Sweet Corn
European corn borer (ECB) moth catches in black light traps are showing signs of increase now. This is an indication that the second flight is getting under way. Catches overall are still quite low however, and there will be no map in this edition. We expect to see increased feeding signs over the next two weeks, although this second generation feeding is sometimes obscured by fall armyworm (FAW) feeding. Once plants hit full tassel, any ECB larvae present will move downward on the stalk and re-enter the plant near the area where ears are forming. This can result in direct injury to the ear. Growers should consider an insecticide application at the full tassel stage to target ECB larvae as they migrate downward. This application can eliminate larvae that have escaped any earlier insecticide applications.
The highest nightly trap catches of ECB for the week ending 7/18/18 are as follows:
| Allamuchy 1 | East Vineland 1 | Morristown 1 |
| Belvidere 1 | Hackettstown 1 | Sparta 1 |
| Cinnaminson 1 | Hillsborough 1 | Springdale 1 |
| Downer 1 | Medford 1 |
The air mass that preceded Tuesday night’s storm front contained a few corn earworm (CEW) moths, resulting in spotty but distinct increases in NJ black light traps. The CEW pheromone trap network in the southern counties showed a similar increase. At present, both blacklight and pheromone networks indicate the bulk of the activity is in the southern third of the state, while the blacklight network also shows limited catches in the Musconnetcong river valley in Warren County (see CEW blacklight map at left, and pheromone trap map at lower right). 
There are many fewer pheromone traps than blacklight traps. This results in much broader colored patches on the pheromone maps. The blue area on the blacklight map indicates an approximate 4-5 day silk spray schedule, while green would be 3 days. On the pheromone map, the green area corresponds to a 3-5 day schedule depending on location. This week, growers in central Burlington and Cape May counties should adhere to the tighter schedule within that range. Although North Carolina trap catches have increased recently, those from Virginia and Delaware are moderate to low. The moths trapped this week in NJ do not represent a major migratory event like the ones we typically get in mid August and later. With the passing of the front and a change in wind direction, we expect our CEW catches to level off over the next week.
The highest nightly black light trap catches of CEW for the week ending 7/18/18 are as follows:
| Tabernacle 3 | Centerton 1 | Folsom 1 |
| Eldora 2 | Cinnaminson 1 | Medford 1 |
| Green Creek 2 | Downer 1 | New Egypt 1 |
| Hackettstown 2 | Elm 1 | Port Colden 1 |
The highest nightly pheromone trap catches of CEW for the week ending 7/18/18 are as follows:
| Pedricktown 20 | East Vineland 6 | Berlin 1 |
| Green Creek 12 | Monroeville 4 | Jobstown 1 |
| Woodstown 12 | Beckett 2 | |
| Elm 8 | Belvidere (Warren Co.) 1 |
Silking Spray Schedules*:
South – 3-4 days
Central – 5 days
North – 5-6 days
*These recommendations are based on regional catches. Adhere to tighter spray schedules if indicated by local trap catches.
Fall Armyworm
Fall armyworm (FAW) infestations have begun appearing further inland and northward this past week. Infestations range from very low to mid-20% range near New Egypt in Ocean County. Even as far north as Sparta in Sussex county, whorl stage corn was found to have a 10% FAW infestation. This situation may worsen over the next week if more egg laying occurred during the warm, humid weather over the weekend and early part of this week. Look for significant injury in whorls, with all damage leading directly into the center of the plant (see photo at left). FAW larvae consume lots of tissue, and grow 
rapidly (see photo at right). Be sure to check seedling stage plantings as well, as FAW will attach even small plants. Consider treating if plants infested with FAW alone, or in combination with ECB exceed 12%. FAW is resistant to synthetic pyrethroid insecticides. Effective materials include those in IRAC groups 5 (Radiant, Entrust (OMRI approved)), and 28 (Coragen, Exirel).
Pepper Weevil
In the past week, three weevils were trapped, and a light infestation was found in one field in the Hammonton area.
