Managing Insects in the Home Vegetable Garden - Purdue University

Managing Insects in the Home Vegetable Garden - Purdue University

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  PURDUE EXTENSION E-21-W Vegetable Insects Department of Entomology MANAGING INSECTS IN THE HOME VEGETABLE GARDEN Rick E. Foster and John Obermeyer, Extension Entomologists Insects feeding on home-grown vegetables are a fact of • Inspect transplants before purchase to make sure they are life for most gardeners. Gardeners’ two choices are to tolerate healthy and not infested with insects. the damage or attempt to prevent it. Frequently, tolerating the damage is a reasonable approach. For example, when • Use proper plant spacings, fertilizers, water, and cultural tomatoes begin to ripen, most gardeners have more tomatoes practices to insure vigorous plant growth. Plants that are than they can possibly use. So, caterpillars chewing on a few growing vigorously often can tolerate more insect damage fruits are no real concern. Corn earworms usually confine their than poorly growing plants. damage to the tips of sweet corn ears. A viable strategy is to cut off the damaged tips before cooking the corn. • Keep the garden as weed-free as possible. This will help Another approach is to plant crops less susceptible to injury the plants to continue to grow vigorously, and weeds from insect feeding. Table 1 categorizes vegetable crops as may harbor insects that also will attack the vegetables. never or rarely, sometimes, and usually or always damaged However, the presence of weeds or companion plants by insects. may increase the natural enemy population. There are a number of practices that the home gardener can employ to reduce insect problems. • Inspect plants regularly for insects or insect damage. Early detection means more effective control and can reduce • Properly dispose of plant residues from the previous year’s the amount of damage suffered. Particularly in small garden. gardens, early-detected caterpillars, loopers, hornworms, and large beetles can often be hand picked from plants • Plant varieties that are recommended for use in your area, and destroyed before they cause problems. and plant them at the proper time for best growth. Planting too early when the soil is cool may make the plants more • Treat most vegetables with insecticides only when pest susceptible to some soil insects. insects are observed; however, treat certain vegetables, such as cantaloupes, cucumbers, and squash, on a preventive basis to avoid serious damage. TABLE 1. Frequency of Insect Damage to Various Vegetables Grown in the Home Garden INSECTICIDES Several types of insecticides are available for home Never or Rarely Sometimes Usually or Always gardeners. Table 2 lists the insects most commonly found on vegetables and the insecticides recommended to control Carrot Asparagus Broccoli them. The following sections describe the various types of Green onion Bean Cabbage available insecticides. Lettuce Pepper Cantaloupe Pea Spinach Cauliflower Botanical Insecticides (extracted from plants) Neem: The active ingredient in Neem, azadirachtin, is Radish Tomato Cucumber derived from leaves or seeds of neem trees. It has activity Eggplant against a variety of insect pests. For many pests, neem acts Potato as a repellent, rather than a toxicant. Therefore, it is important to apply neem before a serious infestation is present. Squash Pyrethrum is derived from the flowers of certain Sweet corn chrysanthemums. It causes rapid paralysis and apparent
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  Managing Insects inthe Home Vegetable Garden — E-21-W 2 death, but insects may subsequently recover. Pyrethrum Manufactured Insecticides provides control for up to 1 day and is most effective against Carbaryl (Sevin) is a widely used insecticide with several soft-bodied insects such as scales and aphids. trade names. It is effective on beetles and some caterpillars but does not kill aphids. Carbaryl is persistent on plants for Microbial Insecticides 3-4 days, but may cause outbreaks of aphids and spider mites Microbial insecticides available to the home gardener by killing natural enemies. contain spores of the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), Malathion is moderately effective on a wide range of which paralyzes the insect’s gut after being eaten. A Bt strain insects, especially sucking insects. It is persistent on plants effective against many caterpillars is sold as Dipel, Javelin, for 2-3 days. MVP, etc. Strains sold