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April 26, 2021

Landscape Pest Notes: Some Mid-Spring Insects/Mites

As we enter the last week of April, many of our mid-spring landscape insect/mite pests continue to awaken & cause feeding symptoms on our ornamentals. This blog only talks over some of the typical mid-spring pests that plague our landscapes. Those discussed within include: Southern Red Spider Mites; Gypsy Moths; Evergreen Lace Bugs (e.g., rhododendron, azalea, & andromeda lace bugs); Nantucket Pine Tip Moth; Birch Leaf Miner; Hemlock Woolly Adelgid; Plant Leaf Galls (eriophyid mites).

Mid-Spring weeks have arrived & shade trees like this green ash have begun leaf expansion. (Photo Credit: Steven K. Rettke, Rutgers Coop. Ext.)

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Nursery, Plant Diagnostic Lab
April 26, 2021

IMPORTANT NOTICE – Considerations for systemic and contact material control of Redheaded Flea Beetle – now

If you are unfamiliar with this pest

*****Please take this 5-minute survey pertaining to your concerns with Redheaded flea beetles in NJ (click here)***** 

If you are interested in donating infested plant material or conducting on-farm RHFB research. Please contact twaller@njaes.rutger.edu (856-451-2800 ext.1)

Redheaded Flea Beetle (RHFB) Considerations

Ideally when controlling high-density populations of RHFB, fall applications of long-lasting systemic materials can provide a strong knock-down of larvae populations destined to emerge in the following spring. Establishing a reserve of systemic materials in the soil and root zone late-season or early this season will greatly increase control efforts made later and can reduce the number of overall applications made specifically for RHFB.  A two-pronged approach of systemic and contact insecticides can manage active adults and larvae throughout the season.  For current season control: systemic insecticide drench or ‘sprench’ (*consider backpack units) near planting / potting-up, or a month prior to adult emergence (now for southern NJ), will provide the reserve of systemic activity required to reduce larvae and adult populations later. Contact material applications should also be considered for adult and larval treatments but must be made at sufficient volumes to guarantee ‘contact’. Contact-only driven spray regimes can provide good results, however the need to protect new growth will be ever present. When choosing materials, also consider the other pests targeted by that compound to maximize the value of your investment. Targeting the larval stage will reduce the number of adults present to lay the next generation of eggs.

Timeline for New Jersey growers and landscape professionals 

  • NOTE: Calendar date predictions based on USPEST.ORG using weather-stations for Upper Deerfield (NJ50), Howell/Freehold (NJ10), and High Point (NJ59). These are predictions and scouting should commence at least 2 weeks prior to listed dates

Please download this RHFB quick-look guide of the information provided below (click here)

Projected GDD50 accumulation as of 4/26/2021
Region Location 26-Apr 1-May 1-Jun 1-Jul Aug. 1st
Southern Upper Deerfield (NJ50) 163 231 638 1315 2158
Central Howell / Freehold (NJ10) 110 166 514 1135 1929
Northern High Point (NJ59) 61 99 313 765 1327
Forecast: NOAA NCEP Coupled Forecast System model version 2 (CFSv2) forecast system (3.5 months) (USPEST.ORG)

 

Redheaded flea beetle – life stage predictions for South, Central, and Northern New Jersey with material considerations
TARGET RANGE TARGET RANGE Upper Deerfield (NJ50) Howell (NJ10) High Point (NJ59)
Growth Stage Gen. GDD50 LOW GDD50 HIGH LOW (DATE) HIGH (DATE) LOW (DATE) HIGH (DATE) LOW (DATE) HIGH (DATE)
Egg hatch – larvae 1st 242 600 2-May 29-May 10-May 6-Jun 24-May 21-Jun
Adults                            (feeding / laying eggs) 1st 517 1028 24-May 20-Jun 1-Jun 27-Jun 16-Jun 14-Jul
POTENTIAL OVERLAP OF GENERATIONS / STAGES
Egg hatch – larvae 2nd 1570 1860 10-Jul 21-Jul 17-Jul 29-Jul 11-Aug 27-Aug
Adults                            (feeding / laying eggs) 2nd 1878 2318 22-Jul 7-Aug 30-Jul 16-Aug 28-Aug 1-Oct

Note: Updated 4/26/2021 – Estimated using USPEST.org, 3.5-month CFSv2 based seasonal climate forecast, simple average growing degree-days, min temp: 50F, max temp: 95F. Growing degree-day ranges based on Dr. Kunkel’s work out of the University of Delaware. 

