Xtremehorticulture

Traditional Pesticides to Control Leaf Footed Plant Bug

Q. I was just reading up on the leaf footed plant bug and
came across this link:

http://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/r3301011.html

Does this mean that bifenthrin is their top choice for chemical
control? Is synthetic pyrethrin (what I am using now) the same or similar? I
see that some Ortho products for lawn and garden contain bifenthrin. Could
those be used to spray the almond and pistachio every 2-3 weeks until it gets
hot (and early or late in the day when bees are not present).

Leaf footed plant bugs mating on pomegranate. Please don’t stare!
Leaf footed plant bug on citrus
Leaf footed plant bug on edible prickly pear cactus, tunas and nopales
Leaf footed plant bug wee one, Highly enlarged, courtesy Auburn University

A. Good detective work. Yes, Bifenthrin is a synthetic pyrethrin
or pyrethroid (the chemical name ends in -thrin) and it gives good control of leaf footed plant bug as does pyrethrin. Sevin insecticide also gives pretty good control but is also lethal on honeybees.

Bifenthrin:

  • Highly toxic to bees so always spray either on a cloudy day (lots
    of luck here) or at dusk when bees have gone home. 
  • Protect yourself. It has a
    low toxicity to humans but it is still a poison. Protect your face mostly
    because it enters the body most easily through moist tissue (nose, mouth, ears,
    etc). Whatever you use, follow the label on when to respray and stop spraying
    the number of days it tells you for harvesting. 

Unfortunately this insect is
not easily controlled since it has wings, can fly and come from or go to
neighbors. They may be spending the winter as adults on evergreens on your
property. Not pines but broadleaf evergreens like bottlebrush.

Its also really good at controlling home pests like cockroaches, black
widows, scorpions, etc.

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