Introduction
Horticultural enterprises most susceptible to Australian plague locust hopper damage include vegetable crops and cultivated turf such as playing fields, parklands and golf courses.
Other horticultural enterprises are mainly susceptible to adult locusts rather than hoppers. However, horticultural enterprises such as cut flowers, nurseries, grape vines and fruit trees should be monitored for damage.
Due to the high value of horticultural crops, landowners will have to act immediately if a swarm of locusts arrives.
Control in horticultural crops should be initiated as soon as any hopper damage becomes evident. The cost of control is almost certain to be less than the cost of even minor locust damage.
Comply with withholding periods for any insecticides sprayed on crops.
Landholders are responsible for the control of locust infestations that are causing damage on their own properties.
Locust control for horticultural crops
Information in this webpage is provided as a guide to insecticides for use against grasshoppers and/or locusts and must be used in conjunction with product labels and permits to ensure they are registered for use on specific types of produce.
Read chemical label before application
- Many products are dangerous to fish and crustaceans. Do not contaminate ponds, rivers or waterways and do not spray flowering crops when bees are foraging.
- There are many products with different trade names that contain the same active ingredient. This list is not exhaustive and does not imply any specific recommendations of brand names.
- Always read the label and follow the directions for use, including the method of application and any withholding period.
- Any omissions or errors in the table are regretted.
Withholding periods
Check the insecticide label before using chemicals to ensure that the minimum withholding periods before harvest are observed.
Information regarding Australian plague locust control for some horticultural crops in Western Australia is provided below.
APL control in horticultural crops: A-B
Asparagus
| Chemical | Product | Rate | Withholding period (days) | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| alpha-cypermethrin 100g/L | various | 100mL/100L | 1 | Not for use on white asparagus, there have been reports of some phytotoxicity when using alpha-cypermethrin |
| chlorpyrifos 500g/L | various | 35-56mL/100L; | 14 | Use lower rates if hoppers present |
| Metarhizium anisopliae | Green Guard | 500mL/ha | — | Early nymph stages only |
| Metarhizium anisopliae | Green Guard ULV | 40-250mL/ha | — | User higher rates if thick vegetation |
Avocado
| Chemical | Product | Rate | Withholding period (days) | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| betacyfluthrin 25g/L | Bulldock | 50mL/100L | 7 | — |
| carbaryl 500g/L | Carbaryl, Bugmaster | 200mL/100L | 3 | Do not make more than four applications per season |
| carbaryl 800g/kg | Carbaryl | 130g/100L | 3 | Do not make more than four applications per season |
| chlorpyrifos 500g/L | various | 35-56mL/100L; | 7 | Use lower rates if hoppers present |
| Metarhizium anisopliae | Green Guard | 500mL/ha | — | Early nymph stages only |
| Metarhizium anisopliae | Green Guard ULV | 40-250mL/ha | — | User higher rates if thick vegetation |
Beans
| Chemical | Product | Rate | Withholding period (days) | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| chlorpyrifos 500g/L | various | 35-56mL/100L; | 5 | — |
| malathion 1150g/L | Hy-mal | 75-90mL/100L | 3 | — |