  • 1st generation larvae: 242-600 GDD50 
    • Observation of larval activity on the outside of root balls occurs during this timeframe, meaning they may be active earlier
    • Systemic treatments should be initiated late fall or immediately on susceptible hosts (southern NJ)to guard plants from adult feeding later this season.
      • Materials containing neonicotinoids [4A] and cyantraniliprole [28] (Mainspring) are considered particularly fast and effective, however lack the staying power of similar chemistries such as Chlorantraniliprole [28] (Acelepryn) that takes longer to translocate from soil reserves.
      • Organophosphates (1B) Acephate (Orthene, Acephate 97UP) are also a systemic options.
    • During larval development contact materials containing bifenthrin, azadirachtin, tolfenpyrad, cyclaniliprole + flonicamid, entomopathogenic fungi (Beauveria bassiana) or beneficial nematodes should be seriously considered when attempting to knock-down forthcoming adult populations.
  • 1st generation adults: 517-1028 GDD50 
    • Feeding damages will be apparent on susceptible hosts, scout to determine best time of day for applications, materials such as Captiva Prime or another agitator may be useful in driving the beetles out of hiding (which they do EXTREMELY well).
    • Continuation of systemic materials, use contact materials to directly target the adults.
    • Keep weed populations to a minimum, adults may feed on nearby weed species such as dog fennel, pigweed, and knotweed, thus avoiding pest control efforts on susceptible crops
  • 2nd gen. larvae: 1570-1860 GDD50
    • Potential for considerable overlap of larval-adult developmental stages
    • Continuation of systemic materials, use contact materials to directly target the larvae and adults.
  • 2nd gen. adults: 1878-2318 GDD50
    • Continuation of systemic materials, use contact materials to directly target the larvae and adults.
    • Keep weed populations to a minimum
  • A third generation is suspected to be possible in the southern and central regions of New Jersey

IT IS CRITICAL TO ROTATE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE BETWEEN IRAC GROUPS DUE TO THE NUMBER OF POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS

DISCLAIMER: The label is the law, always refer to it for allowable host crops, use-restrictions, application rates, reapplication intervals, re-entry intervals (REI), and mix compatibility information. Production and pesticide information on this site are for private/commercial pesticide applicators and landscape professionals only, and are NOT for home gardener use. Provided materials represent examples and do not cover all possible control scenarios. Trade-names listed do not imply endorsement and are used as examples only. Please contact your local agent or chemical sales representative for more information or to discuss additional pest management options.

Boxwood Blight risk model update (4/26 – 5/1) 

Boxwood Blight Risk Assessment as of 4/26/2021
Region Location CODE 26-Apr 27-Apr 28-Apr 29-Apr 30-Apr 1-May
Southern Upper Deerfield NJ50 Very Low  Very Low  Very Low  Very Low  Very Low  Very Low 
Central Howell / Freehold NJ10 Very Low  Very Low  Very Low  Very Low  Low  Very Low 
Northern High Point NJ59 Very Low  Very Low  Very Low  Low  Low  Very Low 
Please check your local boxwood blight risk here (click here)  

 

*****Please take this 5-minute survey pertaining to your concerns with Redheaded flea beetles in NJ (click here)***** 

Please contact Tim Waller – Cumberland Co. – RCE for more information – twaller@njaes.rutgers.edu – 856-451-2800 ext. 1

Filed Under: Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Nursery, Turf Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
April 23, 2021

USDA Expands and Renews Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)

In an effort to boost enrollment and address climate change, the USDA will open enrollment in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) with higher payment rates, new incentives, and a more targeted focus on the program’s role in climate change mitigation. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Field, Forage & Livestock, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Vegetable Crops Tagged With: ,
April 23, 2021

Do you have Phytophthora concerns in your conifer nursery? We are looking for participants in a statewide study

Tim Waller (Cumberland Co.) and Bill Errickson (Monmouth Co.) of Rutgers Cooperative Extension are looking for 30 conifer producers to collaborate in a statewide Phytophthora sampling project, as part of a Specialty Crop Block Grant. This study will focus on identifying the species of Phytophthora limiting conifer production in New Jersey.

