Insect Control

NOTE:  For the insecticides listed below, one product trade name and formulation is provided for each active ingredient (common name) as an example of rates, days to harvest (dh), REI, and special instructions. In many cases there are other products available with the same active ingredient. Please see Table 20 and Alphabetical Listing by Trade Name for more information on products with the same active ingredients.

Aphids, Leafminers

Aphids may include green peach or black bean aphid. See Peppers for more information about green peach aphid.

For leafminers, treat when eggs or first tiny miners are noticed. Repeat in 7 to 10 days. Timing and coverage are very important; mid-May, late June and mid-August are critical periods.

abamectin (Agri-Mek* 0.15 EC): 8 to 16 oz/A (7 dh, REI 12h, Group 6). Leafminers on Swiss chard only.

acetamiprid (Assail 30SG): 2 to 4 dry oz/A (7 dh, REI 12h, Group 4). Aphids only.

chlorantraniliprole (Coragen): 5.0 to 7.5 oz/A (1 dh, REI 4h, Group 28). Only for leafminers on Swiss chard. For drip application, must be applied uniformly in the root zone and do not apply more than twice per season. For foliar application an adjuvant may be used. 

cyromazine (Trigard): 2.66 dry oz/A (7 dh, REI 12h, Group 17). Leafminer on Swiss chard only.

dimethoate (Dimethoate 4EC): 8 oz/A (14 dh, REI 48h, Group 1B). DO NOT use on beets.

dinotefuran (Venom 20SG): 7 to 11 dry oz/A foliar or 18 to 21 dry oz/A soil (7 dh foliar, 21 dh soil, REI 12h, Group 4A). For resistance management purposes, do not use foliar spray after soil application or following another nicotinoid (Group 4A) insecticide application on the same crop. For Swiss chard only.

emamectin benzoate (Proclaim*): 3.2 to 4.8 oz/A (7 dh, REI 12h, Group 6). Leafminers on Swiss chard only. Suppression only.

flonicamid (Beleaf 50SG): 2 to 2.8 dry oz/A (0 dh, REI 12, Group 9C). For aphids on swiss chard only.

imidacloprid (Admire Pro): 0.3 to 0.7 oz/1,000 row-feet, 4.4 to 10.5 oz/A (21 dh beets, 45 dh Swiss chard, REI 12h, Group 4A). See plant-back restrictions. Aphids only.

imidacloprid (Provado 1.6F): 3.5 oz/A (7 dh, REI 12h, Group 4A). For resistance management purposes, do not use a Provado foliar application following another nicotinoid (Group 4A) insecticide application on the same crop. Aphids on beets only.

malathion (Malathion 57 EC): 1 1/2 to 2 pt/A (7 dh, REI 12h, Group 1B).

permethrin (Pounce* 25WP): 6.4 to 12.8 oz/A (1 dh, REI 12h, Group 3A). For Swiss chard only.

pyrethrin (PyGanic EC5.0): 4.5 to 18 oz/A (0 dh, REI 12h, Group 3A). For aphids only. OMRI listed.

pyrethrins + piperonyl butoxide (Pyrenone): 1 tsp/gal, or 1 to 12 oz/A (0 dh, REI 12h, Group 3A).

pymetrozine (Fulfill): 2.75 oz/A (7 dh, REI 12h, Group 9A). For aphids on Swiss chard only.

spinetoram (Radiant SC): 6 to 10 oz/A (1 dh, REI 4h, Group 5). Leafminers only.

spinosad (Entrust): 2 to 3 dry oz/A (1 dh for Swiss chard, 3 dh for beets, REI 4h, Group 5). Leafminers only. Efficacy improves with the addition of an adjuvant. OMRI listed.

spirotetramat (Movento): 4-5 oz/A (3 dh, REI 24 h, Group 23). Aphids only. Immature stages; may also reduce adult fertility.  Swiss chard only.

thiamethoxam (Actara): 1.5 to 3 oz/A (7 dh, REI 12h, Group 4). Aphids only.

thiamethoxam (Platinum): 5 to 11 oz/A (30 dh Swiss chard, REI 12h, Group 4). Systemic insecticide used as an in-furrow, banded, drench, or drip irrigation application to the seed/seedling root zone during or after planting/transplanting operations. DO NOT apply as a foliar spray. Suppression only for leafminer.

