How to Manage Pests

UC Pest Management Guidelines

Kiwifruit

Boxelder Bug

Scientific Name: Boisea trivittata

(Reviewed 4/13, updated 4/13)

In this Guideline:

Description of the Pest

Adults have dark, oval bodies with many fine red lines on the back. Undersides of wings are red. Nymphs are small, bright red, crawling insects.

Damage

Feeding before bloom is known to cause bud and fruit drop, as well as fruit malformation, which is apparent when the fruit is cut in half, but can also easily be seen when the fruit is left intact.

Management

Boxelder bugs are mainly found in vineyards near the coast. Treatment, if needed, should be aimed at adult bugs and applied in early spring as flower buds are developing. It has been observed that deformities of the fruit are lessened if a bloom time spray is applied.

Common name		Amount per acre	R.E.I.‡	P.H.I.‡
(example trade name)			(hours)	(days)
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, the pesticide's properties, and application timing. Not all registered pesticides are listed. Always read the label of the product being listed.
A.	ESFENVALERATE*
	(Asana XL)	9.6 fl Oz	12	14
	MODE-OF-ACTION GROUP NUMBER1: 3
	COMMENTS: Will provide suppression. Only effective when temperature is above 75°F. Damage occurs in spring when adults feed on developing flower buds and cool weather is common, so take note of daily temperature. Do not exceed 7 applications/season or spray at less than 7-day intervals.
‡	Restricted entry interval (R.E.I.) is the number of hours (unless otherwise noted) from treatment until the treated area can be safely entered without protective clothing. Preharvest interval (P.H.I.) 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.
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 than1B. Mode-of-action Group numbers are assigned by IRAC (Insecticide Resistance Action Committee). For additional information, see their Web site at http://www.irac-online.org/.

PUBLICATION

UC IPM Pest Management Guidelines: Kiwifruit
UC ANR Publication 3449

Insects

• J. K. Hasey, UC Cooperative Extension, Sutter-Yuba counties
• R. A. Van Steenwyk, Insect Biology, UC Berkeley

Acknowledgment for contributions to Insects and Mites:

• R. H. Beede, UC Cooperative Extension, Kings County

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