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How to Manage Pests

UC Pest Management Guidelines

| More pests | More crops | About guidelines |

Plum

Obliquebanded Leafroller

Scientific name: Choristoneura rosaceana

(Reviewed 5/06, updated 5/06)

In this Guideline:

Description of the pest
Damage
Management

DESCRIPTION OF THE PEST

Larvae of the obliquebanded leafroller are yellowish green caterpillars. When disturbed, they wiggle backwards and drop to the ground on a silken thread. Rolled leaves webbed together to form protective nests reveal the presence of leafroller larvae. Adult moths have dark brown bands running at oblique angles across their wings. Obliquebanded leafroller overwinters as larvae in the bud scales of twigs; there are two to three generations each year in the Central Valley.

DAMAGE

On plums, larvae feed on leaves and buds during bloom and also on the surface of fruit in midsummer. In some cases they cause severe damage as well as contamination with their excrement.

MANAGEMENT

Delayed dormant treatments and bloom time applications for other pests help keep leafroller populations under control. However, regular monitoring each season is important so that prompt action can be taken if damaging populations develop. Throughout the season watch for the presence of leafrollers while monitoring for other pests. This is especially important in orchards where bloom time Bt sprays and pheromone confusion are used to control peach twig borer and oriental fruit moth.

Biological Control
Parasites of obliquebanded leafroller include Macrocentrus iridescens and Glypta variegata.

Organically Acceptable Methods
Dormant oil spray followed by bloom sprays of Bacillus thuringiensis or sprays of the Entrust formulation of spinosad can be used to control this pest on organically certified crops.

Monitoring and Treatment Decisions
Check the orchard in early spring (March-April) for the presence of larvae and feeding damage. The best timing for control of overwintering larvae is at full bloom or early petal fall.

Take a fruit damage sample at harvest to assess the effectiveness of the current year's IPM program and to determine the needs of next year's program. See FRUIT EVALUATION AT HARVEST. Record results on a monitoring form (100KB, PDF).

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.

DELAYED DORMANT

DORMANT OIL such as:

DORMANT FLOWABLE EMULSION

6 gal

1.5 gal

NARROW RANGE OIL#

4 gal

1 gal

MODE OF ACTION: Contact including smothering and barrier effects.

COMMENTS: Oil used alone will only provide partial control. Oil applications at this time may cause some young shoots to burn or dieback, especially in years when trees are water-stressed, or have recently been subjected to freezing temperatures or to dry winds. Dormant flowable emulsion is less likely to cause burn. Some varieties, especially those that are weak growers or low in vigor because of soil or other location-related issues, can be especially sensitive to oil. Not all oil products are organically acceptable; be sure to check individual products.

DORMANT OIL such as:

DORMANT FLOWABLE EMULSION

6 gal

1.5 gal

NARROW RANGE OIL

4 gal

1 gal

MODE OF ACTION: Contact including smothering and barrier effects.

COMMENTS: Oil applications at this time may cause some young shoots to burn or dieback, especially in years when trees are water-stressed, or have recently been subjected to freezing temperatures or to dry winds. Dormant flowable emulsion is less likely to cause burn. Some varieties, especially those that are weak growers or low in vigor because of soil or other location-related issues, can be especially sensitive to oil.

. . . PLUS . . .

PHOSMET

(Imidan) 70WP

4.25 lb

1 lb

MODE OF ACTION: An organophosphate (Group 1B)¹ insecticide.

. . . OR . . .

DIFLUBENZURON*

(Dimilin) 2L

12 oz

3 oz

MODE OF ACTION: An insect growth regulator/benzoylurea (Group 15)¹ insecticide.

COMMENTS: Include vegetable oil at the rate of 1 qt/acre. Do not apply after petal fall. Do not exceed 2 applications in any given season. Allow 21 days between applications.

. . . OR . . .