Blister Beetles

The margined blister beetle, sometimes called the “old fashioned potato beetle” is the most common blister beetle attacking unsprayed vegetables in New England. See Blister Beetles in the Eggplant section for more information on this pest. A single spot spray with a broad-spectrum insecticide registered for flea beetles on these crops will control blister beetles.

pyrethrin (PyGanic EC5.0): 4.5 to 18 oz/A (0 dh, REI 12h, Group 3A). For aphids only. OMRI listed.

pyrethrins + piperonyl butoxide (Pyrenone): 1 tsp/gal, or 1 to 12 oz/A (0 dh, REI 12h, Group 3A).

Cabbage Maggot

Floating row covers can be used. No insecticides currently registered. For more information see cabbage maggot in the cabbage section. 

Flea Beetles and Leafhoppers

azadirachtin (Neemix 4.5): 7 to 16 oz/A (0 dh, REI 12h, Group 18). Leafhopper nymphs. OMRI listed.

beta-cyfluthrin (Baythroid* XL): 2.4 to 3.2 (0 dh, REI 12h, Group 3A).

carbaryl (Sevin XLR Plus): 1/2 to 1 qt/A (7 dh for beets, 14 dh for Swiss chard, REI 12h, Group 1A).

dimethoate (Dimethoate 4EC): 8 oz/A (14 dh, REI 48h, Group 1B). DO NOT use on beets. For leafhopper only.

dinotefuran (Venom 20SG): 7 to 11 dry oz/A foliar or 18 to 21 dry oz/A soil (7 dh foliar, 21 dh soil, REI 12h, Group 4A). For resistance management purposes, do not use foliar spray after soil application or following another nicotinoid (Group 4A) insecticide application on the same crop. For leafhopper on Swiss chard only.

imidacloprid (Admire Pro): 0.3 to 0.7 oz/1,000 row-feet, 4.4 to 10.5 oz/A (21 dh beets, 45 dh Swiss chard, REI 12h, Group 4A). See plant-back restrictions. To avoid resistance, do not use another nicotinoid (Group 4) insecticide if Admire Pro was used at planting.

imidacloprid (Provado 1.6F): 3.5 oz/A (7 dh, REI 12h, Group 4A). Beets only. For resistance management purposes, do not use a Provado foliar application following another nicotinoid (Group 4A) insecticide application on the same crop. See plant-back restrictions.

permethrin (Pounce* 25WP): 3.2 to 12.8 oz/A (1 dh, REI 12h, Group 3A). Leafhoppers on Swiss chard only.

pyrethrin (PyGanic EC5.0): 4.5 to 18 oz/A (0 dh, REI 12h, Group 3A). OMRI listed.

pyrethrins + piperonyl butoxide (Pyrenone): 1 to 12 oz/A (0 dh, REI 12h, Group 3A).

thiamethoxam (Actara): 1.5 to 3 oz/A (7 dh, REI 12h, Group 4).

thiamethoxam (Platinum): 5 to 11 oz/A (30 dh Swiss chard, REI 12h, Group 4). Systemic insecticide used as an in-furrow, banded, drench, or drip irrigation application to the seed/seedling root zone during or after planting/transplanting operations. DO NOT apply as a foliar spray.

zeta-cypermethrin (Mustang*):  2.4 to 4.3 oz/A (1 dh, REI 12h, Group 3A). For Swiss chard only.

Slugs

Damage appears as shredded foliage or fruit holes. 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.

iron phosphate (Sluggo: Snail and Slug Bait): 20 to 44 lb/A (0 dh, REI 0h, Group 9B). Apply around perimeter, scatter around base of plants, or band down rows. Apply to moist soil in the evening. OMRI listed.

metaldehyde (Deadline Bullets): 20 to 40 lb/A (REI 12h). Soil surface treatment or band treatment between rows after formation of edible parts. Do not apply directly to or contaminate edible portions of plants.