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 found in spinach are primarily green peach aphid (see Pepper Section for more information). Thresholds used in other regions may apply and include one aphid/plant on seedlings and 4 to 10 aphids per plant on older plants. Natural enemies often provide control. Use selective products to conserve natural enemies.

For leafminers, treat when eggs or first tiny mines are noticed. Repeat in 7 to 10 days. Timing and coverage are very important; mid-May, late June and mid-August are critical periods. Remove weed hosts including lambsquarter, nightshade, chickweed and plantain. Use deep plowing in spring to reduce population.

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

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

azadirachtin (Neemix 4.5): 4 to 7 oz/A (0 dh, REI 12h, Group 18). For aphids, suppression and adult feeding deterrent; for leafminer, larvae only. OMRI listed.

bifenthrin (Capture* 2EC): 2.1 to 6.4 oz/A (40 dh, REI 12h, Group 3A). Leafminers only.

chlorantraniliprole (Coragen): 5.0 to 7.5 oz/A (1 dh, REI 4h, Group 28). Leafminers only. 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 NOT be used.

cyromazine (Trigard): 2.66 dry oz/A (7 dh, REI 12h, Group 17). For leafminers 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.

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

endosulfan (Thionex* 50W): 1.5 to 2 lb/A (21 dh, REI 24h, Group 2A). For Green Peach aphid only.

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

imidacloprid (Admire Pro): 4.4 to 10.5 oz/A (21 dh, REI 12h, Group 4A). For aphids only. See plant-back restrictions. To avoid resistance, do not use another nicotinoid (Group 4A) insecticide if Admire Pro was used at planting.

imidacloprid (Provado 1.6F): 3.8 oz/A (7 dh, REI 12h, Group 4A). For aphids only. See plant-back restrictions. To avoid resistance, do not use a Provado foliar application following another nicotinoid (Group 4) insecticide application on the same crop.

insecticidal soap (M-Pede): 2.5 oz/gal water (0 dh, REI 12h). Spray to wet all infested plant surfaces. Apply with companion aphicide. OMRI listed.

malathion (Malathion 57EC): 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).

pymetrozine (Fulfill): 2.75 oz/A (7 dh, REI 12h, Group 9A). Selective control of aphids including green peach aphid. Translaminar. Apply before populations build up.  Not for leafminer.

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

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. Aphids only. CT only.

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

spinosad (SpinTor 2SC): 6 to 10 oz/A (1 dh, REI 4h, Group 5). For leafminers only. Use with a silicone adjuvant.

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

zeta-cypermethrin (Mustang*): 2.4 to 4.3 oz/A (1 dh, REI 12h, Group 3A). Aids in control.

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 caterpillars on spinach will control the beetles.

pyrethrin (PyGanic EC5.0): 4.5 to 18 oz/A (0 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).

Cabbage Looper and Fall Armyworm

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

Bacillus thuringiensis aizawai (XenTari): 0.5 to 1.5 lb/A (0 dh, REI 4h, Group 11). Must be ingested; apply when larvae are actively feeding. High rate for armyworms.Treat small 1st and 2nd instar FAW larvae. OMRI listed.

Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki (Dipel DF): 0.5 to 1 lb/A (0 dh, REI 4h, Group 11). Must be ingested; apply when larvae are actively feeding. Use high rate at cool temperatures. Use a spreader-sticker. OMRI listed.

beta-cyfluthrin (Baythroid* XL): 1.6 to 3.2 oz/A (0 dh, REI 12h, Group 3A). Use higher rate for first and second instar larvae FAW.

bifenthrin (Capture* 2EC): 2.1 to 6.4 oz/A (40 dh, REI 12h, Group 3A).

carbaryl (Sevin XLR Plus): 1 to 2 qt/A (14 dh, REI 12h, Group 1A). For FAW only.

chlorantraniliprole (Coragen): 3.5 to 5 oz/A (1 dh, REI 4h, Group 28). For CL only. 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 NOT be used.

emamectin benzoate (Proclaim*): 2.4 to 4.8 oz/A for Armyworm, 3.2 to 4.8 oz/A for looper (7 dh, REI 12h, Group 6).

indoxacarb (Avaunt): 3.5 oz/A (3 dh, REI 12h, Group 22). For CL only.

methomyl (Lannate* LV): 1 1/2 to 3 pt/A (7 dh, REI 48h, 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 (1 dh, REI 4h, Group 18). Use lower rates when plants are small or infestations are light. Insect growth regulator. Works on all instars. Feeding stops within hours but death takes several days.

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

pyrethrin (PyGanic EC5.0): 4.5 to 18 oz/A (0 dh, REI 12h, Group 3A). For cabbage loopers only. 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): 50 oz/100 gal (0.5 dh, REI 12h, Group 25). Do not apply in midday sun or mix with copper, sulfur or oils. Cabbage looper only. CT only.

spinosad (Entrust): 1 to 2 dry oz/A for CL; 1.25 to 2.5 dry oz/A for FAW (1 dh, REI 4h, Group 5). OMRI listed.

spinosad (SpinTor 2SC): 3 to 6 oz/A for cabbage looper, 4 to 8 oz/A for fall armyworm (1 dh, REI 4h, Group 5).

tebufenozide (Confirm 2F): 6 to 8 oz/A (7 dh, REI 4h, Group 18). Insect growth regulator which causes early, lethal molt in caterpillars. Must be ingested. Feeding stops within hours.

thiodicarb (Larvin* 3.2EC): 16 to 30 oz/A for FAW, 24 to 30 for CL (14 dh, REI 48h, Group 1A).

zeta-cypermethrin (Mustang*): 3.4 to 4.3 oz/A (1 dh, REI 12h, Group 3A).