Rutgers University | New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station | Pesticide User Responsibility

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Seasonal updates on ornamental, nursery, and turf pests.
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March 28, 2022

Weather Effects on Plants & Insect-Mite Pests

The old saying that “everyone talks about the weather” is certainly true when it involves landscape plant managers. Professional landscapers/arborists and their clients are always discussing how various weather factors are affecting plants. The New Jersey weather trends can often be variable from one growing season to the next. How do rain, wind and temperature changes impact plants and their corresponding insect/mite pests?

The chart below lists four weather conditions & categorizes how these conditions positively or negatively influence some of the key landscape insect/mite pests.

 

TABLE: PESTS AFFECTED BY SPECIFIC CONDITIONS (Source: David Shetlar, Ohio State Cooperative Extension)

 “A” Hot-Dry Weather Pests  “B” Cool Weather Pests  “C” Pests Damaged by Excessive Rains   “D” Pests Attracted to Stressed Plants

 -Lace Bugs

 -Scales

 -Leaf Beetles

-Caterpillars

-Warm Season Mites

 

 -Aphids (some)

-Adelgids

-Root Weevils

-Cool Season Mites

-Eriophyid Mites (some)

 

 -Lace Bugs (fungus)

-Aphids/Mites (impact)

-Scale Crawlers (impact/wind)

-Caterpillars (fungus)

-Black Vine Weevils fungus)

 -Aphids (some)

-Scales (some)

-Whiteflies

-Caterpillars (some)

-BORERS!!

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Nursery, Plant Diagnostic Lab
March 28, 2022

Are you familiar with the federal soil quarantine map, associated pests of concern

During soil testing season, we often get calls about what laboratory to send samples to and what to test for. You may not know that under certain circumstances USDA-APHIS may have a quarantine for a particular plant or animal pest that can be carried in soil, and movement of soil from that region is restricted and requires a permit. This includes all territories of the United States such as Guam, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. APHIS also restricts the movement of domestic soil from areas within the continental United States that are under quarantine for specific plant pests and adjoining countries. For example, currently soil cannot enter the U.S.  from Canada if from the following areas of Alberta: A farm unit and associated land located near the municipality of Fort Saskatchewan; and a farm unit and associated land located near the municipality of Spruce Grove; British Colombia: That portion of the municipality of Central Saanich on Vancouver Island, ease of the west Saanich Road; Newfoundland and Labrador: The entire Island of Newfoundland; and Quebec: The municipality of Saint- Amble.

The Federal Domestic Soil Quarantines Map provides an overview of the plant pest quarantines that affect the movement of soil. USDA recently updated their Federal Domestic Soil Quarantine Map on February 10, 2022 which is available as a pdf at:

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/newsroom/stakeholder-info/stakeholder-messages/plant-health-news/federal-domestic-soil-quarantine-map-2-10-22

This map contains a lot of information that is useful for producers, growers and consumers who are purchasing plant materials that may contain soil to be mindful of the presence of significant plant pests of concern that have not yet made it to New Jersey, and to do their part to not bring them here. While many are limited to infestations along the west coast and gulf coast, others are closer to home. For example, the golden nematode is a potato nematode that is quarantined in some parts of western New York State. The pale cyst nematode is another potato nematode of concern that is quarantined from a small area of Idaho and the island of Newfoundland, Canada.

Others like the imported fire ant continue to spread and are now found in hot spots in Alabama, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Puerto Rico. Quarantine efforts thus far have been able to limit the spread of witchweed to locations in South and North Carolina.

If you have specific questions about bringing in soil from any of these areas denoted in this USDA soil quarantine map or about these quarantine pests, contact the USDA-APHIS NJ state office, state plant health director at (609) 259-5244 or for more contact information see https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/planthealth/ppq-program-overview/sphd/new+jersey

 

Filed Under: Disease Forecasting, Field, Forage & Livestock, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Uncategorized, Vegetable Crops
March 25, 2022

NJ Department of Agriculture Issues Burn Permit for Frost Protection – Thru April 5

New Jersey Department of Agriculture has issued a notice concerning open burning due to colder spring overnight temperatures presently forecasted for areas of New Jersey from March 22 through April 5th, 2022, which could adversely affect fruit, vegetable, and floriculture crops in bloom or near bloom around the state. For details read below the links.