as M-Trak or Novodor are effective Several pyrethroid insecticides (bifenthrin, cyfluthrin, against the Colorado potato beetle. Microbial insecticides are esfenvalerate, lambda cyhalothrin, and permethrin) are not toxic to beneficial insects, humans, or other vertebrates. available ffor homeowners to use on vegetables. These Spinosad is a relatively new fermentation product that has good products are sold under a variety of trade names, so be sure activity against most caterpillars, Colorado potato beetles, and to check the active ingredient on the label. The crops included thrips. TABLE 2. General Garden Pests Commonly Found on Vegetables and Recommended Insecticides to Control Them. Pests Vegetables Attacked Recommended Insecticides* Aphids Many vegetables 2, 4, 9, 11, 13, 14 Asparagus beetle Asparagus 3, 9, 15 Bean leaf beetle Bean 2, 3, 8 Blister beetle Many vegetables 2, 3, 8, 11 Cabbage looper Cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli 1, 2, 5, 8, 12, 15 Colorado potato beetle Potato, tomato, eggplant, pepper 1, 2, 5, 8, 12, 15 Corn earworm/fruitworm Corn, tomato, bean 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 12, 15 Cucumber beetle Bean, cucumber, melon, squash, pumpkin 2, 3, 8 Cutworm Many vegetables 2, 3 bait, 5, 8, 12 European corn borer Corn, pepper, bean 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 12, 15 Flea beetle Many vegetables 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 12 Grasshopper Many vegetables 2, 3, 5, 8, 11 Imported cabbageworm Cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli 1, 2, 5, 8, 12, 15 Japanese beetle Many vegetables 2, 3, 5, 8, 11, 12 Leafhopper Bean, potato 2, 3, 5, 8, 11, 12 Mexican bean beetle Bean 2, 3, 4, 5, 8 Slugs Many vegetables 6, 10 Squash bug Cucumber, melon, squash, pumpkin 2, 3, 5, 12 Squash vine borer Squash, pumpkin 2, 3, 5, 12 Tarnished plant bug Many vegetables 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 12, 13 Tomato hornworm Tomato, potato, eggplant, pepper 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 12, 15 Twospotted spider mite Many vegetables 2, 7, 9 Whitefly Many vegetables 2, 5, 9, 11, 13 *1. Bacillus thuringiensis (Dipel, Javelin, M-Trak, etc.) 9. Malathion 2. Bifenthrin 10. Metaldehyde 3. Carbaryl 11. Neem 4. Cyfluthrin 12. Permethrin 5. Esfenvalerate 13. Pyrethrins 6. Iron phosphate 14. Soap (insecticidal) 7. Kelthane 15. Spinosad 8. Lambda cyhalothrin
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  3 Managing Insects in the Home Vegetable Garden — E-21-W on the label vary, so be sure that the crop you are treating is Some Notes About Insecticides listed before you spray. All of the pyrethroids are extremely • Although most insecticides available for use in the home effective insecticides that will provide up to 7-10 days of garden are relatively safe to use, they are all POISONS control of a wide variety of pests. They will effectively control and should be used with the utmost care. Carefully read Colorado potato beetles that are resistant to insecticides such and follow all precautions on the insecticide label. Table as Sevin. Pyrethroids are extremely toxic to fish, so caution 3 lists the number of days you must wait after treatment should be used around bodies of water. Pyrethroids are also before harvesting the vegetables. Vegetables should be toxic to honey bees. thoroughly washed before they are eaten or cooked. Inorganic Insecticides (oils and soaps) • Sometimes using an insecticide will increase insect Horticultural oils work only on contact and have no residual problems. For example, overuse of carbaryl on some crops activity. Commercially available insecticidal soaps, which are can increase problems with aphids, mites, and whiteflies made from naturally occurring fatty acids, help control aphids, because it kills the natural enemies that eat those pests, leafhoppers, mites, scales, and whiteflies. Like oils, soaps but does not kill the pests themselves. only control those organisms on which the spray lands. TABLE 3. Harvest Restrictions in DAYS for Common Vegetable Insecticides Days After Treatment to Wait Until Harvest thuringiensis Esfenvalrate Cyhalothrin Permethrin Pyrethrins Bifenthrin Cyfluthrin Malathion Spinosad Carbaryl Bacillus Lambda Neem Soap Vegetable Asparagus 0 NO 1 NO NO NO 1 0 1 0 60 0 Bean 0 3 3 7 A B 1 0 NO 0 3 0 Beet 0 NO 7 0 NO NO 7 0 NO 0 NO 0 Broccoli 0 7 3 0 3 1 3 0 1 0 1 0 Cabbage 0 7 3 0 3 1 7 0 1 0 1 0 Cantaloupe 0 NO 3 0 3 NO 1 0 0 0 3 0 Carrot 0 NO 7 0 7 NO 7 0 1 0 NO 0 Cauliflower 0 7 3 0 3 1 7 0 1 0 1 0 Cucumber 0 3 3 0 3 NO 1 0 0 0 1 0 Eggplant 0 7 3 7 7 5 3 0 3 0 1 0 Green onion 0 NO NO NO NO 14 3 0 1 0 NO 0 Leaf lettuce 0 7 14 0 NO 1 14 0 1 0 1 0 Peas 0 14 3 NO A B 3 0 NO 0 3 0 Pepper 0 7 3 7 7 5 3 0 3 0 1 0 Potato 0 21 7 0 7 NO NO 0 14 0 7 0 Radish 0 NO 7 0 7 NO 7 0 NO 0 NO 0 Spinach 0 NO 14 0 NO NO 7 0 1 0 1 0 Squash 0 3 3 0 3 NO 1 0 0 0 3 0 Sweet corn 0 1 2 0 1 1 5 0 1 0 1 0 Tomato 0 1 3 0 1 5 1 0 0 0 1 0 NO - Not legal for use on this crop A - 3 days for fresh, 21 days for dried B - 7 days for fresh, 21 days for dried
