Rutgers Cooperative Extension
Seasonal updates on diseases, insects, weeds impacting small fruit (blueberry, cranberry, and wine grape). Fruit Pest Alerts are also available via this category feed.
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The first trap capture was seen on June 7 in Burlington County which started the clock for those growers on a calendar based spray program if exporting fruit to Canada. See Fruit IPM report for this week.
Blueberry Maggot Trap
The first spotted wing drosophila adult was found on Tuesday, June 11, in a small field in Burlington County. The trap was placed between the commercial planting and the woods border. This finding, along with the coloring of early varieties, initiates a 7 day insecticide program now required for insect free berries. More on SWD management in the future.
Addendum: Summary of Fax Alert sent subsequent to June 12 post above.
Trapping for SWD began 3 weeks ago using 4 different types of attractants. The first positive trap was collected on 6/10 in Burlington County with a single male. On 6/13, 2 females were picked up at another site near the first one. We expect most other locations to test positive soon. This indicates that flies will be mating and laying eggs on ripening fruit. We assume that the population is low at the present time, but will build up over the next several weeks. This will be reflected in higher trap captures at additional sites. However, we also feel that population pressure must be suppressed over the entire season in order to avoid ‘out of control’ populations that result in infested fruit. Therefore Growers Must Be On A 7 Day Treatment Schedule Using Materials That Are Effective For SWD Control.
Last season this pest was responsible for wormy fruit contamination at many farms including some that were treating for the risk, however the level of contamination was in general proportion to the quality of the spray program. We expect SWD pressure to be at least as strong as last season. Data collected last season also demonstrated that pressure was present in all of our growing areas. Due to the serious risk of SWD we are recommending that ALL farms begin a 7 day treatment program now. Of course several factors may alter the need for a strict “7 day” program such as rainfall and the residual properties of the pesticide. The attached table will provide most of the information about your pesticide options so that you can make the best decisions for your particular situation. Please note that 2 neonicotinoid materials (Assail and Actara) are included in the SWD list. Conflicting research has shown some activity by these materials. These materials have some efficacy, but are weak SWD insecticides. We feel that their place in a SWD program is only early in the SWD season when populations are low, and you may still need something with aphid activity. If you use either Assail or Actara, use them only in the first spray (last week and this week). They are of no practical use for SWD control as the population increases. SWD may prefer shaded areas and therefore may pose greater risk in the sheltered zones of the bush (interior/low). For this reason it is important to achieve the best possible coverage practical for your situation.
The new Devrinol formulation, Devrinol DF-XT, is still a fifty percent dry flowable formulation, but includes UV (ultraviolet light) protection, so the product is no longer broken down on the soil surface by sunlight. [Read more…]
Fruit IPM Report 6-11-13 – Click to View | Download | Print
Grape Berry Moth Egg
In this report:
- Peach
- Apple
- Pear
- Wine Grape
- Scouting Calendar
- Blueberry
- Trap Counts
Tape traps monitored on Tuesday, June 4 showed the start of crawler activity in the Hammonton area.
Maturing blueberries:
Circled areas show freshly settled scales.
Scales feed on plant sap, decreasing plant vigor and fruit yield. Adult scales are protected from insecticide sprays by a waxy covering. These insects are common in older canes when not removed, and located mostly under loose bark. In New Jersey, the Putnam scale has two generations a year. It overwinters as second-instar nymphs under loose bark. Spring activity begins in early February. Eggs from the first generation are laid in late April, and immature “crawlers” typically begin to appear in mid-May. Peak crawler emergences occur in late May and early June (this time of the year). Peak crawler emergences for the second generation occur in early to mid-August.
Growers who had a scale problem last year can treat the first generation crawler stage now with Esteem (35W or .86EC, 7 day PHI), or wait until peak crawler emergence and use Diazinon (7 day PHI). Diazinon can only be used once in-season, and waiting until peak crawler emergence may put you too close to harvest, at least with early varieties. The second generation can be treated later in early August. Crawlers can be monitored by wrapping black electricians’ tape covered by double-sided sticky tape around canes. Use a hand lens to see crawlers on the sticky tape.
Fruit IPM Report 6-3-13 – Click to View | Download | Print
Cicadas Emerge in Apple and Peach Orchards
In this report:
- Peach
- Apple
- Pear
- Wine Grape
- Scouting Calendar
- Blueberry
- Trap Counts
