Insecticidal control of some pests of culinary herbs

Abstract

The insecticidal control of meadow spittle bug, Philaenus spumarius (L.), infestations on French tarragon. (Artemisia dracunculus (L.)), and of the‘banded sage hopper’, Eupteryx melissae Curtis, on sage (Salvia officinalis (L.)), are discussed, with special reference to the export of fresh herbs. The meadow spittle bug can be controlled by the application of fenvalerate or maldison in mid to late September when the insect is hatching. Further infestations of the meadow spittle bug, together with aphids and thrips, should be eliminated with an ephemeral insecticide e.g. dichlor-vos. The banded sage hopper on sage was killed by dichlorvos, demeton-S-methyl, phosalone, ace-phate, permethrin + pirimiphos-methyl, carbaryl, fenvalerate, and maldison. Pyrethrum was ineffective. Dichlorvos, demeton-S-methyl and phosalone freed thyme. (Thymus vulgaris (L.)) of Zygina zeal-andica (Myers) and an infestation of Myzus spp. Spraying when crops are not in flower and the application of‘bee-safe’ insecticides or short-lived insecticides in the evening when bees are not in the crop may reduce the number of bees killed.

Keywords:

• culinary herbs
• insecticides
• meadow spittle bug
• Philaenus spumarius
• Eupteryx melissae, Zygina zealandica
• Myzus spp.
• honey bees
• thrips
• aphids