Alabama Peanuts: 2015 IPM Guide Now Available

February 2, 2015February 2, 2015
By Ayanava Majumdar, Alabama Extension Entomologist

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The 2015 Peanut IPM Insect Control Guide (IPM-0360) is up on the ACES website. The first two pages provide some highlights and hot topics.

Updates in this issue include a detailed discussion for THRIPS management since it was a major concern in 2014. Among the control options, the latest one is the use of SPINETORAM (RADIANT) SC that has excellent efficacy against thrips and caterpillar pests. Radiant acts as contact and stomach poison with translaminar action when applied on foliage.

Radiant belongs to IRAC Class 5 which has a different mode of action from neonicotinoids belonging to IRAC Class 4. Spinetoram or Radiant is more selective and lower-risk insecticide compared to synthetic pyrethroids. So, this insecticide can serve as a rotation partner with pyrethroids when producers want to target a broad range of caterpillar pests.

Novaluron (Diamond, IRAC Chemical Class 15) is another new product featured in the IPM Guide and it is an insect growth regulator, more specifically, it is a chitin biosynthesis inhibitor. That means is only effective against caterpillars. The earlier you detect caterpillars on peanuts, less Novaluron you will need to get adequate control. Space out your pyrethroid applications and reduce usage to prevent spider mite issues during hot dry years.

Depending on the season, stay alert for lesser cornstalk borers (LCB) and cowpea aphids that are opportunistic pests during hot and dry weather. Our insect monitoring program using sticky wing traps always gets plenty of LCB moths in southeast Alabama probably due to the presence of peanut and other host crops. So, stay alert and follow the Alabama Extension IPM recommendations and pest alerts that have been developed in collaboration with crop advisors to serve you better!

Peanut IPM Guide Link.