Archives for July 2014
Cranberry Toad Bug: A New Cranberry Pest
Last year we observed damage in cranberry bogs by the cranberry toad bug, Phylloscelis atra, in New Jersey. Although we had seen toad bugs in cranberry bogs in the past we had never seen them causing damage to the vines and fruit. Toad bugs are hemipteran insects, similar to blunt-nosed leafhoppers, but belong to the Family Fulgoridae (planthoppers) as opposed to leafhoppers, which belong to the family Cicadellidae.
Life Cycle
Toad bugs feed only on cranberries. This insect has a single generation per year. It overwinters as eggs. The nymphs appear by the end of June through August, and the adults from August through October. Eggs are laid from September through October.
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Root-feeding Pests of Cranberries
If your beds have damage caused by root-feeding insects, you should consider treatment with Imidacloprid (e.g. Admire Pro, Alias 4F, Alias 2F) immediately after bees are removed. Occurrence of root-feeding insects will manifest by the presence of dead patches. Pull dead vines and search through the root zone and soil for grubs and worms. Admire Pro (imidacloprid) is labeled for the control of cranberry rootworm, white grubs (Phyllophaga spp.), and other scarabs in cranberries. [Read more…]
Vegetable Diseases of the Week
Southern Blight on Tomato
Note the small, spherical fruiting bodies (sclerotia) developing on the surface of the stem. The sclerotia can survive in the soil for many years without a host.
White Mold on Cabbage
White mold on cabbage producing large, black fruiting bodies (sclerotia). The sclerotia can survive in the soil for many years without a host present.
Vegetable Briefs – 7/19/14
Basil downy mildew
Basil Downy Mildew remains active in New Jersey. All basil growers should scout on a daily basis and taking appropriate preventative measures.
Cucurbit downy mildew
Cucurbit Downy Mildew has been reported as far north as northern Maryland and in central Michigan to-date. With the latest weather this past week, all cucurbit growers should scout on a regular basis and adjust fungicide programs accordingly and begin to apply downy mildew specific fungicides if not already done so. Organic growers should apply copper or other OMRI-approved products to help prevent and suppress downy mildew development. If you suspect CDM on your farm please contact your count agent so we can confirm and report it. To track downy mildew in the US please visit NCSU’s Downy Mildew Forecasting Website.
Cucurbit growers should scout on a regular basis and adjust fungicide programs to incorporate powdery mildew specific fungicides into their weekly fungicide programs.
Peppers and Tomatoes
Bacterial leaf spot has been reported on both crops. Heavy wind and rains have been experienced throughout the state. Remember that all bacteria need a natural opening (i.e., stomata) or a wound (i.e., from typing or pruning) to enter a plant to start an infection.
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Don’t Rely on Disinfestants for Disease Control
The hot, wet weather this past week brought with it heavy winds and rain to many areas and spikes in reports of Phytophthora blight and bacterial problems on tomato and pepper. In general, this type of weather is ideal for the development and spread of many vegetable diseases.
By now most growers are on weekly protectant fungicide programs to help prevent disease development. It’s important to remember at this point in the season when disease pressure is high that growers stick with their standard fungicide programs.
Growers should not replace fungicides with disinfestant-type products in their weekly fungicide programs.
Remember, the disinfestants only kill what they come into direct and immediate contact with and do not offer any residual activity like fungicides do. Disinfestants should be used in conjunction with weekly fungicide programs and be applied based on specific weather events such as following rainfall or overhead irrigation or after certain cultural practices such as tying or pruning where plant injury or wounding may occur.