Description of the Pest
Adult crickets are black or brown, and are 0.6 to 1 inch in length. Eggs are laid in the ground, mostly in damp places. Crickets are present in all stages all year round.
Damage
Crickets generally do not cause economic losses in cucurbits. Crickets can cause some damage initially by eating flower parts and causing poor or incomplete pollination. Also, as fruit reaches the full slip stage, this pest can enter the stem end and feed internally on the fruit. Excrement of crickets can spot melons, resulting in exterior dark stains that may affect marketing value.
Management
Crickets are usually more of a problem in areas of the field near weedy areas during stand establishment. Clear weeds early in spring before crickets mature and begin to migrate. Treat if damaging numbers of insects are observed during field inspection.
| Common name | Amount per acre | REI‡ | PHI‡ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Example trade name) | (hours) | (days) | ||
| Not all registered pesticides are listed. The following are ranked with the pesticides having the greatest IPM value listed first—the most effective and least harmful to natural enemies, honey bees, and the environment are at the top of the table. When choosing a pesticide, consider information relating to air and water quality, resistance management, and the pesticide's properties and application timing. Always read the label of the product being used. | ||||
| A. | CARBARYL | |||
| (Sevin 5 bait) | 20 lb | 12 | 3 | |
| MODE-OF-ACTION GROUP NUMBER1: 1A | ||||
| COMMENTS: Apple pumice baits work better for crickets and grasshoppers than bran baits. Baits lose their attractiveness as they dry out. Apply in early evening to avoid drying out too soon from sun exposure. Use suitable ground or aircraft equipment that provides good distribution. A repeat application is usually necessary for effective control. | ||||
| B. | BIFENTHRIN* | |||
| (Capture 2EC-CAL) | 2.6–6.4 oz | 12 | 3 | |
| MODE-OF-ACTION GROUP NUMBER1: 3A | ||||
| COMMENTS: Repeated use of this material is very disruptive to beneficials. | ||||
| C. | LAMBDA CYHALOTHRIN | |||
| (Warrior II with Zeon)* | 1.28–1.92 fl oz | 24 | 1 | |
| MODE-OF-ACTION GROUP NUMBER1: 3A | ||||
| D. | FENPROPATHRIN | |||
| (Danitol)* | 10.67–16 fl oz | 24 | 7 | |
| MODE-OF-ACTION GROUP NUMBER1: 3A | ||||
| E. | ESFENVALERATE* | |||
| (Asana XL) | 5.8–9.6 oz | 12 | 3 | |
| MODE-OF-ACTION GROUP NUMBER1: 3A | ||||
| COMMENTS: Do not exceed 0.25 lb a.i./acre per season. Highly toxic to honey bees. | ||||
| F. | PYRETHRIN# | |||
| (PyGanic EC 1.4) | 16–64 oz | 12 | 0 | |
| MODE-OF-ACTION GROUP NUMBER1: 3A | ||||
| COMMENTS: Buffer final spray to a pH of 5.5 to 7.0. | ||||
| * | Permit required from county agricultural commissioner for purchase or use. |
| # | Acceptable for use on organically grown produce. |
| ‡ | Restricted entry interval (REI) is the number of hours (unless otherwise noted) from treatment until the treated area can be safely entered without protective clothing. Preharvest interval (PHI) is the number of days from treatment to harvest. In some cases the REI exceeds the PHI. The longer of two intervals is the minimum time that must elapse before harvest. |
| 1 | Rotate chemicals with a different mode-of-action group number, and do not use products with the same mode-of-action group number more than twice per season to help prevent the development of resistance. For example, the organophosphates have a group number of 1B; chemicals with a 1B group number should be alternated with chemicals that have a group number other than 1B. Mode-of-action group numbers are assigned by IRAC (Insecticide Resistance Action Committee). |