| malathion 1000g/L | Fyfanon | 60-100mL/100L | 3 | — |
| malathion 440g/L | Fyfanon | 190-230mL/100L | 3 | — |
| Metarhizium anisopliae | Green Guard | 500mL/ha | — | Early nymph stages only |
| Metarhizium anisopliae | Green Guard ULV | 40-250mL/ha | — | User higher rates if thick vegetation |
Beetroot
| Chemical | Product | Rate | Withholding period (days) | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| carbaryl 500g/L | Carbaryl, Bugmaster | 200mL/100L | 3 | — |
| carbaryl 800g/kg | Carbaryl | 130g/100L | 3 | — |
| chlorpyrifos 500g/L | various | 35-56mL/100L; | 5 | — |
| Metarhizium anisopliae | Green Guard | 500mL/ha | — | Early nymph stages only |
| Metarhizium anisopliae | Green Guard ULV | 40-250mL/ha | — | User higher rates if thick vegetation |
Brassicas
| Chemical | Product | Rate | Withholding period (days) | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| alpha-cypermethrin 100g/L | various | 160-200mL/ha | 1 | — |
| chlorpyrifos 500g/L | various | 35-56mL/100L; | 5 | Cole crops: broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower; use lower rates if hoppers are present |
| fenitrothion 1000g/L | Fenitrothion, Sumithion | 270-400mL/ha | 14 | Cabbages only |
| fipronil 200g/L | various | 6.25-12.5mL/ha | 7 | Dangerous to bees |
| gamma-cyhalothrin 150g/L | Trojan | 20-30mL/ha | 2 | Broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbages and cauliflowers only |
| lambda-cyhalothrin 250g/L | various | 24-36mL/ha | 2 | Broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbages and cauliflowers only |
| malathion 1150g/L | Hy-mal | 75-90mL/100L | 3 | Cabbage and cauliflower only |
| malathion 1000g/L | Fyfanon | 60-100mL/100L | 3 | Cabbage and cauliflower only |
| malathion 440g/L | Fyfanon | 190-230mL/100L | 3 | Cabbage and cauliflower only |
| Metarhizium anisopliae | Green Guard | 500mL/ha | — | Early nymph stages only |
| Metarhizium anisopliae | Green Guard ULV | 40-250mL/ha | — | User higher rates if thick vegetation |
APL control in horticultural crops: C-D
Capsicum
| Chemical | Product | Rate | Withholding period (days) | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| chlorpyrifos 500g/L | various | 35-56mL/100L; | 5 | Use lower rates if hoppers present |
| Metarhizium anisopliae | Green Guard | 500mL/ha | — | Early nymph stages only |
| Metarhizium anisopliae | Green Guard ULV | 40-250mL/ha | — | User higher rates if thick vegetation |
Carrots
| Chemical | Product | Rate | Withholding period (days) | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| chlorpyrifos 500g/L | various | 35-56mL/100L; | 5 | Use lower rates if hoppers present |
| malathion 1150g/L | Hy-mal | 75-90mL/100L | 3 | — |
| malathion 1000g/L | Fyfanon | 60-100mL/100L | 3 | — |
| malathion 440g/L | Fyfanon | 190-230mL/100L | 3 | — |
| Metarhizium anisopliae | Green Guard | 500mL/ha | — | Early nymph stages only |
| Metarhizium anisopliae | Green Guard ULV | 40-250mL/ha | — | User higher rates if thick vegetation |
Celery
| Chemical | Product | Rate | Withholding period (days) | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| chlorpryifos 500g/L | various | 35-56mL/100L; | 14 | Use lower rates if hoppers present |
| malathion 1150g/L | Hy-mal | 75-90mL/100L | 3 | — |
| malathion 1000g/L | Fyfanon | 60-100mL/100L | 3 | — |
| malathion 440g/L | Fyfanon | 190-230mL/100L | 3 | — |
| Metarhizium anisopliae | Green Guard | 500mL/ha | — | Early nymph stages only |
| Metarhizium anisopliae | Green Guard ULV | 40-250mL/ha | — | User higher rates if thick vegetation |
