Description of the Pest
Field cricket adults are shiny black to brown, 0.6 to 1.0 inch long, with long antennae. They often move into lettuce fields from cotton or infested uncultivated areas.
Damage
Crickets are occasional pests, usually confined to sprinkler irrigated fields in the low desert. Crickets are of the concern mainly during the stand establishment when they can quickly destroy rows or even most of a field by clipping of seedling plants shortly after emergence.
Management
Monitoring and Treatment Decisions
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.
- Monitor areas surrounding lettuce fields - check under debris and in weedy spots including dry dead plants where the crickets hide during the day.
Apply a treatment when crickets threaten to migrate in to the field.
| 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. | ZETA-CYPERMETHRIN* | |||
| (Mustang) | 2.4–4.3 fl oz | 12 | 1 | |
| MODE-OF-ACTION GROUP NUMBER1: 3A | ||||
| COMMENTS: Maximum rate 28.5 fl oz/acre per season | ||||
| B. | PERMETHRIN* | |||
| (Pounce 25WP) | Label rates | 12 | 1 | |
| (Permethrin cutworm bait) | 20-40 lbs | 12 | 1 | |
| MODE-OF-ACTION GROUP NUMBER1: 3A | ||||
| COMMENTS: Do not use if leafminers are present. | ||||
| C. | ESFENVALERATE* | |||
| (Asana XL) | Label rates | 12 | 7 | |
| MODE-OF-ACTION GROUP NUMBER1: 3A | ||||
| COMMENTS: For use on head lettuce only. Do not use if leafminers are present. | ||||
| D. | NOSEMA LOCUSTAE | |||
| (Semaspore Bait)# | 1 lb | 0 | – | |
| MODE-OF-ACTION GROUP NUMBER1: – | ||||
| ** | Mix with enough water to provide complete coverage. |
| ‡ | 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. |
| * | Permit required from county agricultural commissioner for purchase or use. |
| # | Acceptable for organically grown produce. |
| 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). |