Spur throated locust spraying issues: horticulture

Introduction

Horticultural enterprises that are most susceptible to hopper attack include cultivated turf, including playing fields, parklands and golf courses, and vegetable crops.

Other horticultural enterprises are mainly susceptible to adult locusts rather than hoppers. However, horticultural enterprises such as cut flowers, nurseries, grape vines and fruit trees should be monitored for damage.

Due to the high value of horticultural crops, landowners will have to act immediately if locusts arrive.

Control in horticultural crops should be initiated as soon as any hopper damage becomes evident. The cost of control is almost certain to be less than the cost of even minor locust damage.

Comply with withholding periods for any insecticides sprayed on crops.

Landholders are responsible for the control of locust infestations that are causing damage on their own properties.

Locust control for horticultural crops

Information in the following table is provided as a guide to insecticides for use against grasshoppers and or locusts and must be used in conjunction with product labels and permits to ensure they are registered for use on specific types of produce.

Read chemical label before application.

• Many products are dangerous to fish and crustaceans. Do not contaminate ponds, rivers or waterways and do not spray flowering crops when bees are foraging.
• There are many products with different trade names that contain the same active ingredient.
• Always read the label and follow the directions for use, including the method of application and any withholding period.
• The pesticides listed below can be used on any crop, appearing on the chemical label, as long as the rate used does not exceed the highest rate that is registered for use on that crop.
• Any omissions or errors in the table are regretted.

Withholding periods

Check the insecticide label before using chemicals to ensure that the minimum withholding periods before harvest are observed.

N/A= not applicable  ULV = ultra low volume