SPINOSAD

(Entrust)#

1.71–2.5 oz

0.43–0.6 oz

(Success)

6–8 oz

1.5–2 oz

MODE OF ACTION: A microbial (Group 5)¹ insecticide.

. . . OR . . .

CHLORPYRIFOS*

(Lorsban) 4EC

2 pt

0.5 pt

MODE OF ACTION: An organophosphate (Group 1B)¹ insecticide.

COMMENTS: Apply chlorpyrifos only during dormant or delayed dormant period and do not allow meat or dairy animals to graze in treated orchards. Levels in surface waters of this material that are high enough to be toxic to certain aquatic invertebrates have occurred following rains in January and February; avoid runoff into surface waters. Available for use under a special local needs registration.

. . . OR . . .

DIAZINON* 50WP

3 lb

1 lb

DIAZINON* 4EC

3 pt

1 lb

MODE OF ACTION: An organophosphate (Group 1B)¹ insecticide.

COMMENTS: Levels in surface waters of this material that are high enough to be toxic to certain aquatic invertebrates have occurred following rains in January and February; avoid runoff into surface waters.

. . . OR . . .

ESFENVALERATE*

(Asana XL)

4–6 oz

0.5 oz

MODE OF ACTION: A pyrethroid (Group 3)¹ insecticide.

COMMENTS: Pyrethroid residues remaining on leaves and bark will continue to affect mite predators long after application, increasing potential for spider mite infestations.

BLOOM

BACILLUS THURINGIENSIS ssp. KURSTAKI#

(various products)

Label rates

MODE OF ACTION: A microbial (Group 11.B2)¹ insecticide.

COMMENTS: Make two 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 ft over the canopy using appropriate nozzles to allow better deposition on the tree tops.

SPINOSAD

(Entrust)#

1.71–2.5 oz

0.43–0.6 oz

(Success)

6–8 oz

1.5–2 oz

MODE OF ACTION: A microbial (Group 5)¹ insecticide.

COMMENTS: Do not apply more than 29 oz/acre/year of Success or 9 oz/acre/year of Entrust. Most effective when applied at petal fall. This product is toxic to bees for 3 hours following treatment; apply in late evening after bees have stopped foraging.

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.

DIFLUBENZURON*

(Dimilin) 2L

12 oz

3 oz

MODE OF ACTION: An insect growth regulator/benzoylurea (Group 15)¹ insecticide.

COMMENTS: Include vegetable oil at the rate of 1 qt/acre. Do not apply after petal fall. Do not exceed 2 applications in any given season. Allow 21 days between applications.

PETAL FALL and AFTER

SPINOSAD

(Entrust)#

1.71–2.5 oz

0.43–0.6 oz

(Success)

6–8 oz

1.5–2 oz

MODE OF ACTION: A microbial (Group 5)¹ insecticide.

METHOXYFENOZIDE

(Intrepid) 2F

8–16 oz

2–4 oz

MODE OF ACTION: An insect growth regulator (Group 18)¹ insecticide.

COMMENTS: Use allowed under a supplemental label. Do not apply more than 16 fl oz/acre/application or 64 fl oz/acre/season.

BACILLUS THURINGIENSIS ssp. KURSTAKI#

(various products)

Label rates

—

MODE OF ACTION: A microbial (Group 11.B2)¹ insecticide.

COMMENTS: Timing is important because of short residual period; if larvae are small, Bt can effectively control them. Apply only during warm dry weather to control young actively feeding worms; may need to be applied more than once. Good coverage is essential.

**	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.
*	Permit required from county agricultural commissioner for purchase or use.
#	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/.

PUBLICATION

UC IPM Pest Management Guidelines: Plum
UC ANR Publication 3462
Insects and Mites
W. J. Bentley, UC IPM Program, Kearney Agricultural Center, Parlier
K. R. Day, UC Cooperative Extension, Tulare County
Acknowledgment for contributions to the insects and mites section:
R. E. Rice, Kearney Agricultural Center, Parlier

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