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  Managing Insects inthe Home Vegetable Garden — E-21-W 4 • When properly applied, sprays and dusts should give Wireworms adequate control of insects. Plants need only a light coating Wireworms can feed on seeds and seedlings of corn, of dust, but it must be on both the upper and lower leaf beans, and peas, causing wilting and/or death of the young surfaces. Because of this, shaker-can dusters usually do not plant. Wireworms feed on the edible portions of potato, sweet do an adequate job. Squeeze or plunger dusters probably potato, radish, carrot, rutabaga, and turnips. The roots of are better, as are aerosol dusters if kept agitated while cabbage, cucumber, tomato, onion, watermelon, and other dusting. Dusts will usually be more expensive per ounce crops are also attacked, reducing vigor or killing the plants. of active ingredient than spray formulations. Despite the long list of host plants, wireworms are rarely a problem in gardens. Wireworms are more likely to infest a • When spraying, both upper and lower leaf surfaces must be garden if it were sod last year or had lots of grassy weeds treated. Sprayer pressure must be sufficient to roll leaves present. over. Aerosol cans of insecticide are not recommended except to treat individual plants or very small gardens. Unless otherwise noted on the material label, a gallon of spray will cover approximately 500 square feet or 200 feet of row. • When used properly, the insecticides available for use by J. Obermeyer home gardeners will not leave sufficient residues on the produce to cause any adverse health effects. As an added precaution, gardeners should rinse any produce with clean water before consuming it. This will also help wash away dirt and other debris. DO NOT wash vegetables in soapy Wireworm water. Soap can be difficult to remove and has not been Cutworms tested for safety when consumed. Cutworms feed on most of the vegetables grown in the home garden. The most common damage is young plants cut ORGANIC GARDENING off at the soil surface. Some cutworms may also climb the Although properly used insecticides do not adversely plant and feed on foliage and fruit. Damage can be reduced affect human health, some gardeners nonetheless choose to by keeping gardens free of weeds before and after vegetables grow their vegetables organically. “Organic” means that no are planted. Bait formulations of some insecticides can also chemical fertilizers or synthetic pesticides can be used. The provide control. use of certain pesticides, such as Bacillus thuringiensis, oils and soaps, pyrethrum, spinosad, and neem is allowed. For the most part, vegetables can be grown for home consumption without the use of the chemical insecticides. This may, however, require more work than if insecticides were used. Purdue University J. Obermeyer GENERAL GARDEN PESTS White Grubs Several species of white grubs feed on roots or other underground parts of most vegetables. Damage generally consists of root pruning, surface scars, or round gouges. Variegated cutworm Black cutworm Grubs are mostly a problem in gardens that were sod the previous year. Gardens with grassy weeds are attractive to beetles when they lay eggs. As soil is prepared for planting Japanese Beetle in the spring, it should be checked for the presence of grubs. In some parts of Indiana, the Japanese beetle is the most serious insect problem that many homeowners have to contend with. Japanese beetles can be present in extremely high numbers, are voracious feeders on a wide variety of plants, Brian Christine Brian Christine White grubs Japanese beetle
