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Watch out for insect damage in sugar beets
The beets have now been sown and due to the warm weather they germinate quickly. They grow rapidly from the germ lobe stage to the first true leaves. For insects such as beet beetles, flea beetles and springtails, the high temperatures are also a reason to become more active.
Several reports of insect damage have been received in recent days. There are several plots in South Limburg with problems due to flea beetles and beetroot beetles. There are reports of flea bees and springtails on the sandy soils. Recognition of insects is difficult, the 2019 beet courier includes a handy poster that can help with recognition. Click here to download the beet courier with the poster.
Inspection of beet fields
Recognition of the insects is difficult and the insects are not always present. In general, the above-ground insects are most active towards evening. The damage of the springtails and the flea beetles can mainly be recognized by window feeding and etching, partly due to suction damage to the leaves. The beet beetle often eats more at the leaf margins.
Tackling above-ground insects
Always read the product label before spraying. The number of applications, application conditions and the dosage per hectare differ per product.
| Insect | Calypso/Bariard | You decide | Primor | tepekki |
| beet beetle | 0,15 liters per hectare | 0,3 liters per hectare | x | x |
| springtail | 0,15 liters per hectare | 0,3 liters per hectare | x | x |
| flea beetle | 0,15 liters per hectare | 0,3 liters per hectare | x | x |
| Green peach aphid | 0,15 liters per hectare | x | 0,4 kilos per hectare | 0,14 kilos per hectare |
| black bean aphid | 0,15 liters per hectare* | x | 0,4 kilos per hectare | 0,14 kilos per hectare |
| beet fly | 0,15 liters per hectare** | 0,3 liters per hectare | x | x |
| * For large numbers, 0,25 liters per hectare + wetting agent is recommended. | ||||
| ** A side effect has been seen in tests. | ||||
Conditions for good insect control:
- Go check in the plots.
- Recognize the harmful insects.
- The damage threshold for green peach aphids is 2 aphids per 10 plants.
- Carry out beet weevil control in the evening.
Calypso and Bariard are currently the broadest-acting products on the above insects.
Pirimor is a registered trademark of Adama Northern Europe BV Tepekki is a registered trademark of Belchim Crop Protection.
