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.

Carrot Rust Fly

Adults are weak flyers. If possible, plant carrots in open fields where wind protects them from adult flights. The crop is most vulnerable around the edge of sheltered fields surrounded by woods. Root feeding from hatching larvae may thin the edge of young plant stands or tunneling larvae may damage the lower third of the roots. Delay planting (mid-May), rotate crops, destroy alternate hosts, harvest edge plants first (before October), plow deep to bury crop residue and reduce populations

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

Carrot Wevil

Tunneling from hatching larvae may thin young plant stands or larvae may damage the upper third of the root.  Cultural controls include crop rotation and planting after eggs have been deposited (400-450 Degree Days). Treat the adult beetles, once or twice, 10 to 14 days apart, between the 1 to 3 leaf stage.

beta-cyfluthrin (Baythroid*XL): 2.8 oz/A (0 dh, REI 12h, Group 3A).

esfenvalerate (Asana*XL): 9.6 oz/A (7dh, REI 12h, Group 3A). Begin treatment when weevils become active, and provide thorough spray coverage of crowns.

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

oxamyl (Vydate*L): 2 to 4 pt/A (14 dh, REI 48h, Group 1A). Use as a soil directed spray. For carrot only.

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

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

Cutworms

Caterpillars hide under the soil surface adjacent to the plant stem during the day and feed on the stems after dark. For best results, make application between midnight and dawn while cutworms are feeding above ground. Synthetic pyrethroids (Group 3A) may work best during cool spring weather. See cutworms in the Pepper and Tomato (Outdoor) sections for more information on the black and variegated cutworms.

Bacillus thuringiensis aizawai (XenTari): 0.5 to 1.5 lb/A (0 dh, REI 4h, Group 11). See the general recommendations for B.t. kurstaki below. OMRI listed.

Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki (Dipel DF): 0.5 to 1 lb/A (0 dh, REI 4h, Group 11). Must be ingested; apply in evening before larvae are actively feeding and direct sprays to base of stem. Use high rate at cool temperatures. OMRI listed.

beta-cyfluthrin (Baythroid* XL): 1.6 oz/A (o dh, REI 12h, Group 3A).

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

esfenvalerate (Asana* XL): 5.8 to 9.6 oz/A (7dh, REI 12h, Group 3A).

methomyl (Lannate* LV): 12 to 24 oz/A (1 dh, REI 48h, Group 1A). For variegated cutworm for carrot only.

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

zeta-cypermethrin (Mustang*): 1.4 to 4.3 oz/A (1 dh, REI 12h, Group 3A).  

Leafhoppers

Check plants in late July and early August for presence of leafhoppers before treating. Make applications at 7- to 10- day intervals. This insect transmits the pathogen that causes carrot yellows. Routine spraying may not be economical due to low disease incidence (<2%) in the adults leafhoppers.

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

beta-cyfluthrin (Baythroid*XL): 1.6 to 2.8 oz/A (0 dh, REI 12h, Group 3a).

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

deltamethrin (Decis* 1.5EC): 1.5 to 2.4 oz/A (3dh, REI 12h, Group 3a).

endosulfan (Thionex* 50W): 1 to 2 lb/A (7dh, REI 24h, Group 2A).

esfenvalerate (Asana* XL): 5.9 to 9.6 oz/A (7 dh, REI 12h, Group 3A).

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

imidacloprid (Provado 1.6F): 3.5 oz/A (7dh, 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. see plant-back restrictions.

kaolin (Surround WP): 25 to 50 lb/A or 0.25 to 0.5 lb/gal (0 dh, REI 4h). Suppression and repellence only.  Follow label instructions for mixing. Generally compatible as a tank mix with other insecticides. OMRI listed.

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

methomyl (Lannate* LV): 24 to 48 oz/A (1 dh, REI 48h, Group 1A). For carrot only.

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

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

sodium tetraborohydrate decahydrate (Prev-AM): 100 oz/100 gal (0.5 dh, REI 12h, group 25). Do not apply in midday sun or mix with copper, sulfur or oils. CT only.

thiamethoxam (Actara): 5 to 8 oz/A (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*): 1.9 to 4.3 oz/A (1 dh, REI 12h, Group 3A).