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  5 Managing Insects in the Home Vegetable Garden — E-21-W and are very mobile, allowing them to constantly reinvade a that feed on them. The use of insecticides such as carbaryl treated yard or garden. Although Japanese beetle traps catch (Sevin) to control other insects will sometimes result in an a large number of beetles, they are not recommended for use outbreak of aphids, because the natural enemies are killed because they tend to attract more beetles than they catch. by the insecticide. Unfortunately, the only way to successfully protect garden plants that are being attacked by Japanese beetles is with insecticides. Neem can be an effective repellent if multiple applications are begun when beetles first appear. Univ. Wisconsin Tarnished Plant Bug Tarnished plant bugs feed with their sucking mouthparts C. Welty on beet, chard, celery, beans, potato, cabbage, cauliflower, turnip, salsify, and cucumber. They suck plant juices and may inject toxic saliva into the plant. Leaves may become deformed, stems and petioles may be scarred and discolored, Green peach aphid Turnip aphids or the buds and developing fruit may be dwarfed and pitted. Twospotted Spider Mite Tarnished plant bugs become active early in the season and Although mites are not insects, being more closely related can migrate to find preferred host plants. to spiders, they are vegetable pests that remove plant juices from the leaves of beans, corn, tomato, eggplant, etc. The leaves become bronzed or yellowed, and the foliage takes on a general wilted appearance. The symptoms of mite damage may be caused by other factors, so be sure to look for mites J. Obermeyer with a hand lens to confirm your diagnosis. Mites are more of J. Obermeyer a problem in hot, dry weather. Heavy rains may help to control mites. Spraying plants with a garden hose can remove some of the mites from the plants. Tarnished plant bug adult and nymph Blister Beetles Adult blister beetles feed ravenously on the leaves of many vegetables. The beetles can be picked off of plants by hand, but they contain an oil that can blister the skin if accidentally J. Obermeyer W. Cranshaw crushed. The larvae of blister beetles are beneficial, burrowing through the soil and feeding on grasshopper eggs. Twospotted spider mite and damage on eggplant Slugs Slugs are not insects, but they are pests of vegetables that may skeletonize or shred leaves of many garden vegetables or may defoliate the entire plant. Slugs are more of a problem in cool, wet weather. Several days of warm sunny weather Brian Christine usually will reduce the problem. Pie pans baited with beer buried at ground level will trap many slugs. Chemical controls are also available. Margined blister beetle Aphids Aphids are soft-bodied insects that feed with their sucking Brian Christine mouthparts on the leaves of many garden vegetables. They are most commonly found in large groups or colonies on the underside of leaves. Aphid feeding reduces the vigor of the plant and may cause the leaves to curl downward. Aphids are most often kept under control by many of the natural enemies Slug on corn
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  Managing Insects inthe Home Vegetable Garden — E-21-W 6 MANAGING INSECTS ON SPECIFIC CROPS (760°F), so that the plants will not stay in the seed stage long. Asparagus Using insecticide treated seeds or overseeding will also help. The asparagus beetle and the spotted asparagus Early planting and use of manure for fertilizer will increase beetle are both found on asparagus, but only the asparagus problems. beetle is a serious pest. Adult asparagus beetles are 1/4 inch long, blue-black, with creamy yellow spots with red borders on the wings. Adult spotted asparagus beetles are slightly larger, are reddish-orange, and have black antennae, eyes, and undersides. Each wing cover has six distinct black spots. The soft-bodied larvae of the asparagus beetle reach 3/8 inch long and are gray with black heads. Adult asparagus beetles J. Obermeyer attack the tender buds near asparagus tips as soon as the shoots push above the soil in the spring. The adults also feed on the foliage. Larvae of the asparagus beetle feed on the stems and leaves, but the larvae of the spotted asparagus beetle feed only on the berries. Seedcorn maggot in green bean stem Destroying crop residue from the previous year eliminates overwintering sites for the adults. Hand-picking adults can also Potato leafhopper is frequently a pest on beans. Adults be useful. Chemical control is usually quite effective and may are about 1/8 inch long, bright green, and wedge-shaped. be justified if there are several beetles or larvae per crown, Both adults and nymphs feed by sucking plant juices. Toxins or if plants are losing their leaves. in the leafhopper’s saliva cause plants to stunt and leaves to yellow and turn brown, a condition