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How to Manage Pests

UC Pest Management Guidelines

| More pests | More crops | About guidelines |

Speckled green fruitworm larva feeding on leaf.

Prune

Green Fruitworms

Scientific Names:
Orthosia hibisci, Amphipyra pyramidoides, Xylomyges curialis, and others.

(Reviewed 6/06, updated 6/06)

In this Guideline:

DESCRIPTION OF THE PESTS

Green fruitworms include several species of caterpillars, all of which are pale green, often with whitish stripes down each side of the body and a narrow stripe down the middle of the back. Most species pass the winter as pupae or adults, and have one generation each year.

DAMAGE

Green fruitworms eat large holes in young leaves and fruit during late bloom and petal fall causing fruit to be scarred.

MANAGEMENT

Dormant treatments and bloom time applications for other pests help keep fruitworm populations under control. Regular monitoring at petal fall is important so action can be taken if damaging populations develop.

Biological Control
Certain parasitic wasps (Cotesia [=Apanteles], Eulophus, Meteorus, and Ophion spp.) help keep green fruitworm populations under control.

Organically Acceptable Methods
Biological control and sprays of Bacillus thuringiensis and the Entrust formulation of spinosad are acceptable for use on an organically certified crop.

Monitoring and Treatment Decisions
If treatment is necessary, treat at late bloom to petal fall when larvae are present. View photos to identify caterpillars present during bloom. A treatment threshold of one worm per 100 fruit clusters per 20-acre block or 1 worm per 50 beat-tray samples has been developed for pears and probably is applicable to stone fruits. Bacillus thuringiensis formulations are safe to use during bloom and are effective on small larvae. If you use other materials, make applications during or shortly after petal fall. Spot-treat localized infestations. Continue to monitor for the pest after treatment. If no more young larvae are found, no more control actions are necessary for the season.

Fruit Damage Sample. In mid-July, take a fruit damage sample to assess the overall effectiveness of the current year's IPM program and to determine next year's needs. For more information, see FRUIT EVALUATION AT HARVEST. Record on a monitoring form (85KB, PDF) the number of fruit infested by larvae, type of larvae present, whether the damage is surface feeding only or if the larvae penetrated the fruit.

Common name Amount to Use** P.H.I.+
(trade name) (conc.) (dilute) (days)
The following materials are listed in order of usefulness in an IPM program, taking into account efficacy, impact on natural enemies and honey bees, and impact of the timing on beneficials. When choosing a pesticide, also consider information relating to environmental impact.
 
A. BACILLUS THURINGIENSIS ssp. KURSTAKI#
  (various products) Label rates —  
  MODE OF ACTION: A microbial (Group 11.B2)1 insecticide.
  COMMENTS: Most effective on small caterpillars. Does not destroy natural enemies Make 2 applications during bloom: the first between popcorn and the beginning of bloom and the second 7–10 days later, but no later than petal fall. Compatible with fungicide sprays, and can be tank mixed with them. Good coverage is essential. Ground application using a concentrate rate (80–100 gal water maximum) is preferred. If aerial applications must be made because conditions do not permit ground application, a concentrate rate (5 gal or less) is preferred. Fly material on at a height of about 20 feet over the canopy using appropriate nozzles to allow better deposition on the tree tops.
   
B. SPINOSAD
  (Entrust)# 1.71–2.5 oz 0.43–0.6 oz 7
  (Success) 6–8 oz 1.5–2 oz 7
  MODE OF ACTION: A microbial (Group 5)1 insecticide.
  COMMENTS: Most effective when applied at petal fall. Apply only during late evening, night, or early morning to avoid injury to honey bees.
 
C. METHOXYFENOZIDE
  (Intrepid) 2F 8-16 oz 2-4 oz  
  MODE OF ACTION: An insect growth regulator (Group 18)1 insecticide.
  COMMENTS: Apply at petal fall. Use allowed under a supplemental label. Do not apply more than 16 fl oz/acre/application or 64 fl oz/acre/season.
 
 
**   For dilute applications, rate is per 100 gal water to be applied in 300-500 gal water/acre, according to label; for concentrate applications, use 80-100 gal water/acre, or lower if the label allows.
+ Preharvest interval. Do not apply within this many days of harvest.
# Acceptable for use on organically grown produce.
—  Not recommended or not on label.
1 Modes of action are important in preventing the development of resistance to pesticides. 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. 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 is assigned by IRAC (Insecticide Resistance Action Committee). For additional information, see their Web site at http://www.irac-online.org/.

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[Precautions]

PUBLICATION

[UC Peer Reviewed]

UC IPM Pest Management Guidelines: Prune
UC ANR Publication 3464
Insects and Mites
C. Pickel, UC IPM Program, Sutter/Yuba counties
F. J. A. Niederholzer, UC Cooperative Extension, Sutter/Yuba counties
W. H. Olson, UC Cooperative Extension, Butte County
F. G. Zalom, Entomology, UC Davis
R. P. Buchner, UC Cooperative Extension, Tehama County
W. H. Krueger, UC Cooperative Extension Glenn County
Acknowledgment for contributions to the insects and mites section:
W. O. Reil, UC Cooperative Extension Solano/Yolo counties

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Statewide IPM Program, Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of California
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