Control considerations for Helicoverpa in chickpea

The recently released brochure outlining how to calculate an economic threshold for helicoverpa in chickpea is available on the DPI & F website at www.dpi.qld.gov.au/fieldcrops. Click on the link to Helicoverpa management in chickpea where you can view or download the brochure.

Control considerations – which product when?
There is a range of products registered for helicoverpa control in chickpea. However, the use of synthetic pyrethroids is really only an option in regions where H. punctigera dominates, or where the population is predominantly made up of larvae smaller than 5 mm in length. The use of SPs against a predominantly H. armigera population is likely to deliver a poor result in terms of control. Larvin (thiodicarb) is another option, particularly where efficacy of this product in the local area is known to be high.Spinosad (Tracer II ™) and indoxacarb (Steward ™) are both effective against both H. armigera and H. punctigera. Remember that Steward has a cut-off for use in chickpea (15 September in hot areas (with an extension to 30 Sep this season); 15 October in warm areas, 30 October in cool areas). One strategy for the management of mixed age populations of helicoverpa is to use Steward™ first, if prior to cut-off, and then one of the other products if the crop needs to be sprayed again.