I. Wheat
Fall armyworm. This moth does not overwinter in the Great Plains but migrates northward annually from southern states. It usually arrives in Kansas in July where it lays eggs on corn, sorghum, and other summer crops. Reproduction may continue through August and into September, putting early-planted wheat at greatest risk. Early-planted fields should be inspected frequently during the first few weeks following emergence.
The first sign of damage is “windowpane” injury caused by tiny larvae chewing on seedling leaves. The larvae, which are usually too small to be easily observed at this time, hide in or around the base of seedlings. Within a few days the larvae are large enough to destroy entire leaves.
Figure 1. Fall armyworm larva. Photo courtesy of Holly Davis, K-State Research and Extension.
Fields with 25 to 30 percent of plants with windowpane injury should be re-examined daily and treated immediately if stand establishment appears threatened. Larvae increase in size at an exponential rate, and so do their food requirements. Later instars do the most damage, sometimes destroying entire stands, and are the least susceptible to insecticides.
Without treatment, problems can continue until larvae reach maturity or until there is a killing frost.
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Fall Armyworm Management Options in Wheat |
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Insecticide |
Rate |
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Beta-cyfluthrin (Baythroid XL) |
0.014 to 0.019 lb. a.i./acre (1.8 to 2.4 fl. oz.) |
|
Chlorpyrifos plus zeta-cypermethrin (Stallion) |
9.25 to 11.75 fl. oz./acre |
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Gamma-cyhalothrin (Proaxis) |
0.01 to 0.015 lb. a.i./acre (2.56 to 3.84 fl. oz.) |
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Lambda-cyhalothrin (Numerous products) |
0.02 to 0.03 lb. a.i./acre |
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Methomyl (Lannate) |
0.45 lb. a.i./acre. (1.5 pts. of Lannate LV) |
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Spinosad (Tracer) |
0.047 to 0.094 lbs. a.i./acre (1.5 to 3 fl. oz.) |
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Zeta-cypermethrin (Mustang MAX EC, Respect EC, etc.) |
0.02 to 0.025 lb. a.i./acre (3.2 to 4.0 fl. oz.) |
For more information, see MF-745, Wheat Insect Management 2013, at your local county Extension office, or at: http://www.ksre.ksu.edu/bookstore/pubs/mf745.pdf
II. Alfalfa
Beet Armyworm. Beet armyworm larvae can vary from light green to nearly black. They have four pairs of abdominal prolegs and a dark head capsule. Many fine, white, wavy lines run along the back, and a broader stripe occurs along each side. There is usually a distinctive dark spot on each side, just above the second pair of true legs. Females lay eggs in masses, covering them with hairs and scales. Eggs hatch in a few days and larvae feed for about three weeks, sometimes spinning slight webs over the foliage.
Beet armyworm. Photo courtesy of Holly Davis, K-State Research and Extension.
Beet armyworms apparently do not overwinter in Kansas and have not been a problem until late summer or early fall. These foliage feeders usually are not a serious problem on established stands unless there are enough to severely defoliate plants. More severe problems occur in recently planted fields where seedlings may be lost when larvae clip them off near the soil surface. Economic infestations are similar to army cutworms – possibly four to five per square foot on established stands and one to two per square foot on seedling stands. Late fall infestations often disappear soon after the first hard freeze, but this is often difficult to predict. Beet armyworms are difficult to control, and options are limited.
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Beet Armyworm Management Options in Alfalfa |
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Insecticide |
Rate |
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Cyfluthrin (Tombstone) |
0.025 to 0.044 lb. a.i./a (1.6 to 2.8 fl. oz.) |
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Flubendiamide (Belt) |
2.0 to 4.0 fl. Oz./acre |
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Indoxacarb (Steward 1.25 SC) |
0.09 to 0.11 lb. a.i./acre |
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Lambda-cyhalothrin plus chlorantraniliprole (Besiege) |
9.0 fl. oz./acre |
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Spinosad (Tracer) |
0.031 to 0.062 lb. a.i./acre (1 to 2 fl. oz.) |
Fall Armyworm. Infestations of fall armyworm are most likely to occur in late summer to early fall before frost (September through October). Fall armyworm larvae have four black spots arranged at the corners of an imaginary square located near the top rear of the worm’s body. One to two worms per square foot can destroy seedling alfalfa, and populations of 10 to 15 per square foot have been observed to destroy 12-to 14-inch alfalfa. Treatment is not advised unless the majority of larvae are less than 3/4 inch long.
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Fall Armyworm Management Options in Alfalfa |
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Insecticide |
Rate |
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Beta-cyfluthrin (Baythroid XL) |
0.0125 to 0.022 lb. a.i./acre (1.6 to 2.8 fl. oz.) |
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Carbaryl (Sevin) |
1 lb. a.i./acre |
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Chlorpyrifos (numerous products) |
Check label, but generally 1 to 2 pints/acre |
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Chlorpyrifos plus gamma-cyhalothrin (Cobalt) |
19 to 38 fl. oz. of product/acre |
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Chlorpyrifos plus zeta-cypermethrin (Stallion) |
9.25 to 11.75 fl. oz./acre |
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Cyfluthrin (Tombstone) |
0.025 to 0.044 lb. a.i./a (1.6 to 2.8 fl. oz.) |
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Flubendiamide (Belt) |
2.0 to 4.0 fl. Oz./acre |
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Gamma-cyhalothrin (Proaxis) |
0.01 to 0.015 lb. a.i./acre (2.56 to 3.84 fl. oz.) |
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Lambda-cyhalothrin (numerous products) |
0.02 to 0.03 lb. a.i./acre |
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Lambda-cyhalothrin plus chlorantraniliprole (Besiege) |
6.0 to 9.0 fl. oz./acre |
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Methomyl (Lannate) |
0.45 lb. a.i./acre |
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Methyl Parathion (Cheminova Methyl 4E) |
0.5 lb. a.i./acre |
|
Permethrin (multiple products) |
0.05 to 0.2 lb. a.i./acre |
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Spinosad (Tracer) |
0.031 to 0.062 lb. a.i./acre (1 to 2 fl. oz.). |
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Zeta-cypermethrin (Mustang MAX EC, Respect EC, etc.) |
0.0175 to 0.025 lb. a.i./acre (2.8 to 4.0 fl. oz.) |
For more information, see MF-809, Alfalfa Insect Management 2013, at your local county Extension office, or at: http://www.ksre.ksu.edu/bookstore/pubs/MF809.PDF
III. Canola
Diamondback moth larvae. After canola emergence, producers should start scouting their fields for diamondback moth larvae. Diamondback moth larvae are usually first found on bigger canola that was seeded early. The larvae are green looper-type worms that feed on foliage. If shot holes and window panes are seen, then larvae are present. The recommended threshold is two to three larvae per foot of row at the seedling stage. Products such as Warrior with Zeon, Mustang MAX, and Coragen provide good control of the larvae.
Diamondback larvae will overwinter and feed in the crown of canola plants. In a dry, cold winter, this may be the only green plant tissue available, providing an excellent habitat for small larvae. To check for the larvae, pull up a few plants and tap the crowns on a white piece of paper. If infestations in the crown are high they can be very destructive and stand loss may occur throughout the field.
Figure 3. Diamondback moth larva and feeding damage caused by the larva on canola. Photo by Mike Stamm, K-State Research and Extension.
Jeff Whitworth, Extension Entomologist
jwhitwor@ksu.edu
Mike Stamm, Canola Breeder
mjstamm@ksu.edu
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