Sugar beet pests

Flea beetle (Chaetocnema concinna)
  • Flea beetle feeding damage causes characteristic shot-holing and slows plant development.
  • Feeding damage can frequently kill small plants.
  • Large populations can develop quickly in hot dry weather.
  • Plants attacked by Flea beetle as seedlings are more susceptible to drought effects later on.

Inspect emerging crops regularly for signs of adult Flea beetle activity. Treat with HALLMARK ZEON or DOVETAIL at first signs of damage.
Early treatment in spring can minimise secondary attacks. Prioritise treatments on crops that are slow to establish in dry conditions.
HALLMARK ZEON
DOVETAIL
Peach-potato aphid (Myzus persicae)
  • Myzus persicae (Peach-potato aphid) is the principle vector of damaging beet viruses, including Beet Mild Yellowing Virus (BMYV).
  • New leaf growth is most susceptible to virus infection.
  • Seed treatments can protect from early aphid attack, but will require secondary foliar control.
  • Some strains of Myzus persicae have developed resistance to organophosphate, carbamate and/or pyrethroid insecticides.

Seed treatment insecticides are the primary source of controlling Myzus persicae in this crop.

 
Black bean aphid (Aphis fabae)
  • Other aphid species can cause direct feeding damage and virus spread in sugar beet crops.
  • The Black bean aphid (Aphis fabae) can develop at epidemic levels to create a major pest.
  • Aphid secretions on leaves can lead to secondary development of sooty moulds.

Treat with APHOX, HALLMARK ZEON or DOVETAIL as soon as aphid activity is found building up in the crop.
Fast aphid knockdown and repellency activity can minimise virus transmission.
DOVETAIL
APHOX
Cutworm (Agrotis segetum)
  • Cutworm is the name given to the subterranean life-stage of Turnip moth caterpillars.
  • After feeding on foliage, caterpillars moult and fall to the ground, burrowing into the soil and feeding on roots - including sugar beet roots.
  • Cutworms also nibble off shoots causing plant die back.

Cutworm cannot be controlled in the soil, but caterpillars may be targeted on the foliage. Apply HALLMARK ZEON or DOVETAIL at egg hatch and repeat 10-14 days later according to pest warnings.
HALLMARK ZEON
DOVETAIL
Beet leaf miner (Pegomya hyoscyami)
  • Beet leaf miner - the larvae of the Mangold fly - cause direct feeding damage.
  • Early attacks can cause economic losses.
  • Leaves attacked by leaf miner activity are more susceptible to herbicide damage.

Inspect crops for signs of adult Mangold fly activity and egg laying. Apply HALLMARK ZEON or DOVETAIL at egg hatch, or according to specialist advice.
HALLMARK ZEON

Sugar beet crop pest attack timings

TOP TIPS for Sugar beet pest control

  • Inspect crops regularly during periods of high risk.
  • Unseasonable weather can allow early or prolonged pest attacks.
  • Use angled nozzles with a fine to medium spray pattern to enhance spray retention and improve pest control for early application to small plants.
  • For later applications, when a full crop canopy has established, use sufficient water volumes to ensure thorough crop penetration.
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