called “hopperburn.” Leafhoppers often will move out of alfalfa into other crops when alfalfa is cut. Leafhoppers should be controlled before hopperburn symptoms appear. Michigan State Univ. Michigan State Univ. J. Obermeyer Asparagus beetle adult and larva J. Obermeyer J. Obermeyer Michigan State Univ. Potato leafhopper adult, nymphs, and damage Flea beetles may chew small holes in bean leaves. This damage will usually be worse in weedy gardens. The damage is usually only important on seedling plants. Carbaryl will Spotted asparagus beetle provide adequate control if needed. Beans Green, wax, broad, and lima beans grown in the vegetable garden are all attacked by several insects, but the damage often can be tolerated. The first insect that will attack beans is Purdue University the seedcorn maggot. The adult form is a fly that is slightly smaller than a house fly. The damaging form is the larva, which is a white, legless maggot that burrows into seeds and seedlings, causing poor seed germination and emergence, and/or stems without leaves. Damage can be reduced by planting seeds shallow and when soil temperatures are warm Red-headed flea beetle and corn flea beetle
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  7 Managing Insects in the Home Vegetable Garden — E-21-W Mexican bean beetles can be a pest of beans in southern about 28 days) that they are not usually affected by insects, and central Indiana. The adult beetle is round and copper other than possibly a few cabbage maggots feeding on the colored with 16 black spots on its back. It is about 5/16 inch roots. Turnips grown for the roots are also unlikely to have long and 1/4 inch wide. It is closely related to the beneficial any serious insect problems, other than root maggots. lady beetles. Mexican bean beetles lay clusters of oval, yellow The first insect problem that will occur on crucifers is eggs on the underside of bean leaves. The larvae are oval, the cabbage maggot. The adult fly, which is slightly smaller yellow, and covered with branched spines. Both adults and than a house fly, emerges in late April or early May. They lay larvae feed on leaves, pods, and stems. Later planting will white eggs at the bases of newly set plants. The eggs hatch reduce the amount of Mexican bean beetle damage. Because into legless maggots that migrate and tunnel into the roots. the insects are slow moving and highly visible, handpicking They cause the plants to appear sickly, off color, or stunted, can be a suitable control method. Several insecticides also and may cause them to die. Injury is usually more severe in will provide good control. cool, wet conditions. For the home gardener, chemical control is usually not effective. Another good idea is to plant a few more plants than needed, in case a few are lost to cabbage maggots. Flies are attracted to decaying organic matter, so excessive use of manure should be avoided. Purdue University C. Eastman Mexican bean beetle adult, larva, pupa, and damage Bean leaf beetles may feed on leaves and pods in all areas of the state. Adult beetles may or may not have spots and may come in several colors, but they will always have a black triangle behind the head. Beans can usually tolerate a Cabbage maggot damage considerable amount of leaf feeding with no effect on yield. Beetles present when pods are forming should probably be Flea beetles are almost always a pest of crucifers. controlled. Carbaryl will usually provide suitable control. Aphids may attack all the crucifers, as well. The number of aphids may be reduced by destroying crop residue when the growing season has ended and by encouraging natural enemies such as lady beetles. Natural enemies can be conserved if use of chemical J. Obermeyer insecticides is kept to a minimum. Purdue University C. Eastman Purdue University Pale striped flea beetle Cabbage aphid damage Bean leaf beetles and pod damage R.K. Chapman Cruciferous Crops (Cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, radish, turnip) Most crucifers are attacked by the same complex of insect pests. Radishes are such a rapidly growing crop (maturing in Cabbage aphids on leaf
