the tobacco hornworm’s case.
Adult hornworm moths have a wingspan of 4 1/2 to 5 inches long. Tomato hornworms are ash gray in color, while tobacco hornworm moths are slate brown. Also, to distinguish, look for orange spots on each side of the abdomen – tomato hornworms have five orange spots and tobacco hornworms have six. In addition, tomato hornworm moths have wavy lines on the hind wings that are more distinct and jagged than the lines on the hind wings of the tobacco hornworm moth.
Recommendations
Application of Intrepid and SpinTor will control hornworms throughout the season and can be combined in a rotational program with products containing the active ingredient Bacillus thuringiensis, bifenthrin, endosulfan or methomyl. |
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Courtesy of Whitney Cranshaw,
Colorado State University,
www.InsectImages.org.
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Leafminers
Coiled mines in leaves with one end slightly enlarged indicate leafminer infestation. The maggot is colorless to bright yellow, and up to 1/8 inch long.
Pupae are flattened, segmented and an oblong-oval in shape. At slightly less than 1/8 inch long, young pupae are bright yellow, but gradually turn brown.
Adults are slender and about 1/8 inch long.
Recommendations
SpinTor applied as a foliar treatment can be rotated in a resistance management program with products containing the active ingredient cyromazine, dimethoate or permethrin. |
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Courtesy of Jack T. Reed,
Mississippi State University,
www.InsectImages.org.
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Thrips
Adult female thrips are about 1/16 inch long, yellowish-brown to dark brown in color, and have wings. Adult males are light yellow and smaller than the females.
Larvae go through two instars, but are translucent-white and have red eyes during both stages. During the first stage, larvae are tiny and almost worm-like. Larvae in the second stage are similar to the adult in size and shape. Pupae are yellowish in color with antennae and wing pads.
Puckered, twisted leaves and pale spots on the leaf surface are physical indications of thrips. This insect feeds on almost any flowering plant.
Recommendations
Use SpinTor in a rotational program with products containing the active ingredient cyfluthrin or methomyl. |
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For a complete IRM cole crops management guide, visit the Commercial Vegetable Production in Wisconsin guide or the Ohio Vegetable Production Guide.
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