Beet Armyworm (BAW)
Trap catches of BAW in southern NJ have moderated. At this time, there are no known field infestations.
Tomatoes
There has been an slight increase in the appearance of native brown stinkbugs injury in tomatoes this past week. As we progress kthrough July, it is worth noting that this is typically the time of the season when our native brown stinkbugs become active; seeking sites on which to feed and lay eggs. This can be an economic problem for our field tomato plantings, and dry conditions will help drive stinkbugs from normal forage sites into irrigated crops. Stink bug feeding results in pale blotches on green fruit, that turn yellow as the fruit ripen to red (see photo at right). Picking crews often notice this damage first, as they see the greatest volume of overall fruit. If this damage is increasing, and/or adults, nymphs or egg masses are occurring in scouting samples, consider treating. See the tomato section of the 2018 Commercial Vegetable Recommendations Guide for appropriate materials.
Thrips injury is on the increase in tomato fields visited by IPM scouts. Growers should be on the lookout for foliar (see photo at left) and fruit injury (photo at right). The presence of foliar 
feeding should serve as a warning that fruit injury may follow. Excessive heat and dry weather will cause populations to increase rapidly, and fruit blemishes may follow as thrips begin to feed there. If these types of feeding are occurring, consider an insecticide application to minimize injury. Labeled products are found in the tomato section of the 2018 Commercial Vegetable Recommendations Guide.
Brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB)
BMSB catches in black light traps remain fairly low, but enough individuals were captured to register a map image in today’s edition (see map at right). The most consistent catches occurred in western Salem county. Although this pest has not had serious impact on vegetable crops like peppers in recent years, it is still a significant pest of tree fruits.
The highest nightly trap catches of BMSB for the week ending 7/18/18 are as follows:
| Dayton 2 | Centerton 1 | Jobstown 1 |
| Sparta 2 | Crosswicks 1 | New Egypt 1 |
| Woodstown 2 | East Vineland 1 | Newton 1 |
| Allamuchy 1 | Georgetown 1 | Pedricktown 1 |
Pumpkins and Winter Squash
Many fields are now developing squash bug populations. The squash bug lays copper colored egg masses on leaves. As eggs hatch, clusters of green nymphs will remain near the hatch site (see photo at left). As nymphs grow, they go through several molts and change to a gray color. These insects can become quite numerous, but are generally not a threat to pumpkins and winter squash, once those plants have begun to run. Later in the summer, it may be advantageous to eliminate populations from U-pick fields, but prior to that, little economic injury occurs on these crops.
Cucurbit Downy Mildew
Cucurbit downy mildew (CDM) has been found on cucumbers in Salem and Warren counties. CDM causes yellow “panels” to develop on the upper leaf surface (see photo at left) with dark sporulation forming on the lower leaf surface (see photo at right). CDM can defoliate fields in a matter of several days should the weather turn wet. To date, the only reported incidence of this disease has been on cucumbers, and all growers should be treating preventively for CDM on that crop. No pumpkin fields have yet been found to be infected in our region. A sentinel plot of mixed 
cucurbits, (cucumbers, pumpkin, butternut and acorn squash, muskmelon and watermelon) has been established at Snyder Research and Extension Farm in Hunterdon County. Another of these plots is at RAREC. These unsprayed plots are designed to alert growers to the presence of CDM in the area and WHAT CROP(s) are impacted. Many growers in the northern NJ counties have limited acreage of cucumbers, but extensive pumpkin acreage. For this reason we go to great lengths to determine host occurrence so that fungicide programs are not initiated unnecessarily. At the present time (7/18/18), no cucurbit crops at Snyder Farm are infected. For detailed CDM forecasts, see the following website: http://cdm.ipmpipe.org/ All growers are encouraged to check this website at least once a week. NJ was considered to be at moderate risk for spread from existing sites through Tuesday of this week. Wednesday and Thursday, after the front has passed, are considered to be low risk days for our area.
Basil
A basil sentinel plot at Snyder Farm in Hunterdon County, now in full flower, has not yet been infected with basil downy mildew.