Citrus
| Chemical | Product | Rate | Withholding period (days) | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| carbaryl 500g/L | Carbaryl, Bugmaster | 200mL/100L | 3 | Oranges and lemons only |
| carbaryl 800g/kg | Carbaryl | 130g/100L | 3 | Oranges and lemons only |
| chlorpyrifos 500g/L | various | 35-56mL/100L; | 14 | Use lower rates if hoppers present |
| diazinon 800g/L | various | 65mL/100L | 14 | — |
| gamma-cyhalothrin 150g/L | Trojan | 250mL/100L | 4 weeks | Oranges and lemons only |
| lambda-cyhalothrin 250g/L | various | 3-4mL/100L | 4 weeks | Oranges and lemons only |
| malathion 1150g/L | Hy-mal | 75-90mL/100L | 3 | — |
| malathion 1000g/L | Fyfanon | 60-100mL/100L | 3 | — |
| malathion 440g/L | Fyfanon | 190-230mL/100L | 3 | — |
| Metarhizium anisopliae | Green Guard | 500mL/ha | — | Early nymph stages only |
| Metarhizium anisopliae | Green Guard ULV | 40-250mL/ha | — | User higher rates if thick vegetation |
Cucurbits
| Chemical | Product | Rate | Withholding period (days) | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| carbaryl 500g/L | Carbaryl, Bugmaster | 200mL/100L | 3 | Apply prior to flowering only |
| carbaryl 800g/L | Carbaryl | 130g/100L | 3 | Apply prior to flowering only |
| chlorpyrifos 500g/L | various | 50mL/100L | 5 | — |
| malathion 1150g/L | Hy-mal | 55-90mL/100L | 3 | — |
| malathion 1000g/L | Fyfanon | 60-100mL/100L | 3 | — |
| malathion 440g/L | Fyfanon | 190-230mL/100L | 3 | — |
| Metarhizium anisopliae | Green Guard | 500mL/ha | — | Early nymph stages only |
| Metarhizium anisopliae | Green Guard ULV | 40-250mL/ha | — | User higher rates if thick vegetation |
Duboisia
| Chemical | Product | Rate | Withholding period (days) | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| alpha-cypermethrin 100g/L | various | 100mL/100L | — | — |
| carbaryl 500g/L | Carbaryl, Bugmaster | 200mL/100L | 1 | — |
| carbaryl 800g/L | Carbaryl | 130g/100L | — | — |
| Metarhizium anisopliae | Green Guard | 500mL/ha | — | Early nymph stages only |
| Metarhizium anisopliae | Green Guard ULV | 40-250mL/ha | — | User higher rates if thick vegetation |
APL control in horticultural crops: E-J
Eggplant
| Chemical | Product | Rate | Withholding period (days) | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| chlorpyrifos 500g/L | various | 35-50mL/100L; | 5 | Use lower rates if hoppers present |
| Metarhizium anisopliae | Green Guard | 500mL/ha | — | Early nymph stages only |
| Metarhizium anisopliae | Green Guard ULV | 40-250mL/ha | — | User higher rates if thick vegetation |
Feijoa, guava
| Chemical | Product | Rate | Withholding period (days) | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| carbaryl 500g/L | Carbaryl, Bugmaster | 200mL/100L | 3 | Non-flowering, non-fruiting trees only |
Flowers
| Chemical | Product | Rate | Withholding period (days) | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| alpha-cypermethrin 100g/L | various | 20mL/100L | not applicable | Banksia only |
| malathion 1000g/L | Fyfanon | 60-100mL/100L | not applicable | — |
| malathion 440g/L | Fyfanon | 190-230mL/100L | not applicable | — |
| Metarhizium anisopliae | Green Guard | 500mL/ha | — | Early nymph stages only |
| Metarhizium anisopliae | Green Guard ULV | 40-250mL/ha | — | User higher rates if thick vegetation |
Grapevines
(Withholding period for grapevines is given for both the label (L) and that recommended by the Australian Wine Research Institute (A) for export wine.)
