Fruit IPM for 7/7/17

Peach:

Oriental Fruit Moth (OFM): The next and 3^rd flight for OFM has begun in southern counties. This will produce the 3^rd brood of larvae. First generation eggs are laid primarily on leaf petioles and larvae mine down the petiole into new shoot growth, causing the flagging on terminal growth. The second generation has a similar behavior, but also lays eggs on the fruit, producing fruit infestations. This generation lays eggs primarily on the fruit, and can cause considerable fruit infestation or ‘wormy fruit’ if left uncontrolled or improperly sprayed.

As with the previous generations, timing for the third generation depends on the type of material that is used. Application timings are as follows:

Split Pits and Brown Rot: As in most years, the early varieties are showing a significant amount of pit splitting. Given frequent storms, growers should be off the sulfur only programs and using a rotating combination of good materials. Anything now ripening through mid to late July should be on the improved fungicide program. This means a rotation of DMI Group 3 materials (Indar, Orbit, Orius, Quash) with 7 (Fontelis), 11(Gem), and premix combinations. Please be aware that Quadris Top is a combination that includes the same AI as in Abound, so can be phytotoxic to apples. Inspire Super is a combination of a DMI (Group 3) and the AI in Vangard, and Vangard is not particularly effective for the fruit phase of brown rot.

Apple:

Codling Moth (CM): First brood larvae are present in scattered locations throughout the state. In southern counties, some larvae are mature and have already exited the fruit to pupate. As these mature and emerge as adults, they will mate and lay eggs on developing fruit. The timing of the first spray for second brood control, should commence at 1150 to 1250 degree days after Biofix, depending on the material used. This is predicted to be the first few days of July in Southern counties, using Elk Twp Gloucester County. Recent research has shown that populations in conventionally sprayed orchards can start later and often be delayed by 100-150 degree days. Even delaying the first applications from the model predicted timing, we are looking at 1^st applications being applied by this weekend in southern counties. Be prepared to use Delegate, Voliam mixes, Altacor, or Exirel for the second generation.

Fire Blight: Fire blight is still present in a number of orchards. Cutting out the infected shoots, followed by regular applications of copper may help arrest further spread by killing any exposed bacteria. In reference to the Cueva/Double Nickel program referred to in the last newsletter, we should all realize that it’s the copper that has historically provided in-season suppression of this disease. Use of Kocide 3000 @ about 4.25oz/100 gal delivers the same amount of metallic copper as 2 qt of Cueva, or 1.28 oz of metallic copper per 100 gal. Growers will find that a low rate of Kocide is much cheaper that a 2 qt rate of Cueva. Pruning out the infected shoots 10-12” below the visible strike minimizes the amount of bacteria remaining to be killed, and increases the ability to penetrate the spray into the tree.

Green Apple Aphids and Spirea Aphid Complex: Aphid populations are present at various levels. Good biological control has been observed when populations have been permitted to reach close to 50% of terminals infested. One farm in North Jersey was seen with numerous predators, which included aphid midges, lady beetle larvae and lacewing larvae. One common predator is the orange colored Aphidoletes larva, which is an immature midge or fly larva that feeds on aphids, seen below (W. Cranshaw, CSU).

Figure 1. Midge larva eating aphids.

European Red Mite (ERM): Mite populations have started to build statewide. Treatment levels have been reached in some southern orchards and have been treated. Early reports of Zeal (Valent – IRAC group 10B – etoxazole @ 2-3 oz/A) and Nealta (BASF-IRAC group 25 – cyflumetofen @ 13.7 oz/A) use have been successful. Nealta is not labeled for stone fruit. Predators are also present feeding on mite populations, especially lacewing larvae and predaceous mites. Where multiple species of mite predators are present, miticide applications are seldom needed.

Blueberry:

Spotted Wing Drosophila (SWD): Adult trap captures have continued to gradually increase. Trap levels are slightly higher in Burlington County than in Atlantic County. Growers should maintain a regular insecticide program for the remainder of the season.

Aphids: Aphid populations are higher than those populations seen during the previous week. One site had over 50% of terminals infested. Populations like this provide more opportunity to spread scorch virus, and should be controlled. If berries are off the bush and aphid populations are still high, then growers should think about ground applied insecticides to control high aphid populations.

Blueberry Maggot (BBM): Trap captures are very low to non-existent, except in a few areas in Atlantic County, where trap counts exceed 10 flies per trap. When trap captures exceed 1 fly per trap, then chances of having infested fruit increase. Normal insecticide programs for SWD should control BBM populations.

Oriental Beetle (OB): Oriental beetle adult trap captures are peaking, so should be decreasing over the next week. As measured by trap captures, this is the highest Oriental Beetle population we have ever seen. Growers who do not treat with imidacloprid, should plan on using mating disruption during the 2018 season, and order the dispensers early.

Sharpnosed Leafhopper (SNLH): SNLH adults are still present. Normal treatments for SWD should suppress SNLH populations. Growers should plan on a second generation treatment when adult populations peak in late August or September. There is considerable SNLH population variability among farms. SNLH in Atlantic county average .125 per trap, but some locations have up to 2 per trap. Burlington County sites average just over 1 per trap with a high of 9 per trap.

Putnam Scale: Scale crawlers are still present, but treatments are not suggested, since this is close to the end of the 1^st generation crawler stage. Growers are better off recording which fields had scale infested fruit (as seen on the packing line), and planning to treat those fields when the second generation crawlers emerge in August. Crawler infested fruit will may look like those berries pictured below.

Figure 2. Putnam scale infested fruit.

Tree Fruit Trap Counts – Southern Counties

Tree Fruit Trap Counts – Northern Counties

Blueberry Trap Counts

Atlantic County

Burlington County