This document summarizes techniques for scouting and managing insect pests that affect vegetable crops. It discusses common vegetable insect pests like aphids, thrips, flea beetles, and caterpillars. It provides guidance on scouting methods for different pests and thresholds for when to take action. It also reviews options for insecticides, including biopesticides, and emphasizes the importance of integrated pest management.

1. VEGETABLE INSECT PESTS Scouting Techniques & Management Dr. Ayanava Majumdar Extension Entomologist, ACES Gulf Coast Research & Extension Center 8300 State Hwy 104, Fairhope, Alabama 36532 Cell phone: 251-331-8416 [email_address]

3. First know the definitions… INJURY DAMAGE Damage = injury + economic loss

9. TOMATO INSECT PESTS

10. Every one loves tomatoes!

16. Emerging problem: Stink bugs Has many host plants Early attack can destroy blooms and late attack destroy fruits

20. INSECT PESTS of COLE CROPS

22. Cabbage looper vs. Imported cabbageworm Cabbage looper (CL) Imported cabbageworm (ICW)

28. Cabbage aphid Natural Enemies

29. CHOOSING THE RIGHT INSECTICIDE (let’s go shopping!)

30. $9.76/pt AI = horticultural oil

31. $7.99 for 24-oz RTU AI = pyrethrin + canola oil or sulfur + pyrethrin

32. General purpose insecticide AI = malathion $21/qt + MANY OTHER INSECTS

34. Highly toxic to fish AI = rotenone Up to $9

35. Common soil bacterium Best against small caterpillars Apply when caterpillars are small AI = Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki AI = Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis

37. CHOOSING ENVIRONMENTALLY-FRIENDLY INSECTICIDES (commercial veg. producers)

40. OMRI listed AI = pyrethrin + rotenone

43. Fungal microbial insecticides $72 per quart 2 quarts/A Beauveria bassiana strain GHA

46. Bio-based controls: are they cost effective? Palumbo 2000

47. Bio-based controls: are they cost effective? Palumbo 2000

48. Synthetic insecticides (old) Conventional products MOA Aphids, flea beetles, whitefly Stink bugs Dimethoate, acetamiprid (Assail), imidacloprid (Admire Pro) Bifenthrin & many pyrethroids Pyrethroid -neonicotinoid (Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonists, sodium channel modulators) Caterpillars (looper, tomato fruitworm, pinworm) Bifenthrin Beta-cyfluthrin (Baythroid) Lambda-cyhalo. (Warrior) Zeta-cyper. (Mustang Maxx) Esfenvalerate (Asana) Fenpropathrin (Danitol) Sodium channel modulators

49. Synthetic insecticides (new) New chemistries MOA Aphids, flea beetles, whitefly Stink bugs Flonicamid (Beleaf) Pymetrozine (Fulfill) Spirotetramat (Movento) Spiromesifen (Oberon) Feeding inhibitors Acetyl CoA caboxylase inhibitor Caterpillars (looper, tomato fruitworm, pinworm) Thrips Emamectin benzoate (Proclaim) Flubendiamide (Synapse), Rynaxypyr (Coragen) Indoxacarb (Avaunt) Methoxyfenozide (Intrepid) Spinetoram (Radiant) Chloride channel activators Ryanodine receptor modulators Sodium channel blockers Ecdysone receptor agonist Spinosyn (nicotinic receptors)

50. NEW RESOURCE: VEGETABLE ENTOMOLOGY DYNAMIC WEBSITE Visit http://www.aces.edu/dept/com_veg/ or https://sites.aces.edu/group/commhort/vegetable/default.aspx