  • If your operation is selected, the agents will schedule one to three visits this growing season to collect samples from roots, bark, soil, irrigation systems, and will perform soil testing (Year 1).
  • During years 2 and 3, we will be performing chemical, biological, and cultural disease management trials in addition to conifer variety trials, at Rutgers-NJAES experiment stations. The aim is to generate local data – using local isolates in order to develop a more wholistic set of recommendations when targeting this disease in our NJ nurseries.

The agents also look forward to developing stronger relationships throughout New Jersey in the post-COVID19 era

 

This project is open to nurseries and Christmas tree farms producing conifers in NJ 

If you are interested in this project – please respond via this brief survey (click here) 

Please print and share this PDF survey with anyone not online (click here)

 

Please contact Tim Waller – twaller@njaes.rutgers.edu – (856-451-2800) – for more information

 

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Nursery, Turf Tagged With: , , ,
April 21, 2021

Communicating the Value of COVID-19 Vaccines With Your Farm Employees

CDC COVID-19 Vaccine Posters available in multiple languages – “Vaccines (shots) are one of the tools we have to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.”

In an effort to increase participation in the COVID-19 vaccination program among farm workers, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), through the national Extension Foundation, is working with Cooperative Extension across the country to help spread the word about the importance of getting vaccinated. Rutgers Cooperative Extension Director Brian Schilling has enlisted a team of County Agents and Specialists to answer the call from the CDC to participate in this EXCITE program. Through a variety of communications channels we will be providing informational posters and other educational materials in several appropriate languages that you can hand out or post in locations where your workers can easily read them (like on or near your Worker Protections Standards bulletin boards or in your labor camps).

“Vaccines (shots) are one of the tools we have to fight the COVID-19 pandemic” posters from the CDC are now available on the COVID-19 page of the Rutgers NJAES On-Farm Food Safety website <https://onfarmfoodsafety.rutgers.edu/covid-19-information/> with the direct links to these multiple language editions:

You can also share this Spanish language video <https://wecandothis.hhs.gov/un-rayo-de-esperanza> from the US Dept. of Health and Human Services with your workers to help explain where they can get more information about COVID-19 vaccines. There are several other informational videos available at https://wecandothis.hhs.gov/filter/format/Video, as well as posters/fliers from https://wecandothis.hhs.gov/filter/format/Poster%20%E2%80%93%20Flyer (mostly English), and factsheets at https://wecandothis.hhs.gov/filter/format/Fact%20Sheet.

EXCITE PNG

Filed Under: Blueberry, Commercial Ag Updates, Cranberry, Field, Forage & Livestock, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Nursery, Strawberry, Tree Fruit, Turf, Vegetable Crops, Wine Grape Tagged With: , , , , ,
April 15, 2021

Nursery and Landscape Pest Scouting Guide: 150-250 Growing Degree-days and Boxwood Blight Risk ( currently = low risk )

Nursery and Landscape Pest Scouting Guide 150-250 GDD50:

Please print or download these resources (click on them): 

Remember:

  • To determine your local growing degree-days, please review this post “Obtaining your local growing degree-day information”
  • The information provided in the downloads gives scouting GDD50 ranges (in growing degree days, base 50F) for specific insect pests harming nursery crop production and maintenance. It is important to note that these GDD50 are not exact, rather provide a range of GDD and subsequent calendar dates that can be used to scout for, and treat for, insect pests.
  • This document supports scouting, it does not replace it. Keeping good notes on pest development will help dial in scouting and treatment efforts at your local level.
  • Forecasting predictions (GDD50 accumulation) for calendar dates of multiple regions of New Jersey (S,N,C) are provided.
  • If you need more information, OR you are regularly seeing specific pest development stages at growing degree-days different than those listed here, please contact Tim Waller at twaller@njaes.rutgers.edu

GREAT RESOURCE from Steve Rettke: “Landscape Pest Notes: Some Early Spring Insects/Mites”

 

