Includes
Migratory grasshopper (Melanoplus sanguinipes)
Red-legged grasshopper (Melanoplus femurrubrum)
Pest description and crop damage Infestations are most likely where sugar beet fields immediately adjoin grasshopper breeding sites in uncultivated grassy rangelands and desert areas. Grasshoppers are problems especially when rangeland vegetation dries earlier than normal and they move to still-green field crops.
Scouting and thresholds No formal economic thresholds exist for grasshopper insecticide treatment decisions. Consider treating field edges where grasshoppers are advancing rather than entire fields.
Management-biological control
- Beauveria bassiana (BontaniGard 22WP, BotaniGard ES, Mycotrol ESO, Mycotrol O - live spores of an insect-killing fungus; various strains)-See label for rates. PHI 0 days. Typically requires 7 to 10 days after first spray to see control. Begin treatment at first appearance of pest. Reapply as necessary. OMRI-listed for organic use.
Management-chemical control
- alpha-cypermethrin (Fastac EC, Fastac CS) at 0.014 to 0.025 lb ai/A. PHI 50 days. REI 12 hr. Apply by air or ground equipment using sufficient water to obtain full coverage of foliage (minimum of 2 gal per acre by air and 10 gal per acre by ground). Apply no more than 0.075 lb ai/A per season. For Fastac CS do not graze or harvest sugar beet tops for livestock feed.
- azadirachtin (Debug Trés) at 0.0375 to 0.1054 lb ai/A.
- azadirachtin/pyrethrins (Azera, Azera Pro) at 0.0125 to 0.025 lb ai/A, and up to 0.044 lb ai/A under extremely heavy infestation. Dilution in a minimum of 30 gal water per acre is recommended for conventional equipment. May be applied by air at the rate of 0.0125 to 0.025 lb ai/A in a minimum of 25 gal water. Do not repeat more than every 5 to 7 days. Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
- carbaryl (Carbaryl 5% Bait, Carbaryl Cutworm Bait, Sevin 5 Bait, and Eco-Bran For Grasshoppers) at 0.6 to 1.5 lb ai/A. PHI 28 days. Do not apply more than 3 lb ai/A per crop; for Bran for Grasshoppers, do not apply more than 1.2 lb ai/A per crop.
- esfenvalerate (Asana XL, S-fenvaloStar, Zyrate) at 0.03 to 0.05 lb ai/A. PHI 21 days. Apply as necessary, but no more than 0.15 lb ai/A per season. Apply with ground or air equipment using enough water to cover uniformly (at least 2 gal/A water).
- kaolin (Surround WP) at 23.75 to 47.5 lb ai/A. For suppression only. Product forms a barrier film that acts as a protectant; apply before infestations develop and continue on a 7- to 14-day schedule for the duration of the infestation. OMRI-listed for organic use.
- naled (Dibrom 8 Emulsive) at 0.94 lb ai/A. REI 48 hr. PHI 2 days. Recommendation as permitted under FIFRA Section 2(ee). Do not apply more than 4.7 lb ai/A per season.
- pyrethrins (Lynx EC 1.4, Lynx EC 5.0, PyGanic EC 1.4, Tersus) See label for rates. REI 12 hr. PHI 0 days. Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
- pyrethrins/Beauveria bassiana (BotaniGard Maxx, Xpectro OD)-See label for rates. Do not reapply for at least 3 days. In case of extreme pest pressure, wait a minimum of 24 hr before reapplying. Do not harvest until spray has dried.
- pyrethrins and piperonyl butoxide (Evergreen Crop Protection EC 60-6, Pyrenone, Pyronyl Crop Spray, and others)-See label for rates.
- zeta-cypermethrin-
- (Mustang) at 0.028 to 0.05 lb ai/A. PHI 50 days. Do not apply more than 0.15 lb ai/A per season (at planting/foliar applications). Apply with ground or air equipment using enough water to fully cover foliage.
- (Mustang Maxx) at 0.014 to 0.025 lb ai/A. PHI 50 days for tops or roots. Do not apply more than 0.075 lb ai/A per season. REI 12 hr. Apply by air or ground using minimum of 2 gal/A by air and 10 gal/A by ground.