Tulare County Citrus IPM Demonstration Project - 2004
Citrus cutworm, Egira curialis
Back to Tulare 2004

Citrus cutworm can be a serious pest of citrus in Tulare County.   Prior to petal fall, citrus cutworm larvae are controlled with Bacillus thuringiensis products (Bt).  After petal fall, the new fruit is very susceptible to damage by cutworm larvae and broad spectrum pesticides (such as pyrethroids or organophosphates) are generally used to control it.  The number of moths collected does not correlate well with the numbers of larvae that will develop, but it does tell us when to start sampling.  

Jan-Mar: Citrus cutworm moths began appearing in most orchards during the week of Jan 12.  When the region had two consecutive weeks of moth flight we declared the biofix (week of Jan 19) and began accumulating degree day units.  When 250 degree days have accumulated, then sampling begins, although larvae generally don't appear until 350 degree days.  During the week of March 8 (about 250 DD), larvae began to appear in two orchards. The best time to treat is when the larvae are small 1st-3rd instars (now).

Apr-May: The moth flight declined in mid April.  Populations of larvae above 3 per 20 trees at petal fall are of concern.  However, by April 26, many orchards had been treated for citrus thrips and the larvae had been killed by these treatments or had pupated.

Current accumulated degree days detailed report: Cutworm degree days

Total number of male cutworm moths collected/trap.  

Orchard Dec
29		 Jan 
5		 Jan
12		 Jan 
19		 Jan 
26		 Feb
 2		 Feb 
9		 Feb 
16		 Feb
23		 Mar
1		 Mar
8		 Mar
15		 Mar
22		 Mar
29		 Apr
5		 Apr
12		 Apr
19
1 0 0 1 0 1 21 5 18 14 11 9 5 8 20 3 0 0
2 1 0 13 1 6 7 9 30 28 17 28 16 0 11 2 0 0
3 0 4 7 3 5 12 13 55 15 25 25 44 7 17 14 0 0
4 1 2 32 7 20 75 16 54 57 55 60 50 17 30 3 0 0
5 0 0 19 0 12 20 5 32 26 20 44 13 9 53 68 18 0
6 0 0 3 1 3 21 14 21 5 20 37 18 0 0 0 0 0
7 0 0 6 7 13 34 43 57 38 43 63 45 26 23 6 0 0
8 0 0 4 3 9 26 40 138 50 105 231 168 58 8 0 0 0
9 0 0 0 0 0 17 16 75 71 42 127 55 39 10 7 0 0
10 1 0 0 0 3 4 3 12 4 8 36 19 5 7 0 0 0

Total number of cutworm larvae collected/20 sampled trees.  

Orchard Mar 
1

Mar 
8

 Mar
15		 Mar 
22		 Mar
29		 Apr 
5		 Apr
12		 Apr 
19		 Apr
26		 May
3
1 0 0 0 0 0 5 2 0 0 0
2 0 0 4 15 2 6 6 0* 0 0
3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 * -
4 0 6 6 18 20* 1 0 1 0* 0
5 0 0 0 0 5 3 1 0 0* 0
6 0 0 4 3 3 1 0 0* 0 *
7 0 0 2 0 3 3 0 0 0 *
8 0 6 8 8 7 1 13 0 0 0*
9 0 0 8 8 6 8* 2 1 0* 0
10 0 0 0 6 1 0 2 1 0* 0

- Not sampled.

*2004 Pesticide Treatments
 Orchard 1: 
Orchard 2: Success (8 oz) for thrips + Evergreen (8 oz) for katydid + 2% oil (Apr 24) in 100 gpa
Orchard 3: Lorsban (8 oz) for thrips and katydid (May 1)
Orchard 4: Dipel (1.5 lb) for cutworm  in 100 gpa (Apr 1)
                  Renounce (8 oz) + .8% oil for thrips + Lorsban (2 pt) for katydid in 60 gpa (May 3) 
                  Esteem (1 pt) + Lorsban (4 pt) + 1% oil for red scale and citricola scale in 750 gpa (May 17)
Orchard 5: Success (6.4 oz) + .5% oil + Lorsban (1.6 pt) for thrips and katydid (Apr 28)
                  Danitol (21 oz) + .5% oil in 120 gpa for mites (May 29)
                  Lorsban (12 pts) + .5% oil in 1200 gpa for scale (June 30)
Orchard 6: Bt for cutworm (Apr 1) 
                  Renounce (8 oz) for thrips in 100 gpa (Apr 24)
                  Sulfur (8lb) for mites in 100 gpa (Jun 9)
Orchard 7: Baythroid (6.4 oz) for thrips and katydid in 100 gpa (Apr 24) 
                  Lorsban (6 pts) + .4% oil in 750 gpa (Jul 16) 
Orchard 8: Success (6.5 oz) + Danitol (21.3 oz) for thrips and katydid in 100 gpa (May 6)
Orchard 9: Vendex (2 lb) for mites in 100 gpa (Apr 8), 
                  Success (6.4 oz) + Renounce (4 oz) for thrips and katydid in 100 gpa (May 1) 
                  Nufos (12 pts) + Silhouette (2 oz) in 750 gpa for scale (May 22)  
Orchard 10: Baythroid (6.4 oz) for thrips in 100 gpa (May 1)
                  Esteem (1 pt) + .4% oil + Exit (1 qt) in 1000 gpa (May 26)