Fruit IPM Report 6-16-2015

Peach

Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB): Adults are occasionally seen during orchard scouting. Knock down materials will be required for the remainder of the season in orchards with BMSB populations.

Oriental Fruit Moth (OFM): Second generation flights are very low in most areas. By all indications this generation should produce much lower pressure than the 1st generation. Any insecticides which are applied now should target this generation. Growers who have trap counts that are less than 6 moths per trap can skip insecticides that are intended for OFM. If trap counts are higher, then time your sprays according to the following table:

 
Brown Rot; Anthracnose: Thundershowers and overhead irrigation done around periods of warm temperatures and high humidity can provide good opportunities for brown rot infection, particularly in blocks with damaged fruit or blossom blight. An improved fungicide schedule should be initiated 2 to 3 weeks prior to the first picking. The current weather is favorable for Anthracnose infections. Pay attention to susceptible varieties such as white peaches. While cover sprays are important, the most important timings seem to be early preharvest sprays starting 3 weeks before harvest. Pristine has been very effective based on past experience. Gem has not provided adequate control in the field.

Tufted Apple Budmoth (TABM): Timings for TABM control are updated below.

 
Much of this first generation will overlap with codling moth in apple. Many of the same materials used for TABM control will also control codling moth. See apple section below.

Apple

Codling Moth (CM): Codling moth flights are between 1^st and 2^nd generations. There is no need to treat on most farms at this time. There are exceptions on some farms in northern counties that have traps captures in excess of over 5 moths per trap. Growers should apply a CM effective material in these cases. DO NOT USE the same products you have been using, especially if you have been using Ops or Carbamates. Switch to a more CM effective material like Delegate, Altacor or Belt.

Tufted Apple Budmoth (TABM): Some of our trap captures are quite high, especially in Hunterdon and Warren Counties. Some trap counts exceed 103 moths per trap. Growers should be using Delegate or Altacor/Belt/Voliam types of materials, especially if growing a heavy crop or short stem varieties that provide good hiding places for the larvae to develop and not be contacted by insecticides.

Aphids: Spirea and Apple (green) Aphids: Populations are starting to build. Our treatment threshold is set at 50% of the terminals infested with healthy colonies. Predation by lady beetles or other predators is always a good sign when present. In most cases biological control is possible if 20% or more of the infested terminals have beneficial insects actively feeding. We have observed much beneficial activity in aphid colonies over the past week. When terminals begin to stop growth and harden, aphid populations will diminish, usually about early to mid July.

Obliquebanded Leafroller (OBLR): Trap captures have increased in central and northern counties where this insect is being monitored in tree fruit. We are at 378 degree days since the biofix on 6/1 in Central Jersey. While it is too early to determine if this will be a pest, orchards, which have had a previous OBLR problem, are advised to use insecticides now and again in 10-14 days.

Grape

Grape Berry Moth (GBM): The Biofix was set for 5/26 in southern vineyards, and insecticides are due for control of the second brood at 810 degree days (DD), base 47 after biofix. We have had 560 DD as of 6/16. With the current weather forecasts, we are predicted to reach the 810 DD spray target on 6/25 in the Hammonton/Vineland area (Skybit models), and about 6/27-28 (projected NEWA models). The timing is meant to control newly emerging larvae before and during egg hatch. These timings are for the IGR (insect growth regulator) Intrepid and the diamides, Altacor or Belt. If using other insecticides like OP’s (Imidan), or Delegate, or the pyrethroids (Baythroid, Brigade, Danitol), then make the application 2-3 days later. This should not be an automatic application. If you had visible damage from the first brood during and shortly after bloom, or you find signs of fresh larval hatch on vineyard border rows, then a treatment is justified.

Blueberry

Blueberry Maggot (BBM): The first blueberry maggot adults were found in Atlantic County on Monday June 15th. Two adult BBM were observed on yellow sticky traps. The arrival of BBM initiates the start of a spray program for growers who are exporting to Canada. The following is an excerpt from the latest update to the latest update (March 2015) of the Blueberry-Fruit Certification Program (BCP) for both the calendar spray and the IPM (trap) method for certification:

6.1 Calendar Spray Program

The first insecticide application must be made within five days of blueberry maggot emergence, as determined by the NPPO or its designee. Subsequent sprays must be made at five- to twelve-day intervals, depending on the insecticide, until the end of harvest. Insecticides must be approved for use on blueberries against blueberry maggot and must be used at the rates, dosages and intervals specified on the pesticide label and according to provincial or state recommendations. Records of all insecticide applications must be kept and presented to the NPPO upon request.

