Landscape, Ornamentals, Nursery, and Turf Edition
Seasonal updates on ornamental, nursery, and turf pests.
Subscriptions are available via EMAIL and RSS.
Companion Website Links:
Rutgers Turf Blog - Articles on turfgrass diseases and cultural practices for the commercial turfgrass industry. Subscription available via RSS.
Rutgers Weather Forecasting - Meteorological Information important to commercial agriculture.
Private Applicators: NJDEP August Mailing of 2023 Invoices & Recertification Credit Status
Common Backyard Beneficials
Too often, landscape plant managers ignore or confuse beneficial organisms with insect pests and inappropriately apply control materials. This is especially the case with the larvae or immature stages of beneficial insects. An observant and knowledgeable IPM scout needs to learn how to recognize and conserve these “good guys,” so they are not needlessly destroyed. Remember, “we must look before we shoot,” when spraying pesticides and take advantage of natural pest control that works for free!
Home entrance walkway with diverse plantings of numerous species. An ideal setting to attract many beneficial insects. (Photo Credit: Steven K. Rettke, Rutgers Coop. Ext.)
The classical definition of biological control is the use of natural enemies to control insect pests. These natural enemies include predators, parasitoids, and pathogens. Pathogens are microorganisms (bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoan, and nematodes) that kill pests. Parasitoids are parasites that kill their hosts by their feeding activities. Most parasitoids of landscape pests are wasps and flies. This blog will discuss some of the more valuable ornamental landscape predators.
Over one hundred praying mantids can emerge from a typical sized egg case (ootheca). Although excellent predators, praying mantids are NOT considered to be valuable in the home landscape. (Photo Credit: Steven K. Rettke, Rutgers Coop. Ext.)
Green Industry Native Plant Survey
Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Monmouth, Cumberland, and Middlesex County have developed a brief needs assessment survey to gain a better understanding of the educational materials and technical resources that are needed in the nursery and landscape industries to help promote the production and marketability of native plants.
If you operate a nursery, greenhouse, or landscape business in NJ and grow native plants (or have an interest in starting to grow native plants), please fill out this 5-minute online survey to help Rutgers Cooperative Extension develop resources and programs to support our green industries.
Survey Link: https://go.rutgers.edu/ojkdrelv
Or scan the QR code below to access the survey:
For more information contact Bill Errickson, Agriculture Agent RCE of Monmouth County: william.errickson@njaes.rutgers.edu 732-431-7260
Printable Flyer: RCE Native Plant Survey Flyer
Crop progress: Drought stress continues
Drought conditions continue to stress crops in South-Central counties and a significant portion of northern NJ. Although the US Drought Monitor indicates conditions are only in the abnormally dry category, local conditions along the Pilesgrove-Upper Pittsgrove border west of the Salem River and adjoining areas of Gloucester County are experiencing moderate drought conditions in some fields; but not others due to the sporadic precipitation paths of recent storms. All stages of corn and soybeans in affected fields are showing signs of yield reduction due to disruption of pollination and seed set.
The USGS Below Normal 7-Day Average Streamflow Condition Map more accurately reflects a moderate hydrologic drought (darker orange colored area). A significant portion of the region has seen below normal precipitation for the past seven days. A streamflow which is less than the 25 percentile is considered below normal. The darker orange shaded areas of South-Central NJ of the USGS map represents 6-9 percentile stream flow activity.
Another way to observe increasing crop stress is to look at the cubic feet per second discharge of streams in the area since planting season. As seen in this graph of the Maurice River at Norma, NJ, current stream level discharge is well below the median daily discharge value over the past 88 years.
For information on USDA available drought related programs by commodity, see the poster:
Click to access farmersgov-disaster-assistance-brochure-07-21-2022.pdf
Pesticide Applicators Seminar – Credits Available
Over the past two years in-person trainings for pesticide applicators to obtain recertification credits have been a challenge. To educate licensed pesticide applicators and help them to receive credits, a 3-hour seminar will be held on Tuesday, October 18, 2022 from 9:00AM to 12:00PM at the Rutgers Cooperative Extension office in Gloucester County, 254 County House Rd, Clarksboro, NJ 08020. The meeting will be in the Sullivan Room auditorium. Attendees can enter through the ramp on the far right side of the main building.