Projected GDD50 accumulation as of 4/15/2021
Region Location 4/15/21 1-Apr 1-May 1-Jun 1-Jul Aug. 1st
Southern Upper Deerfield (NJ50) 141 75 230 636 1314 2156
Central Howell / Freehold (NJ10) 94 67 165 513 1135 1929
Northern High Point (NJ59) 50 21 56 268 721 1327
Forecast: NOAA NCEP Coupled Forecast System model version 2 (CFSv2) forecast system (3.5 months) (USPEST.ORG)

 

Pest Scouting – Growing Degree-day Ranges (150-250 GDD50)
CROP TYPE Common Name Scientific Name GDD Min (50F) GDD Max (95F) Reference Developmental / Target Stage
Malus, Prunus, many Eastern tent caterpillar Malacosoma americanum 90 190 2 Larvae treatment before tents apparent (near 150-GDD50)
Elm, Service berry Woolly elm aphid Eriosoma americana 121 246 2 (6) Control target
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
Witchhazel, River birch Spiny witchhazel gall aphid Hamamelistes spinosus 171 – 6 Control target
Birch Birch leafminer Fenusa pusilla  190 290 RU Larvae (1st generation)
Conifer Spruce spider mite Oligonychus ununguis 190 363 RU Immatures/Adults
Honeylocust Honeylocust pod gall midge Dasineura gleditchiae 192 229 RU Larvae
Holly Holly leafminer Phytomyza ilicis 192 290 RU Egg hatch
Holly *Native holly leafminer Phytomyza ilicicola 192 298 2 Egg hatch
Rhododendron Rhododendron borer Synanthedon rhododendri 192 298 2 Typical treatment window
Larch Larch sawfly Pristophora erichsonii 192 299 2 Typical treatment window
Andromeda Andromeda lacebug Stephanitis takeyai 192 303 RU Adults
Rhododendron Rhododendron gall midge Clinodiplosis rhododendri 192 363 RU Larvae
Willows, Cottonwood, Poplar Imported willow leaf beetle Plagiodera versicolora 192 448 RU Larvae/Adults
Privet Privet thrips Dendrothrips ornatus 192 618 2 Typical treatment window
Lilac, ash, privet, many Lilac / Ash Borer Podosesia syringae 200 299 RU Adults – 1st Treatment
Spruce Spruce budworm Choristoneura fumiferana 200 300 5 Larvae
Elm Elm leafminer Fenusa ulmi 215 240 5 Adult emergence
Wild and cultivated roses Roseslug sawfly Endelomyia aethiops 230 – 6 Egg hatch / early instars
Deciduous, many Hawthorn lacebug Corythucha cydoniae 239 363 RU Nymphs/Adults
Conifer Arborvitae leafminer Argyresthia thuiella 245 360 RU Larvae Treatments
Prunus American plum borer Euzophera semifuneralis 245 440 5 Adult flight, egg laying
Boxwood Boxwood mites Eurytetranychus buxi 245 600 RU All Stages
Lilac Lilac leafminer Caloptilia syringella 246 363 5 Larvae Treatments
Holly Holly leafminer Phytomyza ilicis 246 448 RU Larvae Treatment
Yew Taxus mealybug Dysmicoccus wistariae 246 618 RU Adults/Crawlers
Conifer Pine sawflies (Red-headed) Neodiprion lecontei 246 1388 RU Larvae (1st generation)
Boxwood Boxwood leafminer Monarthropalpusi flavus 249 – 6 Adult emergence
Conifer Eastern spruce gall adelgid Adelges abietis 250 310 5 egg hatch, galls begin forming (not a control target)
References RU Rutgers Cooperative Extension – 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

 

Boxwood Blight risk-model information, considerations, and links:

Boxwood Blight Risk Assessment as of 4/15/2021
Region Location CODE 15-April 16-April 17- April 18-April 19-April
Southern Upper Deerfield NJ50 Low  Very Low  Very Low  Very Low  Very Low 
Central Howell / Freehold NJ10 Low  Very Low  Very Low  Very Low  Very Low 
Northern High Point NJ59 Very Low  Very Low  Very Low  Very Low  Very Low 
Please check your local boxwood blight risk at (https://uspest.org/risk/boxwood_app)

 

Considerations:

Become a Boxwood Blight Advocate to receive quarterly updates (through the Horticultural Research Institution)

Filed Under: Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Nursery, Turf Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,