July 28, 2022

Special IPM Update – Fall Armyworm Alert

Sweet Corn – Fall Armyworm

As of Wednesday (7/27) evening, significant fall armyworm (FAW) infestations were found in whorl stage sweet corn in Cape May County.  These infestations were nearing 50% of plants infested, and are an indication that all sweet corn growers in southern NJ should be checking fields regularly for signs of FAW feeding.  This pest often hits earliest and hardest in coastal areas, and new infestations have been detected up the coast to Monmouth County.  Northern infestations have been much lower, and very recent.

Look for extensive foliar feeding in sweet corn ranging from seedling to pre-tassel stage.   FAW create large volumes of droppings that often cover larvae while feeding in the whorl.  Untreated infestations can result in severely stunted plants.  Consider treating when FAW feeding alone, or in combination with European corn borer exceeds 12%.  Insecticides in the IRAC 28 class (diamides) and IRAC 5 class (spinosyns) work well against FAW.

Filed Under: Field, Forage & Livestock, Organic Production, Vegetable Crops
July 27, 2022

Vegetable IPM Update 07/27/22

Sweet Corn

European corn borer (ECB) moth catches continue to be extremely low around the state, although there has been some increase in adults in southern traps.   ECB population maps will resume if second flight catches rise to high enough numbers.

The highest nightly trap catches of ECB for the week ending 07/27/22 are as follows:

Allentown   1 Jones Island   1 Oldwick   1
Eldora   1 Medford   1 Tabernacle   1
Elm   1 Milltown   1
Georgetown   1 New Egypt   1

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Organic Production, Vegetable Crops
July 20, 2022

Vegetable IPM Update 07/20/22

Sweet Corn

European corn borer (ECB) moth catches continue to be extremely low around the state.   We are in between adult generations at this time.  ECB population maps will resume if second flight catches rise to high enough numbers.

The highest nightly trap catches of ECB for the week ending 07/20/22 are as follows:

Allentown   1 Old Bridge   1
Dayton   1 Sergeantsville   1
Hillsborough   1 South Branch   1

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Organic Production, Vegetable Crops
July 13, 2022

Vegetable IPM Update 07/13/22

Sweet Corn

European corn borer (ECB) moth catches continue to be extremely low around the state.   We are in between adult generations at this time.  ECB population maps will resume if second flight catches rise to high enough numbers.

The highest nightly trap catches of ECB for the week ending 07/13/22 are as follows:

Hillsborough   1 Port Murray   1
Milford   1 Sergeantsville   1
Milltown   1 South Branch   1
Oldwick   1

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Organic Production, Vegetable Crops
June 29, 2022

Vegetable IPM Update 6/29/22

Sweet Corn

Low numbers of European corn borer (ECB) moths remain a sporadic, low component of blacklight trap catches.  Feeding in whorl and pre-tassel stage is now less common, as control has been applied to infested plantings and later blocks (now in whorl stage) have avoided most of the egg laying period.  Slightly higher adult activity is in scattered pockets around the state (see map below at right).  ECB injury over the threshold of 12% of plants infested, while still around, has generally been declining over this past week.   We expect feeding wind down over the next week or so as we move into the period between generations.European corn borer

Weekly distribution of European corn borerLook for the characteristic “shot-hole” type of feeding (photo  below at right) and consider treating when infested plants exceed 12% in a 50 plant sample.  As plantings proceed to the pre-tassel stage, ECB larvae may be found in emerging tassels (see photo at left).  It is a good idea to treat individual plantings as they move into the full tassel/first silk stage one time.  This eliminates any ECB larvae that have emerged with the tassels as they begin to move down the stalk to re-enter near developing ears.

 

Useful insecticides for this particular application include synthetic European corn borerpyrethroids (IRAC Grp 3), spinosyns (including OMRI approved Entrust) IRAC Grp 5), and diamides such as Coragen or Vantacor (IRAC Grp 28) or materials such as Besiege which include the active ingredient in Coragen.  Synthetic pyrethroids alone should NOT be used for corn earworm (CEW) protection on silking corn.  Control with these materials is very inconsistent.

The highest nightly trap catches of ECB for the week ending 6/29/22 are as follows:

Bellemeade   1 Farmingdale   1 Morristown   1
Blairstown   1 Georgetown   1 New Egypt   1
Centerton   1 Lawrenceville   1 Princeton   1
Crosswicks   1 Matawan   1 Sergeantsville   1

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Organic Production, Vegetable Crops
June 22, 2022

Vegetable IPM Update 6/22/22

Sweet Corn

Low numbers of European corn borer (ECB) moths continue to be captured at levels similar to last week, and feeding in whorl and pre-tassel stage corn more common.  The highest adult activity remains in Hunterdon County (see map below at right).  ECB injury over the threshold of 12% of plants infested has been found in many areas this week.   It is typical for feeding percentages to rise as the moth catch declines.  We expect feeding to increase for the next week or so before peaking.European corn borer

Weekly distribution of European corn borerLook for the characteristic “shot-hole” type of feeding (photo  below at right) and consider treating when infested plants exceed 12% in a 50 plant sample.  As plantings proceed to the pre-tassel stage, ECB larvae may be found in emerging tassels (see photo at left).  It is a good idea to treat individual plantings as they move into the full tassel/first silk stage one time.  This eliminates any ECB larvae that have emerged with the tassels as they begin to move down the stalk to re-enter near developing ears.

 

Useful insecticides for this particular application include synthetic European corn borerpyrethroids (IRAC Grp 3), spinosyns (including OMRI approved Entrust) IRAC Grp 5), and diamides such as Coragen or Vantacor (IRAC Grp 28) or materials such as Besiege which include the active ingredient in Coragen.  Synthetic pyrethroids alone should NOT be used for corn earworm (CEW) protection on silking corn.  Control with these materials is very inconsistent.

The highest nightly trap catches of ECB for the week ending 6/22/22 are as follows:

Sergeantsville   2 Califon   1 Old Bridge   1
Allentown   1 Clinton   1 Pedricktown   1
Asbury   1 Dayton   1 Princeton   1
Bellemeade   1 Hillsborough   1 South Branch   1

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Organic Production, Vegetable Crops