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How to Manage Pests

UC Pest Management Guidelines

| More pests | More crops | About guidelines |

Rose-grain aphid, Metopolophium dirhodum, wingless adult and nymphs.

Small Grains

Rose-grain Aphid

Scientific name: Metopolophium dirhodum

(Reviewed 2/07, updated 2/07)

In this Guideline:

DESCRIPTION OF THE PEST    Key to identifying aphids

Rose-grain aphid is a large green aphid that may have a dark green stripe down the middle of the back. It looks similar to greenbug but is larger, the joints in the antennae are darker than the middle portion of the antennae, and the antennae usually reach beyond the base of the cornicles.

DAMAGE

Rose-grain aphids do not inject a toxin as they feed and generally cause very little injury. Since they are easily confused with the more damaging greenbug, care should be taken in identification. If you are not sure of the species, contact your farm advisor before any sprays are applied.

Rose-grain aphid is a vector of BARLEY YELLOW DWARF virus.

MANAGEMENT

Biological Control
Rose-grain aphid is attacked by the natural enemy species discussed under Aphids–General Considerations.

Monitoring
Be sure of the species identification before spraying.

Management Decisions
Economic thresholds have not been established for rose-grain aphid.

Common name Amount/Acre R.E.I.+ P.H.I.+
(trade name)   (hours) (days)
The following materials are listed in order of usefulness in an IPM program, taking into account impact on natural enemies and honey bees. When choosing a pesticide, also consider information relating to environmental impact.
 
A. METHYL PARATHION*
  (Penncap M) 1–2 pt 5 days 15
  MODE OF ACTION: An organophosphate (Group 1B)1 insecticide.
  COMMENTS: May be used on wheat, oats, barley. Do not graze within 15 days. This product is highly toxic to foraging bees, young hive bees, and brood. Do not apply to any field when bees are present or in the surrounding vicinity.
 
B. DIMETHOATE 4EC 0.50–0.75 pt 48 60
  MODE OF ACTION: An organophosphate (Group 1B)1 insecticide.
  COMMENTS: For use on wheat and triticale only. Do not make more than 2 applications/year. Do not graze within 14 days. Highly toxic to honey bees if bees are present at treatment time or within a day after.
 
C. MALATHION 8EC 1.25 pt 12 7
  MODE OF ACTION: An organophosphate (Group 1B)1 insecticide.
  COMMENTS: May be used on wheat, barley, oats, rye. If alfalfa is in bloom, apply during the night or early in the morning when bees are not foraging in the field.
 
D. METHOMYL*
  (Lannate SP) 0.25–0.5 lb 48 7
  MODE OF ACTION: A carbamate (Group 1A)1 insecticide.
  COMMENTS: Do not graze within 10 days. Do not apply more than 1.8 lb a.i./acre/crop. Highly toxic to honey bees if bees are present at treatment time or within a day after. May be used on wheat, barley, oats, and rye.
 
E. CHLORPYRIFOS*
  (Lorsban) 4E 0.5–1 pt 24 28
  MODE OF ACTION: An organophosphate (Group 1B)1 insecticide.
  COMMENTS: For use on wheat only. Do not make more than 2 applications/crop. See label for other restrictions. Highly toxic to honey bees if bees are present at treatment time or within a day after. Avoid drift and tailwater runoff into surface waters.
 
 
+  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 R.E.I. exceeds the P.H.I.; the longer of these two intervals is the minimum time that must elapse before harvest may take place.
* Permit required from county agricultural commissioner for purchase or use.
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/.

[Precautions]

PUBLICATION

[UC Peer Reviewed]

UC IPM Pest Management Guidelines: Small Grains
UC ANR Publication 3466
Insects and Mites
C. G. Summers, Entomology, UC Davis/Kearney Agricultural Center, Parlier
L. D. Godfrey, Entomology, UC Davis
Acknowledgment for contributions to the insect and mite section:
D. Gonzalez, Entomology, UC Riverside

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