6.2 Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Program for Blueberry Maggot

Participants that select the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) option must monitor the designated production areas for blueberry maggot flies using yellow sticky traps baited with ammonium acetate lures. Traps must be placed at least two weeks prior to the earliest expected emergence of blueberry maggot flies.”

Blueberry maggot adults are monitored for by yellow sticky cards placed on a metal pole that positions the trap in the top 6 inches of the blueberry canopy. Insecticides used must be effective against BBM, which include: Assail, Asana, Adjourn, Brigade, Danitol, Exirel, Hero, Imidacloprid, Imidan, Lannate, Malathion, Rimon, Sevin, or Sivanto. Diazinon can be used once, but should be saved for scale crawlers. At this time of year we start to focus on materials that also have some effect on Spotted Wing Drosophila, although none have been found as of this writing.

Spotted Wing Drosophila (SWD): We have total of 80 traps placed in commercial fields for monitoring purposes. These are being monitored every 7 days. No SWD have been observed in the traps as of Monday, June 15th. When SWD start to fly the BBM insecticide list above gets shorter and will not include Assail, Admire, Sivanto, or Rimon, but will include Delegate

Aphids: There was a decrease in the number of sites with aphids last week with 75% of the sampled sites having aphids present, and 41% of site having over 10% of the shoots infested. The average percent of shoots with aphids was 11% per 50 shoot sample. Growers with aphids present should target this pest and consider treatment options such as: Assail, Actara, Admire Pro and Sivanto. Sivanto is not a neonicotinoid, and is a bee safe product. Sivanto is also effective for blueberry maggot, and has an MRL for Canada that is the same as the USEPA allowed residue. It acts systemically against the aphids with a mode of action similar to the neonicotinoids. Many growers have asked about Lannate against aphids. Lannate has only moderate control against aphids, but will also control blueberry maggot.

Sharp-nosed Leafhopper (SNLH): The first SNLH adult was captured in Burlington County on June 9th and in Atlantic County on June 15th. Adults will continue to fly as they mature from the nymphs that are present near and blueberry fields. Sharp-nosed leafhopper have two generations in blueberries and transmit stunt disease to blueberry plants. Since the adults can fly and spread stunt disease, this is the stage that should be controlled. Most aphicides will also control leafhoppers, as will materials that target SWD.

Oriental Beetle (OB): We continue to find OB adults in our traps. The trap numbers have increased in both Atlantic County and Burlington County over the past week, however, this is not the peak for OB adults.

Plum Curculio (PC): We are still finding scarring on fruit from PC adults laying eggs. At this time the percentage of fruit with scarring from egg laying is minimal, since most infested fruit has prematurely dropped off, and will not be harvested.

Leps. and other larvae: Some cranberry fruitworm (CBFW) larval damage is present in a few fields in Atlantic County. The timing for treatments for this pest is over. Damaged fruit will blow out on the sorting line, and growers should concentrate on remaining aphids, BBM and SWD.

Putnam Scale: Putnam scale was found on fruit in Atlantic County. These are recently settled crawlers. Therefore crawlers are now emerging. The scale is noticeable on fruit by discoloration caused by the scale feeding, and the small scales on the fruit (see below). Esteem or Diazinon are effective against scale crawlers. There are 2 generations of scale per season. If you have visible scale on your berries, then you should be treating the crawler stage. Both Esteem and Diazinon have a 7 day PHI, so this makes it almost impossible to use these materials on Duke, but you can still use them on Bluecrop, Draper and later varieties. Diazinon can only be used once, but will also control BBM and SWD. Esteem can be used twice, and is a very good scale material, but only controls crawlers at this time of year. Thorough coverage is a must (50 gpa) for scale, and cannot be accomplished from the air.

Putnam Scale. Photo: Amy Raudenbush

Tree Fruit Scouting Calendar Southern Counties

The following table is intended as an aid for orchard scouting. It should not be used to time pesticide applications. Median dates for pest events and crop phenology are displayed. These dates are compiled from observations made over the past 5-10 years in Gloucester County. Events in northern New Jersey should occur 7-10 days later.

Tree Fruit Trap Counts – Southern Counties

Tree Fruit Trap Counts – Northern Counties

Page coded by Aaron Rabin