Note: The NJDEP and New Jersey Forest Fire Service caution all farmers and agriculture businesses with respect to the use of open burning in high wind velocity conditions. Please take note that farmers are encouraged to utilize smudge pots is warming as necessary during higher wind conditions. Use of open burning when wind velocity is greater than 5mph is strictly prohibited, may contribute to wildfire risk, and can carry significant penalties. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Blueberry, Cranberry, Fruit, Nursery, Strawberry, Tree Fruit, Vegetable Crops, Wine Grape Tagged With: , , , , , ,
March 23, 2022

Identifying Clearwing Moth Borers in Pheromone Traps

Clearwing moth borers comprise one of the most damaging groups of insect pests that attack shade trees and shrubs. Controls must be accurately timed, since larvae tunnel under the bark most of the year, where they are unreachable by most insecticides. Artificial pheromones of many of the clearwing moths found in the landscape are available. These pheromones are a synthetic of the sex attractant emitted by many insects & are commercially available and recommended for the IPM manager.

Plant manager viewing contents of clearwing moths captured in pheromone-baited wing-trap. (Photo Credit: Steven K. Rettke, Rutgers Coop. Ext.)

This green ash tree is showing severe symptoms from banded ash clearwing moths. Too late for pheromone traps to be of value. (Photo Credit: Steven K. Rettke, Rutgers Coop. Ext.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adult male clearwing moths are attracted to the pheromone-baited sticky trap that helps determine: 1) if the borers are present in an area; and 2) when to apply insecticide sprays. Pheromone traps enable landscape managers to accurately determine when the first emergence of the egg laying borers are expected so that insecticides can be timed & applied effectively to susceptible tree/shrub hosts. Spraying the bark of the tree to be protected with a long residual insecticide (i.e., such as pyrethroids) should effectively kill the young borer larvae as they hatch from eggs & attempt to tunnel into the stems or branches.

Hypothesized flight path of an adult male clearwing moth towards the pheromone trap. (Diagram: Steven K. Rettke, Rutgers Coop. Ext.)

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Nursery, Plant Diagnostic Lab
March 22, 2022

Pest Scouting Update – 25 to 150 GDDs Plus Printable resources!

Additional resource: SLF EGG MASS GUIDE – USE FOR TRAINING (click here to download)

We have compiled the GDD resources into one single document – please download and print multiple copies of this for yourself and employees in efforts to best scout for these insect pests. These guides do not dictate when to spray, rather they inform scouting ranges for insect pests, vulnerable life-stages, and overlapping timeframes for multiple troublesome pests.

Please Download these resources:

Nursery and Landscape Pest Scouting Guide 2022 PDF (note this contains conifer pests as well)

Conifer Pest Scouting Guide 2022 PDF

Refer to this post “Obtaining your local growing degree-days” for additional information 

We will be making regular announcements throughout the season, however we wanted you to have this beta-version of the compiled growing-degree day information. This will be updated and modified throughout the season – PLEASE let me know what difference you are seeing in the field so we can continue to make this resource better for all of us.   

Contact: twaller@njaes.rutgers.edu (or call the Cumberland County Extension Office – 856-451-2800)

Growing degree-days as of writing this 3/22/22 (using USPEST.org weather station codes):