Presenter: Michelle Infante-Casella, Agricultural Agent
Schedule:
9:00 AM……………..Pesticide Storage Facilities and Pesticide Disposal
10:00 AM……………Pesticide Record Keeping, Notification, and Posting
10:30 AM……………Insect Identification and Life Cycles for Proper Control Strategies in Landscapes, Turf, and Farm Fields
11:00 AM…………….Weed Identification: Annuals and Perennials: Know Your Weeds in Landscapes, Turf and Farm Fields
11:30 AM…………….Common Plant Diseases of Major Crop/Plant Groups
12:00 PM …………….Pesticide Credits and Adjourn
The following credits have been assigned by NJ DEP:
3 – CORE Credits
3 – PP2 Credits
3 – 3A Credits
3 – 3B Credits
3 – 1A Credits
Call 856-224-8040 ext. 1 or email jmedany@co.gloucester.nj.us to pre-register or for more information.
There is a $50.00 fee per participant. Only checks or cash will be accepted. Please make checks payable to “Rutgers the State Univ. of NJ”
Pre-registration is appreciated, and walk-in participants are welcome and can pay at the door. To find more information see: https://go.rutgers.edu/Oct18PesticideSeminar
July Pest Scouting Nursery, Landscape, and Christmas Trees – Key borer and scale insect control timings
Pest Scouting – Please refer to these documents for a full listing of insects pests for your area corresponding to growing degree-days (GDDs).
- Nursery and Landscape Pest Scouting Guide 2022 PDF (note this contains conifer pests as well)
- Conifer Pest Scouting Guide 2022 PDF
Quick look guides for July (Borers and Scales) and (All other)
Contact if seeing insects at different times: twaller@njaes.rutgers.edu (or call the Cumberland County Extension Office – 856-451-2800)
The following key groups of pests will be active, vulnerable, or otherwise treatable during the next month throughout most of NJ. Here, scale insects and borers with key life stage events during the 1000-2500 GDD timeframe are discussed. Note there are many other insect pests present this time of year so please view the pest scouting guides above for your particular needs.
| Projected GDD50 Accumulation as of July 13 2022 | Note: Growing degree-day values utilize daily average air temperatures with a minimum temperature threshold (a.k.a. ‘base’) of 50F = GDD50 (max. temp. threshold set at 95F). These values are accumulated from a biofix date, such as January or March 1st in the NE USA. Provided GDD50 are scouting ranges and should be truthed. | |||||
| Region | Location | Station | 13-Jul | 1-Aug | 1-Sep | |
| South | Upper Deerfield | NJ50 | 1598 | 2115 | 2905 | |
| Central | Howell / Freehold | NJ10 | 1383 | 1871 | 2594 | |
| North | High Point | NJ59 | 1132 | 1541 | 2138 | |
| Forecast: NOAA NCEP Coupled Forecast System model version 2 (CFSv2) forecast system (3.5 months) (USPEST.ORG) | ||||||
Refer to this post “Obtaining your local growing degree-days” for additional information
| BORER Insect Activity for 1000-2500 GDD (~ July) | ||||||
| Crop type | Common Name | Scientific Name | GDD Min (50F) | GDD Max (95F) | Reference | Developmental / Target Stage |
| Many | Roundheaded appletree borer | Saperda candida | 802 | 1129 | RU | Adults |
| Ash | Emerald ash borer | Agrilus planipennis | 1000 | 1200 | 4 | Peak adult activity |
| Many | Roundheaded apple tree borer | Saperda candida | 1514 | 1798 | 5 | Typical treatment window |
| Conifer | Nantucket tip moth | Rhyacionia frustrana | 1514 | 1917 | RU | Adults 2nd generation |
| Maple | Sugar maple borer | Glycobius speciosus | 2032 | 2375 | 5 | Typical treatment window |
| Locust | Locust borer | Magacyllene robiniae | 2271 | 2805 | 5 | Typical treatment window |
