Description of the Pest
Omnivorous leafroller adults are small brown moths, about 0.4 inch (10 mm) long, with a snoutlike projection (palpae) that protrudes forward from the head. The portion of the wings nearest the body is a dark rusty brown color; the outer half is light tan. A small rusty brown spot occurs on the front edge of the wing. When at rest, the wings form a bell-shaped pattern. Females lay the small, elliptical eggs in clusters on the smooth surfaces of leaves and stems, overlapping them like fish scales. At hatching, larvae are about 0.06 inch (1.5 mm) long and white with light tan head capsules and thoracic shields. Middle instars are cream-colored and possess dark heads. Mature larvae are about 0.5 inch (12 mm) long and vary in color from cream to a dark brownish green depending on their diet. They have few setae (bristlelike hairs) scattered over the body and possess whitish oval spots along either side of a dark line running down the middle of the dorsum. The head capsule and thoracic shield of mature larvae is brown. When disturbed, larvae retreat into their nests or wiggle vigorously and drop to the ground on a silk thread.
Damage
This insect feeds on a wide variety of weeds and crops. The larvae build a nest by tying leaves together with silk webbing and remain inside this nest while feeding on the surface of the leaves. When leaves lie over a fruit, or if two fruit are touching, the larva will nest between the surfaces and feed on the fruit, causing substantial scarring. Larvae do not burrow into the fruit.
Management
Regular field monitoring will help to detect potential problems with this pest. Weed control and site location play an important role in preventing infestations of omnivorous leafroller. Treatments may occasionally be necessary.
Cultural Control
Early weed control in the area can help to reduce the population; however, the moths can fly for several miles. Avoid planting peppers near alfalfa or sugarbeet as these are good hosts.
Organically Acceptable Methods
Cultural controls and sprays of Bacillus thuringiensis or the Entrust formulation of spinosad are acceptable for used on organically certified produce.
Monitoring and Treatment Decisions
Inspect plants periodically during the growing season in several areas of the field for signs of leaves webbed together. Pay particular attention to weedy areas or locations near other susceptible crops. If nearby alfalfa or sugarbeet fields have been harvested, increase the intensity of the inspection. However, no treatment thresholds have been established.
Good coverage with the spray is critical for control because the larvae are difficult to reach within the folded leaves.
Pesticides and Natural Enemy Releases
Not all registered pesticides are listed. The following are ranked by their IPM value, with the most effective and least harmful to natural enemies, honey bees, and the environment listed at the top of the table. When choosing a pesticide, consider information related to water and air quality, resistance management, and the pesticide's properties and application timing. Use PestManage to compare summarized management options for different pests in the same crop. Always carefully read the label of the product being used and take all necessary precautions when handling pesticides.
| Rank | Active ingredient | Example trade name | Group | Group Order | MoA 1 | Amount per acre | REI (hours) ‡ | PHI (days) ‡ | Comments | Selectivity 2 | Bees 3 | Predatory mites 4 | Predators 5 | Parasitoids 5 | Residue duration 6 | Leaching(fish) 7 | Adsorbed runoff(fish) 8 | Solution runoff(fish) 9 | Leaching(human) 10 | Solution runoff(human) 11 | Last updated 12 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
various products # | Application Timing Varies (See UC IPM Pest Management Guidelines and Label) | 8 |
11A |
Label rates | 4 | 0 | Must be consumed by the larva to be effe... | narrow | low | low | low | short | — | — | — | — | — | 06/2016 | ||
|
|
Asana XL | Application Timing Varies (See UC IPM Pest Management Guidelines and Label) | 8 |
3A |
5.8–9.6 fl oz. | 12 | 7 | If leafminers are present in the pepper... | broad | high | moderate | high | moderate | high | intermediate | extra high | low | intermediate | 06/2016 | ||
| Lannate LV | Application Timing Varies (See UC IPM Pest Management Guidelines and Label) | 8 |
1A |
0.75–1.5 pt | 48 | 3 | Do not use if psyllids are present. High... | broad | high | high | high | moderate | — | — | — | — | — | 06/2016 | |||
| Lannate SP | Application Timing Varies (See UC IPM Pest Management Guidelines and Label) | 8 |
1A |
0.25–0.5 lb | 48 | 3 | Do not use if psyllids are present. High... | broad | high | high | high | moderate | — | — | — | — | — | 06/2016 | |||
|
|
Intrepid 2F | Application Timing Varies (See UC IPM Pest Management Guidelines and Label) | 8 |