  • Southern (NJ50): 74
  • Central (NJ10): 72
  • Northeastern (Greater NYC Metro area (D6302): 41
  • Northwestern (NJ59): 21
  • Crop type Common Name Scientific Name GDD Min (50F) GDD Max (95F) Reference Developmental / Target Stage
    Conifer Zimmerman pine moth Dioryctria zimmermani 25 100 3 1st larvae
    Conifer Cooley spruce gall adelgid Adelges cooleyi 25 120 3 Spring control of overwintering stage
    Conifer Eastern spruce gall adelgid Adelges abietis 25 100 3 Spring control of overwintering stage
    Conifer Northern pine weevil Pissodes approximatus 25 100 4 1st adults active
    Conifer Zimmerman pine moth Dioryctria zimmermani 25 100 3 1st larvae active
    Conifer Cooley spruce gall adelgid Adelges cooleyi 25 120 3 Spring control of overwintering stage
    Conifer White pine weevil Pissodes strobi 25 220 4 1st adults active
    Shade trees European fruit lecanium Parthenolecanium corni 35 145 2 Spring control of overwintering stage
    Many, evergreen Euonymus scale Unaspis euonymi 35 120 2 Spring control of overwintering stage
    Conifer European pine sawfly Neodiprion sertifer 35 145 1 Hatched larvae
    Conifer Fletcher scale Parthenolecanium fletcheri 35 148 2 Spring control of overwintering stage
    Conifer European pine shoot moth / borer Rhyacionia buoiana 50 220 4 1st larvae active
    Maples Maple bladdergall mite Vasates quadripedes 58 148 2 Spring control of overwintering stage
    Honeylocust Honeylocust plant bug Diaphnocoris chlorionis 58 246 2 Nympths / adults active
    Conifer Pine tortoise scale Toumeyela parvicornis 58 148 2 Cralwer activity
    Conifer Pine bark adelgid Pineus strobi 58 618 2 Spring control of overwintering stage
    Conifer Balsam twig aphid Mindarus abietinus 60 100 4 Egg hatch
    Many Southern red mite Oligonychus ilicis 69 157 RU Spring hatch
    Conifer Eastern pine shoot borer Eucosma gloriola 75 200 4 1st adults active
    Malus, Prunus, many Eastern tent caterpillar Malacosoma americanum 90 190 2 Larvae treatment before tents apparent
    Many Gypsy moth Lymantria dispar 90 448 RU Larvae treatment (early instars)
    Conifer Cooley spruce gall adelgid Adelges cooleyi 90 180 4 1st adults active – Douglas fir
    Malus, Prunus, many Eastern tent caterpillar Malacosoma americanum 90 190 2 Larvae treatment before tents apparent (near 150-GDD50)
    Malus, Prunus, many Eastern tent caterpillar Malacosoma americanum 90 190 2 Larvae treatment before tents apparent (near 150-GDD50)
    Conifer Balsam twig aphid Mindarus abietinus 100 150 4 Stem mothers present (control target)
    Conifer Pine engraver (Ips bark beetle) Ips spp. 100 150 4 1st adults active
    Conifer European pine sawfly Neodiprion sertifer 100 195 4 1st larvae active
    Pieris Andromeda lace bug Stephanitis takeyai 115 279 RU Nymphs (1st generation)
    Azalea Azalea lace bug Stephanitis pyrioides 118 372 RU Nymphs (1st generation)
    Conifer Larch casebearer Coleophora laricella 120 150 4 Egg hatch
    Elm, Service berry Woolly elm aphid Eriosoma americana 121 246 2 (6) Control target
    Elm, Service berry Woolly elm aphid Eriosoma americana 121 246 2 (6) Control target
    Birch Birch leafminer Fenusa pusilla 123 290 RU Adults – egg laying
    Many Gypsy moth Lymantria dispar 145 200 4 Egg hatch, 1st larvae
    Holly Holly leaf miner Phytomyza ilicis 147 265 RU Adults – egg laying
    Many Cankerworms, inch-worms, loopers (many) 148 290 2 Larvae treatment
    Lilac, ash, privet, many Lilac / Ash Borer Podosesia syringae 148 299 2 Adult flight
    Yews, Rhododendrons, many Black Vine Weevil Otiorhynchus sulcatus 148 400 2 Pupation / Adult emergence
    Dogwood, many Dogwood Borer Synanthedon scitula 148 700 2 Adult activity
    Conifer Spruce spider mite Oligonychus ununguis 150 175 4 1st egg hatch
    Conifer Spruce needleminer Endothenia albolineana 150 200 4 1st larvae active
    Conifer Balsam gall midge Paradiplosis tumifex 150 300 4 Adults laying eggs
    Conifer Hemlock woolly adelgid Adelges tsugae 150 150 RU Eggs and 10% hatch
    Conifer Spruce spider mite Oligonychus ununguis 150 175 4 1st egg hatch
    Conifer Spruce needleminer Endothenia albolineana 150 200 4 1st larvae active
    Conifer Balsam gall midge Paradiplosis tumifex 150 300 4 Adults laying eggs
    Conifer Hemlock woolly adelgid Adelges tsugae 150 150 RU Eggs and 10% hatch
    Conifer Spruce spider mite Oligonychus ununguis 150 175 4 1st egg hatch
    Conifer Spruce needleminer Endothenia albolineana 150 200 4 1st larvae active
    Conifer Balsam gall midge Paradiplosis tumifex 150 300 4 Adults laying eggs

