Table 2.5-8. Suggested insecticides, rates, and restrictions for small-grain insect control
- R after the insecticide name indicates that the compound has a restricted use label.
- O indicates that the pesticide is labeled for organic use. However, check with your organic certifier to be sure that the material is allowed for your organic system.
- For Certified Organic insect control materials, refer to the Organic Materials Review Institute materials list at www.omri.org or call 514-343-7600 or check with your local certifier and see www.ams.usda.gov/nop/.
- Pesticide use can many times be avoided by using a combination of pest management methods. Part I, Section 11, “Organic Crop Production,” and Part II, Section 1, “Pest Management” to learn about IPM programs and methods for organic production.
- Most of these products are highly toxic to bees and many other beneficial insect species. See labels for details.
| Pest | Insecticide | Rate/A | Restrictions | Comments (Read label for dosage, method, and limitations) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Formulated | Active | Harvest (days) | Reentry (hours) | |||
| Aphids: corn leaf and English grain Threshold: Fall: 25 aphids/ft of row. Spring: 100 aphids/ft of row. |
cyfluthrin R (Baythroid 2) | 1.8 to 2.4 oz | 0.028 to 0.038 lb | 30 | 12 | Registered for wheat. A maximum of two applications are allowed per season. |
| or | ||||||
| dimethoate | Various formulations | Many companies carry this product; check individual labels. | ||||
| or | ||||||
| endosulfan R | 0.33 to 1.0 qt | 0.50 to 0.75 lb | — | 24 | Do not apply after heads begin to form. Registered on wheat, barley, oats, and rye. | |
| or | ||||||
| gamma-cyhalothrin R (Proaxis) | 1.92 to 3.2 oz | 0.008 to 0.012 lb | 45 | 24 | Do not apply more than 0.48 pt per season. Registered on wheat, barley, oats, and rye. | |
| or | ||||||
| lambda-cyhalothrin R (Warrior and Warrior II) (Taiga Z) (Mystic Z) | 1.92 to 2.56 oz | 0.02 to 0.03 lb | 30 | 24 | Registered for wheat, wheat hay, and triticale. Warrior II uses half the rate of Warrior. | |
| or | ||||||
| Malathion | Many formulations are available. See the label for specific uses, rates, restrictions, and specific small grain crops. | Variable | 12 | Only for English grain aphid. Relatively low toxicity to humans. | ||
| or | ||||||
| methomyl R | Registered for use on barley, oats, rye, and wheat. Do not apply more than 1.8 lb ai/acre, or more than 4 applications/crop. | |||||
| (Lannate 90SP) | 0.25 to 0.5 lb | 0.23 to 0.45 lb | 7 | 48 | ||
| (Lannate LV) | 0.75 to 1.5 pt | |||||
| or | ||||||
| methomyl parathionR (Penncap-M) | 2 to 3 pt | 0.50 to 0.75 lb | 15 | 4 days | Registered for barley, oats, and wheat. | |
| or | ||||||
| zeta-cypermethrin R (Mustang Max) | 3.2 to 4.0 oz | 0.02 to 0.025 lb | 14 | 14 | Do not apply more than 0.15 lb ai per season. Registered on wheat and triticale. | |
| Seed Treatment | ||||||
| thiamethoxan (Cruiser 5FS) | 0.75 to 1.33 fl oz per 100 lbs of seed | Registered on wheat and barley. Helps prevent spread of aphid-borne viruses. | ||||
| Armyworm Threshold: 6 larvae/sq ft | Bacillus thuringiensis O | Many products are available. See specific directions for use. | May not be as effective as other compounds, but it offers a biological alternative. | |||
| or | ||||||
| carbaryl (Sevin) | Many formulations available. See label for specific uses, rates, and restrictions. | 21 | 12 | Registered for use on wheat and proso millet. | ||
| or | ||||||
| cyfluthrin R (Baythroid 2E) | 1.8 to 2.4 oz | 0.028 to 0.038 lb | 30 | 12 | Registered for wheat. Maximum allowed per crop season is 11.2 oz of material. | |