| Poplar and Willow | Poplar and willow borer | Crytorhynchus lapathi | 2271 | 2806 | 5 | Typical treatment window |
Click here – “Identifying Clearwing Moth Borers in Pheromone Traps” or “Differentiating the Common Wood Borers of Ash Trees”
| SCALE Insect Activity for 1000 – 2500 GDD (~ July) | ||||||
| Crop type | Common Name | Scientific Name | GDD Min (50F) | GDD Max (95F) | Reference | Developmental / Target Stage |
| Conifer | Cryptomeria scale | Aspidiotus cryptomeriae | 600 | 800 | 3 | First crawler emergence |
| Many | White prunicola scale | Psedaulacaspis prunicola | 707 | 1151 | RU | Crawlers (1st generation) |
| Conifer | Juniper scale | Carulaspis juniperi | 707 | 1260 | RU | Crawlers (1st generation) |
| Many | Calico scale | Eulecanium cerasorum | 714 | – | 6 | Crawlers (1st generation) |
| Conifer | Striped pine scale | Toumeyella pini | 750 | 800 | 4 | Egg hatch |
| Oak, hickory, birch, many | Oak leacanium scale | Parthenolecanium quercifex | 789 | – | 6 | Crawlers (1st generation) |
| Acer | Cottony maple leaf scale | Pulvinaria acericola | 802 | 1265 | 5 | Crawlers (1st generation) |
| Many, shadetrees | Cottony maple scale | Pulvinaria innumerabilis | 802 | 1265 | RU | Crawlers (1st generation) – control target |
| Oaks | Golden oak scale | Asterolecanium variolosum | 802 | 1266 | 5 | Egg hatch |
| Maples | Japanese maple scale | Lopholeucaspis japonica | 829 | – | 6 | Crawlers (1st generation) |
| Elm | European elm scale | Gossyparia spuria | 831 | 1388 | 6,2 | Crawlers (1st generation) |
| Shade trees | European fruit lecanium scale | Parthenolecanium corni | 932 | 1645 | 6,RU | Crawlers – control target |
| Conifer | Pine tortoise scale | Toumeyella parvicornis | 1000 | 1200 | 4 | Egg hatch ends, last of crawlers |
| Yew, many conifers | Fletcher Scale (Yew) | Parthenolecanium fletcheri | 1029 | 1388 | RU | Crawlers (1st generation) – control target |
| Many | Indian wax scale | Ceroplastes ceriferus | 1145 | – | 6 | Crawlers (1st generation) |
| Euonymus | Euonymus Scale | Unaspis euonymil | 1150 | 1388 | 5 | 2nd generation targeted treatments |
| Shade trees | European fruit lecanium scale | Parthenolecanium corni | 1266 | 1645 | 5 | Crawlers |
| Conifer | Pine Needle Scale | Chionaspis pinifoliae | 1290 | 1917 | 3 | Crawlers emerge (2nd generation) – control target |
| Conifer | Hemlock scale | Abgrallaspis ithacae | 1388 | 2154 | 5 | Typical treatment window |
| Malus, Prunus, many | Peachtree borer | Synanthedon sp. | 1500 | 1800 | RU | Larvae Treatment |
| Many | White prunicola scale | Pseudaulacaspis prunicola | 1637 | – | 6 | Egg hatch / crawler (2nd generation) |
| Euonymus | Euonymus Scale | Unaspis euonymil | 1700 | – | RU | Continued 2nd generation treatments |
| Conifer | Cryptomeria scale | Aspidiotus cryptomeriae | 1750 | 2130 | RU, 4 | Crawlers emerge (2nd generation) |
| Many | Obscure scale | Melanaspis obscura | 1774 | – | 6 | Egg hatch / crawler |
| Conifer | Maskell scale | lepidosaphes pallia | 2035 | – | 6 | Egg hatch / crawler (2nd generation) |
| Mainly Tulip | Tulip tree scale | Toumeyella liriodendri | 2037 | 2629 | RU | Crawlers (1st generation) |
| Mainly Magnolia | Magnolia scale | Neolecanium cornuparvum | 2155 | 2800 | RU | Crawlers (1st generation) |
| Maple | Japanese maple scale | Lopholeucaspis japonica | 2508 | – | 6 | Egg hatch / crawler (2nd generation) |
| Conifer | Elongate hemlock scale | Fiorinia externa | 2515 | 2625 | RU | Typical treatment window – fall activity |
| Yew, many conifers | Fletcher Scale (Yew) | Parthenolecanium fletcheri | 2515 | 2800 | RU | Fall control of overwintering stage |