| Chemical | Product | Rate | Withholding period (days) | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| alpha-cypermethrin 100g/L | various | 100mL/100L | not applicable | Non-bearing vines |
| chlorpyrifos 500g/L | various | 50mL/100L; | L = 14 | — |
| diazinon 800g/L | various | 65mL/100L | L = 14 | — |
| fenitrothion 1000g/L | Fenitrothion, Sumithion | 270-400mL/ha | L = 14 | — |
| malathion 1150g/L | Hy-mal | 75-90mL/100L | L = 3 | — |
| malathion 440g/L | Fyfanon | 190-230mL/100L | L = 3 | — |
| Metarhizium anisopliae | Green Guard | 500mL/ha | L = na | Early nymph stages only |
| Metarhizium anisopliae | Green Guard ULV | 40-250mL/ha | L = na A = 7 (temp.) | User higher rates if thick vegetation |
APL control in horticultural crops: K-L
Kiwi fruit
| Chemical | Product | Rate | Withholding period (days) | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| chlorpyrifos 500g/kg | various | 50mL/100L; | 14 | Do not apply post blossom |
| Metarhizium anisopliae | Green Guard | 500mL/ha | — | Early nymph stages only |
| Metarhizium anisopliae | Green Guard ULV | 40-250mL/ha | — | User higher rates if thick vegetation |
Lettuce
| Chemical | Product | Rate | Withholding period (days) | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| alpha-cypermethrin 100g/L | various | 50mL/100L; 300mL/ha | 3 | — |
| chlorpyrifos 500g/L | various | 350mL/ha | 14 | — |
| fenitrothion 1000g/L | Fenitrothion, Sumithion | 270-400mL/ha | 14 | — |
| malathion 1150g/L | Hy-mal | 75-90mL/100L | 3 | — |
| malathion 440g/L | Fyfanon | 190-230mL/100L | 3 | — |
| Metarhizium anisopliae | Green Guard | 500mL/ha | — | Early nymph stages only |
| Metarhizium anisopliae | Green Guard ULV | 40-250mL/ha | — | User higher rates if thick vegetation |
Shallots, spring onions
| Chemical | Product | Rate | Withholding period (days) | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| chlorpyrifos 500g/L | various | 35-50mL/100L; | 5 | Use lower rates if hoppers are present |
| Metarhizium anisopliae | Green Guard | 500mL/ha | — | Early nymph stages only |
| Metarhizium anisopliae | Green Guard ULV | 40-250mL/ha | — | User higher rates if thick vegetation |
APL control in horticultural crops: T-Z
Tomatoes
| Chemical | Product | Rate | Withholding period (days) | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| alpha-cypermethrin 100g/L | various | 160-200mL/ha | 1 | — |
| chlorpyrifos 500g/L | various | 35-50mL/100L; | 3 | — |
| fenitrothion 1000g/L | Fenitrothion, Sumithion | 270-400mL/ha | 14 | — |
| gamma-cyhalothrin 250g/L | Trojan | 3-4mL/100L; 20-30mL/ha | 1 | — |
| lambda-cyhalothrin 250g/L | various | 4-5mL/100L; 24-36mL/ha | 1 | — |
| malathion 1150g/L | Hy-mal | 75-90mL/100L | 3 | — |
| malathion 440g/L | Fyfanon | 190-230mL/100L | 3 | — |
| Metarhizium anisopliae | Green Guard | 500mL/ha | — | Early nymph stages only |
| Metarhizium anisopliae | Green Guard ULV | 40-250mL/ha | — | User higher rates if thick vegetation |
Turnips
| Chemical | Product | Rate | Withholding period (days) | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| alpha-cypermethrin 100g/L | various | 160-200mL/ha; | 1 | — |
| carbaryl 500g/L | Carbaryl, Bugmaster | 200mL/100L | 3 | — |
| chlorpyrifos 500g/L | various | 35-50mL/100L; 350-560mL/ha | Use lower rate if hoppers present | |
| fipronil 200g/L | various | 6.25-12.5mL/ha | 7 | Dangerous to bees |
| Metarhizium anisopliae | Green Guard | 500mL/ha | — | Early nymph stages only |
| Metarhizium anisopliae | Green Guard ULV | 40-250mL/ha | — | User higher rates if thick vegetation |