Jul 27, 2016

Consider presence of apple maggots when selecting an insecticide

High levels of apple maggot adult emergence have been detected at the Michigan State University Trevor Nichols Research Center in Fennville, Michigan, following rainfall events over the last week. Controlling apple maggots has been traditionally achieved with organophosphate (OP) insecticides, like Imidan. Synthetic pyrethroid compounds, like Asana, Warrior, Danitol, Battalion, Mustang Max and Baythroid, are also toxic to adult fruit flies, but are generally viewed to be moderately effective because they have a shorter field residual.

There are several reduced-risk and OP-replacement insecticide products that include apple maggots on their labels. The neonicotinoids Belay, Admire and Assail are labeled for apple maggot control. They have limited lethal action on adult apple maggots, but provide strong curative activity on eggs and larvae. The Spinosyn compounds Delegate and Entrust are active on apple maggots when ingested, but have shown to be only fair control materials in field trials with high pest pressure, thus are labeled for apple maggot suppression only. The Diamide compound Exirel is active on apple maggots, and is labeled for population suppression. Leverage, Voliam Flexi and Endigo are pre-mix compounds that are labeled for apple maggot control.

Wise’s work is funded in part by MSU’s AgBioResearch.

— John Wise, Michigan State University

Source: Michigan State University Extension