When heliothis, cluster caterpillar, diamondback moth and leaf miners surge, the real challenge isn't only "what to spray,", it's how to protect yield quickly, keep beneficial insects working, and stay on schedule when weather windows are tight. Here are four proven principles you can use to keep crops moving:
1. Stop feeding fast to protect yield potential
Once larvae are feeding, every hour of chewing shows up later as lost marketable yield. Prioritise options with rapid "stop‑feeding "activity so damage halts quickly while the product finishes the job. This is especially important in crops where cosmetic damage matters, like leafy veg and brassicas. "Pressure can turn quickly after a warm spell or a rain change. Growers who focus on fast feeding‑stop and good coverage generally stay ahead of the curve", said Bron Ford, FMC Area Business Manager.
2. Keep your beneficials on the team
Your predators and parasitoids are free labour, so don't bench them. Choose tools with a favourable IPM profile (safe to most key beneficial insects like predatory mites, parasitic wasps, lacewings and ladybeetles) so natural enemies keep suppressing survivors and re‑invaders between spray intervals. This reduces the need for cleanup sprays and helps slow resistance.
3. Make coverage count, even on the underside
Leaf miners and small larvae don't always sit where the spray lands. Look for translaminar movement - product that moves from the sprayed surface through the leaf to protect the underside and tucked‑away sites (e.g., inside wrapper leaves in brassicas, or dense canopies in protected cropping). That means more protection from the same pass and fewer surprises when you scout.
4. Protect your spray windows from the weather
Showers on the forecast? Rainfastness matters. Chemistry that becomes rainfast within two hours lowers the risk of wash‑off and wasted effort, helping you keep programs on track during unsettled weather. Time applications to meet that rainfast window and you'll preserve performance without re‑sprays.
If you're looking for a fit for purpose option that matches these principles (rapid feeding cessation, translaminar coverage for hidden feeders, rainfastness within two hours, and a beneficial friendly IPM profile), Coragen® Insecticide aligns well across brassicas, leafy and fruiting veg, cucurbits, legumes and potatoes in both field and protected systems.
Always read and follow label directions. Coragen® and FMC are trademarks of FMC Corporation or an affiliate.
