How do I control symphylans? - Ask Extension
Last year I noticed there were symphylans in several areas in my small home garden. I understand they are difficult to control. What are your sugges...
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How do I control symphylans? #788374
Asked April 28, 2022, 12:24 PM EDT
Last year I noticed there were symphylans in several areas in my small home garden. I understand they are difficult to control. What are your suggestions?
I have been planting sensitive starts in pots, and also planted bean seeds in paper coffee filters to give them a head start, which seemed to be effective. Once their roots are well established, it seems the plants are able to resist damage from symphylans. Am I imagining things?
Josephine County Oregon
Expert Response
Hi Sharon,
You are absolutely right about the difficulty to control garden symphylans. While you can protect the roots during the establishment, the transplants may also be prone to damage if the pest densities remain high in your garden soil. Tillage is by far the most effective tactic. Avoid adding any additional organic matter to not worsen the problem. Crop rotation is another tactic; populations have been shown to decrease significantly in potato crops, even allowing subsequent cultivation in the rotation of susceptible crops.
Some bifenthrin-based insecticides when applied to soil can provide protection to the root-feeding arthropods while the plants are getting established. Unfortunately, not all vegetable crops have labels for these products. Please refer to the PNW Insect handbook publication for biocontrol and control tactics for garden symphylans:
https://pnwhandbooks.org/insect/ipm/garden-symphylan
You are absolutely right about the difficulty to control garden symphylans. While you can protect the roots during the establishment, the transplants may also be prone to damage if the pest densities remain high in your garden soil. Tillage is by far the most effective tactic. Avoid adding any additional organic matter to not worsen the problem. Crop rotation is another tactic; populations have been shown to decrease significantly in potato crops, even allowing subsequent cultivation in the rotation of susceptible crops.
Some bifenthrin-based insecticides when applied to soil can provide protection to the root-feeding arthropods while the plants are getting established. Unfortunately, not all vegetable crops have labels for these products. Please refer to the PNW Insect handbook publication for biocontrol and control tactics for garden symphylans:
https://pnwhandbooks.org/insect/ipm/garden-symphylan