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  Managing Insects inthe Home Vegetable Garden — E-21-W 8 As most gardeners know, the most serious insect problem caterpillars and treated when necessary, or Bt should be on crucifers is the caterpillars. There are actually three different applied on a weekly basis. The pyrethroid insecticides are species of caterpillars that are serious pests of crucifers. also quite effective. Diamondback moth larvae are small (1/2 inch), cigar-shaped green caterpillars that wriggle rapidly when touched. They Solanaceous Crops (Tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, pupate in little silken cases glued to the undersides of leaves. eggplant) Each larva does not do a great deal of damage, but they can Solanaceous crops are attacked by a wide variety of occur in extremely high numbers. insects. Several of these pests can be quite severe and difficult to control, as is indicated in Table 1. These crops are often difficult to grow successfully without using insecticides. The most notorious of all the pests of solanaceous crops is the Colorado potato beetle. This insect feeds on all four types of solanaceous crops in both the larval and adult stages. The adult is a yellow beetle about 1/2 inch long with each wing cover bearing five black stripes. The larva is reddish with a black head and legs and 2 rows of black spots along J. Wyman R. Foster each side. Overwintering adults frequently begin feeding on potato foliage as soon as it is above ground. Both adults and larvae feed on all the leaf tissue except for the main leaf vein Diamondback moth larva and damage and stems. There are two generations per year. The instar guide on page 9 will help the home gardener know which The imported cabbageworm is the larval stage of the instars are present. The larger instars will consume much very common white cabbage butterfly with black spots on the more foliage each day and are also much more difficult to kill wing tips. The caterpillars are velvety-green and reach over with insecticides. Therefore, it is important to make insecticide 1 inch in length. applications when the larvae are small (1st or 2nd instars). In many areas, Colorado potato beetles are resistant to most insecticides available to homeowners. Bacillus thuringiensis insecticides specifically for potato beetles can be effective if applied when larvae are small (1st or 2nd instar). Other available alternative to insecticides include W. Cranshaw W. Cranshaw W. Cranshaw W. Cranshaw Imported cabbageworm adult and larva The cabbage looper does not overwinter in Indiana, but flies here each June. The larvae are light green, and, when they crawl, they make a characteristic loop in the middle of Colorado potato beetle eggs and larva their body. The second generation, which occurs in August and September, is the most serious. All these caterpillars feed on the leaves and can reduce the plant growth. The most serious damage is to the portions of Colorado potato beetle adult W. Cranshaw plants that are to be consumed. Fortunately, good control can be achieved with various formulations of Bacillus thuringiensis. This material is very safe and will not harm beneficial insects. It is much more effective on the young larvae. Therefore, plants should be inspected once or twice per week for young W. Cranshaw J. Obermeyer S. Mahr Cabbage looper and damage Colorado potato beetle damage
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  9 Managing Insects in the Home Vegetable Garden — E-21-W Instar Guide Colorado Potato Beetle Michigan State Univ. Determine into which circle the larva fits most completely without Univ. Wisconsin overlapping the borders. The number corresponding to that circle is the instar for that larva. Potato leafhopper nymphs, adult, and damage 1 2 3 4 Several caterpillars may be found feeding on tomatoes. handpicking adults off the plants and destroying them before The tobacco hornworm is a very large greenish caterpillar they begin to lay their orange-red eggs on the undersides of (up to 4 inches) with a spine on the rear end and white stripes the leaves. Damage can also be reduced by applying a 4-6 on the sides. Larvae feed on both the leaves and the fruit, and, inch layer of straw mulch on both sides of the potato row right because of their large size, one larva can do a considerable after hilling. amount of damage. Hornworms usually do not occur in large Flea beetles will attack all of the solanaceous crops, but numbers, so handpicking is a good method of control. They can be particularly damaging to eggplant. Flea beetles are are harmless to humans. small, hard-shelled insects, so named because their enlarged hind legs allow them to jump like fleas from plants when disturbed. Their damage is unusual in appearance. They feed by chewing a small hole in a leaf, moving a short distance, then chewing another hole, and so on. Most healthy plants can tolerate a