| or | ||||||
| gamma-cyhalothrin R (Proaxis) | 1.92 to 3.2 oz | 0.0075 to 0.012 lb | 45 | 24 | Do not apply more than 0.48 pt per season. Registered for wheat, wheat hay, and triticale. | |
| or | ||||||
| lambda-cyhalothrin R (Warrior and Warrior II) (Taiga Z) (Mystic Z) | 1.28 to 3.84 oz | 0.02 to 0.03 lb | 30 | 24 | Registered for wheat, wheat hay, and triticale. Warrior II uses half the rate of Warrior. | |
| or | ||||||
| malathion | Many formulations available. See the label for specific uses, rates, restrictions, and specific crop. | Relatively low toxicity to humans and animals. Registered for barley, oats, rye, and wheat. | ||||
| or | ||||||
| methomyl R | Do not graze livestock or use for livestock feed within 10 days of last application. Registered for barley, oats, rye, and wheat. | |||||
| (Lannate 90SP) | 0.25 to 0.50 lb | 0.23 to 0.45 lb | 7 | 48 | ||
| (Lannate LV) | 0.75 to 1.50 pt | |||||
| or | ||||||
| methyl parathion R (Penncap-M) | 2 to 3 pt | 0.5 to 0.75 lb | 15 | 4 days | Registered for barley, oats, and wheat. | |
| or | ||||||
| spinosad (Entrust) O (Tracer) | 1 to 2 oz | 0.05 to 0.10 lb | 21 | 4 | Do not apply within 21 days of grain or straw harvest or within 4 days of forage or hay harvest. Registered on wheat, barley, buckwheat, rye, oats, and triticale. Does not harm beneficial insect complex in field. | |
| or | ||||||
| zeta-cypermethrin R (Mustang Max) | 1.76 to 4.0 oz | 0.011 to 0.025 | 21 | 12 | Do not apply more than 0.125 lb ai per season. Registered on wheat and triticale. | |
| Cereal leaf beetle Threshold: Oats: One or more larvae over 0.13 inches long/stem or flag leaf, and damage is evident. |
carbaryl (Sevin) | Several formulations are available. See label for rates. | 21 | 12 | Registered for use on wheat. Do not apply when foilage is wet or when rain is excessive | |
| or | ||||||
| gamma-cyhalothrin R (Proaxis) | 2.56 to 3.84 oz | 0.01 to 0.015 lb | 45 | 24 | Do not apply more than 0.48 pt per season. Registered on wheat, wheat hay, and triticale. | |
| or | ||||||
| lamda-cyhalothrin R (Warrior and Warrior II) (Taiga Z) (Mystic Z) | 1.28 to 3.84 oz | 0.02 to 0.03 lb | 30 | 24 | Registered for wheat, wheat hay, and triticale. Warrior II uses half the rate of Warrior. | |
| or | ||||||
| malathion | Many formulations are available. See the label for specific uses, rates, restrictions, and specific crop. | Relatively low toxicity to humans and animals. Registered for barley, oats, rye, and wheat. | ||||
| or | ||||||
| methomyl R | Registered for use on barley, oats, rye, and wheat. Do not apply more than 1.8 ai/acre, or more than 4 applications/crop. | |||||
| (Lannate 90SP) | 0.25 to 0.50 lb | 0.23 to 0.45 lb | 7 | 48 | ||
| (Lannate LV) | 0.75 to 1.5 pt | |||||
| or | ||||||
| spinosad (Entrust) O (Tracer) | 0.5 to 2.0 oz | 0.025 to 0.10 lb | 21 | 4 | Do not apply within 21 days of grain or straw harvest or within 14 days of forage or hay harvest. Registered on wheat, barley, buckwheat, rye, oats, and triticale. | |
| or | ||||||
| zeta-cypermethrin R (Mustang Max) | 1.76 to 4.0 oz | 0.011 to 0.025 | 21 | 12 | Do not apply more than 0.125 lb ai per season. Registered for wheat and triticale. | |
| Hessian fly | No insecticide control is suggested; however, the following seed treatment is labeled: | |||||
| thiamethoxam (Cruiser 5FS) | 0.75 to 1.33 oz per 100 lb of seed | Commercially applied. Not for planter-box treatment. | ||||
| Slugs | metaldehyde (Deadline M-Ps) (Metarex) | 10 lb | 0.4 lb | 0 | 12 | See comments in corn section Table 2.2-20. All cereal grains. |