18 |
Label rates | 4 | 1 | An insect growth regulator. Apply at the... | narrow | low | low | low | short | very low | low | low | very low | low | 06/2016 | ||
|
|
Radiant SC | Application Timing Varies (See UC IPM Pest Management Guidelines and Label) | 8 |
5 |
5–10 fl oz | 4 | 1 | Is more efficacious and has longer resid... | narrow | moderate | moderate 13 | low/moderate | moderate 14 | low | low | low | very low | low | 06/2016 | ||
|
|
Entrust # | Application Timing Varies (See UC IPM Pest Management Guidelines and Label) | 8 |
5 |
1.25–2.5 oz | 4 | 1 | Use higher rate for larger worms and hea... | narrow | moderate | moderate 13 | low/moderate | moderate 13 | very low | low | low | very low | low | 06/2016 | ||
|
|
Success | Application Timing Varies (See UC IPM Pest Management Guidelines and Label) | 8 |
5 |
4–8 oz | 4 | 1 | Use higher rate for larger worms and hea... | narrow | moderate | moderate 13 | low/moderate | moderate 13 | very low | low | low | very low | low | 06/2016 |
Legend
- ‡ a b Restricted entry interval (REI) is the number of hours (unless otherwise noted) from treatment until the treated area can be safely entered without personal protective equipment. Preharvest interval (PHI) is the number of days from treatment to harvest. In some cases, the REI exceeds the PHI. The longer of the two intervals is the minimum time that must elapse before harvest.
- * a b Permit required from county agricultural commissioner for purchase or use.
- # a b Acceptable for use on certified organic crops. Check with your certifier to confirm before application.
- 1 ↩ Group numbers for insecticides and miticides are assigned by the Insecticide Resistance Action Committee (IRAC). Insecticides with unknown modes of action are assigned mode-of-action group numbers (MoAs) that begin with UN. Rotate pesticides 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; insecticides with a 1B group number should be alternated with insecticides that have a group number other than 1B.
- 2 ↩ Range of insect and mite groups affected by a pesticide. Broad means the pesticide affects most groups of insects and mites; narrow means the pesticide affects only a few specific groups.
- 3 ↩ Risk of harm to honey bees. For more information, see Bee Precaution Pesticide Ratings.
- 4 ↩ Risk of harm to predatory mites. Toxicities are generally to western predatory mite, Galendromus occidentalis. Where differences have been measured in toxicity of the pesticide-resistant strain versus the native strain, these are listed as pesticide-resistant strain or native strain.
- 5 a b Risk of harm to parasitoids and general predators. Toxicities are averages of reported effects and should be used only as a general guide. Actual toxicity of a specific insecticide depends on factors including the application rate, environmental conditions, and the life stage and species of a parasitoid or predator.
- 6 ↩ Length of time residue affects natural enemies. Short means hours to days; moderate means days to 2 weeks; and long means many weeks or months.
- 7 ↩ Risk of harm to fish from leaching, based on USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Windows Pesticide Screening Tool (WIN-PST).
- 8 ↩ Risk of harm to fish from adsorbed runoff, based on USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Windows Pesticide Screening Tool (WIN-PST).
- 9 ↩ Risk of harm to fish from solution runoff, based on USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Windows Pesticide Screening Tool (WIN-PST).
- 10 ↩ Risk of harm to humans from leaching, based on USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Windows Pesticide Screening Tool (WIN-PST).
- 11 ↩ Risk of harm to humans from solution runoff, based on USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Windows Pesticide Screening Tool (WIN-PST).
- 12 ↩ Date information was last updated in the UC IPM Pest Management Guidelines.
- 13 a b c d e Toxic to some natural enemies (lacewing and syrphid fly larvae, predatory beetles, and thrips) when sprayed and up to 5 to 7 days after.
- 14 ↩ Residual is moderate if solution is between a pH of 7 and 8.
UC IPM Pest Management Guidelines: Peppers
UC ANR Publication 3460
E.T. Natwick (emeritus), UC Cooperative Extension Imperial County
J.T. Trumble, Entomology, UC Riverside
J.L. Aguiar, UC Cooperative Extension Riverside County
Acknowledgement for Contributions to Invertebrates
W.J. Bentley (emeritus), UC IPM and Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension Center, Parlier
W.E. Chaney (emeritus), UC Cooperative Extension Monterey County
R.L. Coviello, UC Cooperative Extension Fresno County
C.F. Fouche, UC Cooperative Extension San Joaquin County
C.G. Summers (emeritus), Entomology, UC Davis and Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension Center, Parlier
