You’ve got to suffer if you want to sing the blues… and some of us in certain parts of the state have been suffering the infernal din of the periodical cicadas since late-May.
Adult periodical cicada. Photo: Kim Greene
Landscape, Ornamentals, Nursery, and Turf Edition
Seasonal updates on ornamental, nursery, and turf pests.
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July 5, 2013 Richard Buckley
Red, White, and Brown?
Patch that is! Recent weather conditions have driven the fungus Rhizoctonia solani into overdrive. Brown patch has flared up all over the place just in time for our July 4th celebrations!
Brown patch on colonial bentgrass. Photo: Richard Buckley, Rutgers PDL
July 1, 2013 Steven K. Rettke
Cool Season Mites Fade, As Warm Season Mites Surge
As would be predicted, observations during the past few weeks within nurseries located in central & southern NJ have shown reduced activities of both the spruce spider mites & southern red spider mites. These common cool season mite pests feed predominately on conifers & broadleaf evergreens, respectfully. During the hot summer months, both of these spider mite species enter into a dormant stage. Alternatively, the two-spotted spider mite & several more host specific shade tree spider mites (e.g., maple spider mites, oak spider mites, honeylocust spider mites & European red mites) are common warm season mite species and are now rapidly laying eggs & building populations.
Spider Mite (0.5 mm), Egg & Pine Needle Stomates Photo: Cornell University Press
July 1, 2013 Richard Buckley
The Last Word in Leaf Spots
Oh no! Not more leaf spot posts! This is the last one for now, I promise. First thing first, we had a nice sample from a perennial ryegrass baseball field that was submitted for dollar spot diagnosis, which it had, but it was also covered with leaf lesions caused by the fungus Bipolaris sorokiniana. Sabrina thought it would be nice to share a photo with you.
Leaf spots caused by Bipolaris sorokiniana on perennial ryegrass leaves. Photo: Sabrina Tirpak, Rutgers PDL
June 27, 2013 Albrecht Koppenhofer
Annual Bluegrass Weevil Adults Emerging: What Now?
Annual Bluegrass Weevil
Photo: B. McGraw
Adults of the annual bluegrass weevil (ABW) spring generation have started to emerge in significant numbers over the last few days at Rutgers Hortfarm 2 in New Brunswick and at golf courses in North Jersey. Peak densities of new ABW adults should occur throughout the central and northern New Jersey and the NY metropolitan area over the next 1-2 weeks.
These spring-generation adults mate and will start laying eggs quickly. The resulting second generation is present predominantly as large larvae around late July-early August, when additional damage — usually less severe than spring damage — may occur. The second generation pupates in August and starts emerging as adults around mid-August.
Areas where significant adult densities are observed (directly, in clippings, with soap irritant, or by vacuum sampling) in late June-early July may need to be treated. However, overuse of insecticides, particularly of pyrethroids, is likely to lead to the development of pesticide-resistant ABW populations. To avoid this highly undesirable scenario insecticides should be applied only where and when necessary and pyrethroids should be used no more than once per year. [Read more…]
June 24, 2013 Administrator
On Ag Updates: Heat Stress Prevention
This week’s forecast is for temperatures in the 90’s with high humidity. Agricultural worker safety is important to agricultural employers. Ag Agent Michelle Infante-Casella outlines some tips on preventing worker illness during hot weather on the Ag Updates Blog.
Heat Stress Prevention