considerable amount of flea beetle damage, and control is obtained easily with a number of common garden insecticides. Refer to Extension publication E-74, Flea Beetles, for additional information. W. Cranshaw Univ. Wisconsin Tobacco hornworm Univ. Wisconsin The tomato fruitworm (also the corn earworm) is a late-season pest (August-September) that bores into the fruit. The larvae vary considerably in color from light green to tan, brown, pink, maroon, or nearly black, with light and dark stripes running lengthwise on the body. They reach a length of about Flea beetles and damage 1 1/2 inches. They may be controlled with insecticides, but usually the damage can be tolerated and the damaged fruit simply discarded. The potato leafhopper described in the bean section is also a pest of potato, doing damage similar to that done to beans. Leafhoppers can cause substantial yield loss at relatively low densities. Treatment is justified if there is more than one nymph per ten leaves. Several species of aphids will attack solanaceous crops. Fortunately, potatoes and tomatoes G. Brust can tolerate a considerable amount of feeding without any G. Brust effect on yield. However, aphids feeding on peppers can transmit several viral diseases that are quite detrimental to pepper plants. Peppers, therefore, should be kept relatively free of aphids. Tomato fruitworm and damage
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  Managing Insects inthe Home Vegetable Garden — E-21-W 10 Vine Crops (Cucumbers, melons, pumpkins, squash) Melon aphids occasionally build up on the undersides of Seedcorn maggots are closely related to cabbage the leaves, causing the plants to be stunted or to wilt. Aphids maggots and will attack all the vine crops. Damage is more are more of a problem in hot, dry weather. Natural enemies serious if the crops are planted into heavily manured soil. usually will keep aphids under control, but malathion or soap Damage is also more severe in cool weather. Plants will grow will provide adequate control. Spider mites are a non-insect more vigorously if they are planted as late as possible. Also, arthropod that suck plant juices from many types of plants. planting a few extra seeds per hill will reduce the effect of any They are also more of a problem in hot, dry weather. Spraying seedcorn maggot injury. carbaryl to control other pests will often increase mite and aphid problems by killing their natural enemies. G. Brust G. Brust G. Brust G. Brust Seedcorn maggot and damage Melon aphid and damage to watermelon Probably the most serious insect pests of vine crops, Pumpkins and squash are most seriously attacked by especially cucumbers and cantaloupes, are the spotted and squash bugs. Squash bug adults are brownish-black bugs striped cucumber beetles. The spotted cucumber beetle is that reach about 5/8 inch in length. The nymphs are various greenish yellow and has 12 black spots on the wing cover. The sizes and are whitish with black legs. Both nymphs and adults striped cucumber is yellow with three black lines running the suck sap from leaves and unripe fruit, causing plants to wilt length of the body. The legs and undersides are also black. and die, and fruit to collapse. The nymphs often will cluster The beetles feed on stems and leaves, but the most important together in large groups. Destroying crop residue will reduce damage they do is to transmit a bacterium that causes a the problems you will have next year. disease called bacterial wilt of cucurbits. The disease plugs up the liquid-conducting tubes within the plant and results in the sudden, severe, and permanent wilt of a single plant runner or the entire plant. J. Obermeyer The only way to prevent the disease is to control the beetles. When the plants are small, they can be protected from beetle feeding by covering the plants with a small mesh material such as a bridal veil supported on a stick with dirt sealing the edges on the ground. Of course, when the plants start to bloom, the cloth must be removed to allow bees to pollinate the plants. The other control option is to protect the plants with an insecticide when the beetles are present. J. Obermeyer J. Obermeyer A. York Striped cucumber beetle Spotted cucumber beetle J. Obermeyer Early symptoms of bacterial R. Latin wilt of cucurbits Squash bug eggs, nymphs, and adult
