Damage: The larval stage of the potato tuberworm (the adult stage is a moth) can damage potato tubers in the weeks leading up to harvest, especially after vine kill or vine senescence, when larvae are forced to move from the vines to tubers. The larvae feed on tubers causing tunnels.
Scouting: Potato tuberworms are easy to monitor using pheromone traps. The pheromone lure used inside the sticky trap attracts male moths that are looking for females. Click HERE for a guide to deploying pheromone traps.
| Stage of Development: Late Tuber Bulking to Harvest | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pesticide | MOA1 | Efficacy2 | Rate per Acre3 | REI4 | PHI5 | Notes |
| Lannate LV methomyl | 1A | E | 1.5-3.0 pt | 48 h | 6 d | Target PTW larvae feeding in the canopy in the weeks prior to vine desiccation or harvest. PHI is 6-days. Expect only 5-7 days of residual activity. |
| Vantacor chlorantraniliprole | 28 | E | 1.2-2.5 fl oz | 4 h | 14 d | Target PTW larvae feeding in the canopy in the weeks prior to vine desiccation or harvest. PHI is 14 days. For best results, chemigate in 0.1-to-0.2-acre inches of water and add MSO at 12 to 16 fl. oz. per acre. Foliar sprays may not provide adequate control of larvae in the mid to lower canopy. |
| Rimon novaluron | 15 | F | 6-12 fl oz | 12 h | 14 d | Target PTW larvae feeding in the canopy in the weeks prior to vine desiccation or harvest. PHI is 14-days. |
| Asana XL esfenvalerate | 3 | E | 2.9-9.6 fl oz | 12 h | 7 d | Target PTW larvae feeding in the canopy in the weeks prior to vine desiccation or harvest. PHI is 7-days. Thorough coverage of foliage is essential. Use high water volumes with ground or aerial applications to ensure the product is well distributed in the foliage. |
| Brigade 2EC bifenthrin | 3 | G-F | 2.1 to 6.4 fl oz | 12 h | 21 d | Tuberworm is not on the label but applications targeting other pests can control them. Apply in the weeks prior to vine desiccation or harvest when larvae are feeding in the foliage. The PHI is 21-days. Thorough coverage of foliage is essential. Use high water volumes with ground or aerial applications to ensure that the product is well distributed in the foliage. Use at least 0.5 inches of water per acre for chemigation. |
| Athena abamectin (avermectin) and bifenthrin | 3, 6 | G | 7-17 fl oz | 12 h | 21 d | Apply in the weeks prior to vine desiccation or harvest when larvae are feeding in the foliage. The PHI is 20-days. The avermectin in Athena will not improve control of tuberworm. Thorough coverage of foliage is essential. |
| Baythroid XL beta-cyfluthrin | 3 | E | 1.6-2.8 fl oz | 12 h | 0 d | Target PTW larvae feeding in the canopy in the weeks prior to vine desiccation or harvest. Baythroid XL has a 0-day PHI. |
| Warrior II lambda-cyhalothrin | 3 | E | 1.28-1.92 fl oz | 24 h | 7 d | Target PTW larvae feeding in the canopy in the weeks prior to vine desiccation or harvest. PHI is 7-days. Ground or air application to dense canopies may not provide sufficient coverage or lower leaves, use sufficient water carrier. Use only 0.1 to 0.2-inches of water with chemigation. |
| Mustang Maxx zeta-cypermethrin | 3 | E | fl oz | 12 h | 1 d | Tuberworm is not on the label but applications targeting other pests can control them. Target PTW larvae feeding in the canopy in the weeks prior to vine desiccation or harvest. PHI is 1-day. Ground or air application to dense canopies may not provide sufficient coverage or lower leaves, use sufficient water carrier. |
| Imidan 70-W phosmet | 1B | F | 1.33 lb | 5 d | 7 d | Target PTW larvae feeding in the canopy in the weeks prior to vine desiccation or harvest for knockback control. PHI is 7-days. Can be re-applied after 10 days. |
| Exirel cyantraniliprole | 28 | E | 7-13.5 fl oz | 12 h | 7 d | Target PTW larvae feeding in the canopy in the weeks prior to vine desiccation or harvest. PHI is 7-days. For best results, chemigate in 0.1-to-0.2-acre inches of water and add MSO at 12 to 16 fl. oz per acre. Foliar sprays may not provide adequate control of larvae in the mid to lower canopy. |
| Minecto Pro abamectin, cyantraniprole | 6, 28 | E | 5.5 to 10 fl oz | 12 h | 14 d | Target PTW larvae feeding in the canopy in the weeks prior to vine desiccation or harvest. PHI is 14-days. Repeat the application after 7+ days if needed to maintain control. |
| Leverage 360 beta-cyfluthrin, imidacloprid | 3, 4 | E | 2.8 fl oz | 12 h | 7 d | Target PTW larvae feeding in the canopy in the weeks prior to vine desiccation or harvest. PHI is 7-days. |
| Brigadier bifenthrin, imidacloprid | 3, 4A | G | 4.8-6.14 fl oz | 12 h | 21 d | Target PTW larvae feeding in the canopy in the weeks prior to vine desiccation or harvest. PHI is 21-days. Minimum re-treatment interval is 7-days. |
| Cormoran novaluron, acetamidiprid | 15, 4A | G-F | 6-12 fl oz | 12 h | 14 d | Target PTW larvae feeding in the canopy in the weeks prior to vine desiccation or harvest. PHI is 14-days. |
| Entrust SC Naturalyte Insect Control spinosad | 5 | G | See Label | 4 h | 7 d | The label does not mention tuberworm, but it should provide some control. Target PTW larvae feeding in the canopy in the weeks prior to vine desiccation or harvest. PHI is 7-days. A spray adjuvant (OMRI-approved emulsified crop oil or methylated crop oil plus organosilicone) may improve control. |
| Aza-Direct azadirachtin | NC | F | 1-3.5 pt | 4 h | 0 d | Target PTW larvae feeding in the canopy in the weeks before vine desiccation or harvest. If needed, follow-up with 2-3 applications at 7-10 day intervals. |
| Neemix 4.5 IGR azadirachtin | NC | F | 7-16 fl oz | 4 h | 0 d | Target PTW larvae feeding in the canopy in the weeks before vine desiccation or harvest. If needed, follow-up with 2-3 applications at 7-10 day intervals. |
| Avaunt Insecticide indoxacarb | 22 | G | 3-6 oz | 12 h | 7 d | Target PTW larvae feeding in the canopy in the weeks prior to vine desiccation or harvest. PHI is 7-days. Use a MSO adjuvant to increase translaminar movement. |
1Mode of action. NC = not classified..
2 Efficacy ratings denote the relative ability of a pesticide to control its target. The ratings are E = excellent, G = good, F = fair/suppression; P = poor, and ND = no data. Efficacy ratings are based on the inherent toxicity of the pesticide against its target, the likelihood that the target will contact or ingest the product as applied, duration of impact on the target, and undesired effects, such as negative impacts on natural enemies that could lead to future pest outbreaks.
3 Rate per acre per application. Refer to the product label for maximum use rate per season.
4 Reentry interval.
5The minimum pre-harvest interval. Some products do not list PHI.
Note: always read and follow the directions on the pesticide label.
