The European corn borer (ECB), Ostrinia nubilalis Hübner (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), is one of the most economically important pests of agricultural crops in much of the eastern and central United States. O. nubilalis is particularly damaging to bell (sweet) peppers (Capsicum annuum L.) because it causes direct injury to the fruit, premature fruit ripening, and fruit rot, a result of pathogens such as Erwinia carotovora entering the feeding wound. Control of O. nubilalis in peppers typically relies on multiple preventative insecticide applications. However, this can be difficult due to the small size of O. nubilalis and its propensity to quickly bore into plant tissue, often the fruit, where they are protected from chemical sprays.

The Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) of 1996 amended the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) and the Federal Food Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA). The requirements included a new safety standard-reasonable certainty of no harm-that must be applied to all pesticides used on foods. As a result many pesticides are subject to reregistration and potential loss, which include many carbamates and organophosphate (OP) insecticides like acephate (Orthene). Although there are alternatives to OPs and carbamates, they are generally less effective and/or significantly more costly.

In bell pepper alternative insecticides are being sought that provide effective control of ECB, which include testing of some pyrethroids. There are numerous insecticides that are labeled for ECB control in pepper. However not all of them have proven to be effective. We have listed products that researchers have tested (Fig. 1) and their overall effectiveness against ECB.

Pepper growers should start a preventative spray program for ECB when small pepper fruit is present on plants. On the Eastern Shore near Painter, VA, ECB pressures are high enough to warrant 8 sprays of insecticide per season and may not be necessary in your area. A word of caution to growers is that pyrethroids should not be used if Beet armyworm is a problem because pyrethroids offer little or no control. Also, Green peach aphid flairs after repeated pyrethroid use and should be considered.

Originally printed in Virginia Vegetable, Small Fruit and Specialty Crops – September-October 2004.

Other resources in:

• Vegetables & Specialty Crops
• Agricultural Insects / Pests

Other resources by:

• Vonny Barlow
• Thomas P. Kuhar
• John Speese, III