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  11 Managing Insects in the Home Vegetable Garden — E-21-W The squash vine borer is a sporadic pest of squash and pumpkins, but can be serious at times. The damage is often first apparent as the sudden wilting of an otherwise healthy vine or plant. Masses of greenish-brown frass will be pushed out of the entrance hole at the base of the plant. A white grub- like caterpillar causes the damage by boring into the vine. The adult is a clearwing moth that looks like a wasp and is active in the daytime. The only in-season control method is to use two insecticide sprays, 7 days apart, beginning when the vines start to run. Destroying crop residue will also reduce squash vine borer problems next year. J. Obermeyer Purdue University European corn borer and damage C. Welty J. Obermeyer R. Foster Corn earworm Squash vine borer larva, adult, and damage BENEFICIAL ARTHROPODS Sweet Corn Only a very small percentage of the insects that occur The European corn borer attacks both the foliage and in Indiana are pests, and only a few of these are pests of the ears of sweet corn. The larva has a pale white body with vegetables. Most insects are so innocuous that they are several brown or black spots and a black head. A few holes seldom noticed. Many provide food for larger animals, help in the leaves of young corn plants is not a cause for concern. break down decaying plants and animals, etc. A substantial amount of damage to whorl stage sweet corn Other insects provide direct benefit for gardeners. A number can be tolerated without any effect on yield. European corn of insects and other arthropods are predators; that is, they eat borers can be controlled by treating with an insecticide when other insect and mite pests. Predators include spiders, adult and the tassels begin to emerge. One or two applications spaced immature lady beetles, adult and immature lacewings, preying five days apart will usually provide adequate control. The corn mantids, some stink bugs, and ground beetles. Other insects earworm is the same insect that we call the tomato fruitworm act as parasites on pest insects. These include a number of when it occurs on tomatoes. Its damage is mostly limited to species of wasps and flies, which lay eggs in or on the host the ears, usually the ear tips. Control of corn earworms can insect. Thus, it is important to conserve as many predators be achieved by spraying the green silks and developing ears and parasites as possible. Often they will control the pest with pyrethroid insecticides. Bacillus thuringiensis insecticides species well enough that additional control is not necessary. should not be used for corn earworms; they do not work. A good method for conserving beneficial insects is to spray Most of the damage is usually confined to the tips of the ears insecticides only when necessary and to choose insecticides and can be simply cut off, eliminating much of the need for that are least toxic to the beneficial insects whenever possible. insecticides. One of the most notable beneficial insects is the honey bee.
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  Managing Insects inthe Home Vegetable Garden — E-21-W 12 Besides providing honey, bees serve as pollinators for many of our vegetable and fruit crops. Without these pollinators, many crops would never produce fruit. Insecticides that are toxic to bees should never be applied when plants are in bloom. J. Obermeyer J. Obermeyer Jumping spider Parasitized aphid mummy J. Obermeyer Brian christine Lady beetle adult and larva J. Obermeyer Parasitized hornworm J. Obermeyer W. Cranshaw Predaceous stink bug Ground beetle Brian Christine Brian Christine J. Obermeyer Lacewing larva Green lacewing adult Honey bee READ AND FOLLOW ALL LABEL INSTRUCTIONS. THIS INCLUDES DIRECTIONS FOR USE, PRECAUTIONARY STATEMENTS (HAZARDS TO HUMANS, DOMESTIC ANIMALS, AND ENDANGERED SPECIES), ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS, RATES OF APPLICATION, NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS, REENTRY INTERVALS, HARVEST RESTRICTIONS, STORAGE AND DISPOSAL, AND ANY SPECIFIC WARNINGS AND/OR PRECAUTIONS FOR SAFE HANDLING OF THE PESTICIDE. Revised 5/2009 It is the policy of the Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service that all persons have equal opportunity and access to its educational programs, services, activities, and facilities without regard to race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin or ancestry, marital status, parental status, sexual orientation, disability or status as a veteran. Purdue University is an Affirmative Action institution. This material may be available in alternative formats. 1-888-EXT-INFO <http://www.ces.purdue.edu/new>