AHDB Horticulture provides vital Diamondback moth control

A new 120 day EAMU (Extension of Authorisation for Minor Use) has been authorised for ‘Benevia 10OD’ for use as an insecticide on Brussels sprout, broccoli, calabrese, cabbage and cauliflower for the control of Diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella).

The Chemicals Regulation Division played an important role to ensure that authorisation was identified as a priority and rapidly evaluated for UK Brassica Growers.

Diamondback moth is a pest of Brassica crops including oilseed rape. It is a relatively small moth so the eggs can be hard to find. Newly-hatched caterpillars burrow into the foliage to feed but then come out onto the leaf surface as they grow larger and cause characteristic ‘windowpane’ damage.

The AHDB-funded Pest Bulletin has been monitoring Diamondback moth, identifying high numbers during June and July. The Pest Bulletin is updated each week and provides valuable oversight on 13 different pests and the information has allowed the growers to plan control measures ahead to mitigate yield losses.

Commenting on the Pest Bulletin, and associated Pest Blog, Dr Rosemary Collier, Director of Warwick Crop Centre said, “This is an important service for growers and we have been providing key intelligence on the major pests of vegetable crops by forecasting and monitoring fluctuations in pest numbers.  This information provides guidance for growers as to when specific control measures need to be put in place.”

Vivian Powell, Crop Protection Senior Scientist (Pesticide Regulation), helped organise the EAMU working with members of the Brassica Growers Association said, “It is great that we worked with growers, regulators and the manufacturer to obtain use of this new product that will help them alleviate issues with Diamondback moth. Our work is all about finding the solutions to problems that work effectively and efficiently and which can be integrated into IPM strategies.”