Managing apple maggots with insecticides

Insecticide options for apple maggot control.

Apple maggot
Apple maggot adult female. Photo by Joseph Berger, Bugwood.org.

Following low levels of apple maggot adult emergence during most of July, high numbers of apple maggot have been detected in August at the Michigan State University Trevor Nichols Research Center in Fennville, Michigan. Controlling apple maggots has been traditionally achieved with organophosphate insecticides, like Imidan. Synthetic pyrethroid compounds, like Asana, Warrior, Danitol, Battalion, Mustang Max and Baythroid, are also toxic to adult fruit flies but are generally viewed to be moderately effective because they have a shorter field residual. There are several reduced-risk and organophosphate-replacement insecticide products that include apple maggot on their labels.

The neonicotinoids Belay, Admire and Assail are labeled for apple maggot control. They have limited lethal action on adult apple maggots but provide strong curative activity on eggs and larvae. The METI compound, Apta, is toxic to adult fruit flies as a contact insecticide. The Spinosyn compounds Delegate and Entrust are active on apple maggots when ingested but have shown to be only fair control materials in field trials with high pest pressure, thus are labeled for apple maggot suppression only. Venerate is an OMRI approved biopesticide that is labelled for apple maggot control.

The Diamide compounds Exirel, Verdepryn and premix Minecto Pro (diamide plus avermectin) are active on apple maggots and labeled for population suppression. Leverage, Voliam Flexi and Endigo are pre-mix compounds that are labeled for apple maggot control.

Compound trade name

Chemical class

Life stage activity

Effectiveness rating on apple maggot***

Residual activity

** Mite flaring potential

Effectiveness rating on codling moth***

Imidan

Organophosphate

Adults and curative

Excellent

14+ days

Relatively safe

Excellent

Asana, Warrior, Danitol, Mustang Max, Baythroid, Battalion

Pyrethroid

Adults

Fair to good

7-10 days

Highly toxic

Fair

Delegate, Entrust*

Spinosyn

Adults

Fair

7-10 days

Moderate toxicity

Fair to excellent

Assail, Belay, Admire

Neonicotinoid

Adults and curative

Good to excellent

10-14 days

Relatively safe to moderate toxicity

Good to excellent

Venerate*

Biopesticide

Adults

Good

7-10 days

Relatively safe

--

Apta

Mitochondrial Complex

Adults

Good

10-14 days

Relatively safe

Excellent

Exirel

Diamide

Adults

Good

10-14 days

Relatively safe

Excellent

Verdepryn

Diamide

Adults

Good

10-14 days

Relatively safe

Excellent

Leverage

Premix (pyrethroid + neonicotinoid)

Adults and curative

Excellent

10-14 days

Highly toxic

Fair to good

Endigo

Premix (pyrethroid + neonicotinoid)

Adults and curative

Good

10-14 days

Highly toxic

Good

Voliam Flexi

Premix (diamide + neonicotinoid)

Adults and curative

Excellent

10-14 days

Relatively safe to moderate toxicity

Excellent

Minecto Pro

Premix (diamide + avermectin)

Adults

Good

10-14 days

Relatively safe

Excellent

* OMRI-approved for organic production.
** Predator mite toxicity rating.
*** Effectiveness rating of insecticides (Michigan Fruit Management GuideMichigan State University Extension bulletin E154).

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