References:

RU Rutgers Cooperative Extension – Landscape IPM Notes
2 http://ccetompkins.org/resources/using-growing-degree-days-for-insect-management
3 https://extension.psu.edu/ipm-basics-for-christmas-trees#section-2
4 https://www.canr.msu.edu/ipm/agriculture/christmas_trees/gdd_of_conifer_insects
5 https://www.agriculture.nh.gov/publications-forms/documents/landscape-pests.pdf
6 https://extension.umd.edu/ipm/pest-predictive-calendar-landscapenursery
7 https://www.canr.msu.edu/ipm/agriculture/christmas_trees/gdd_of_landscape_insects
Unv. Del. Coorespondance with Dr. Kunkel (University of Delaware)-evolving GDD ranges
Compiled by – Timothy J. Waller, Ph.D. – Rutgers Cooperative Extension, Cumberland County Nursery Crops – twaller@njaes.rutgers.edu

 

Filed Under: Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Nursery, Plant Diagnostic Lab, Turf Tagged With: , , , , , , ,
March 21, 2022

NJ Pesticide Credits. March 24th Weed Management Webinar

For NJ applicators in 10, 1A and PP2

4 category credits.

A virtual workshop will be held on March 24 from 8 am to 11 am for farmers interested in learning how to use integrated weed management (IWM)) techniques to control  troublesome weeds in their fields. This is the fifth year for the workshop series, which is a collaborative effort between the University of Maryland, Virginia Tech, and the University of Delaware.

Education regarding weed identification and integrated management strategies continues to be critically important to enable early intervention and effective management options.  2022 is shaping up to be especially challenging with anticipated shortages of many commonly used herbicides. The 2022 workshop series will provide tactics to manage important weeds given limited herbicide availability and increased input prices. Material covered will target row-crop production systems, but tactics learned may be applicable to other systems. These workshops are free, but participants will need to register at https://go.umd.edu/IWM.

Pesticide credits will be available for MD, DE, NJ and WV. Two hours of CCA continuing  education credits will be offered for each session.

For more information, contact Kurt Vollmer at (443) 446-4260 or Ben Beale at (301) 475- 4481.

If you are attending from NJ, contact Melissa Bravo to upload your pesticide license and photo i.d. at 856-340-6582. This meeting counts as an ‘in person’ meeting as long as you stay on camera. If you cannot stay on camera the entire time, no credits will be awarded. 

NJ Applicators remember, attendees of online courses can earn 25% of their credits for each category from online sources.  Only those whose 5-year recertification period is ending 10/31/2022 are eligible to earn 100% of their credits online.  Attendees can check their eligibility online at www.pcpnj.org.

—

Kurt M. Vollmer, Ph.D.

Extension Specialist-Weed Management
University of Maryland
Wye Research and Education Center
124 Wye Narrows Drive
Queenstown, MD 21658
(443) 446-4260
Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Field, Forage & Livestock, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Uncategorized, Vegetable Crops