Nursery Update 4/30/24 -Boxwood blight, borers, flea beetles

Please note: The Rutgers Nursery and Green Industry Working Group is working to deliver regular pest and disease updates throughout the season. These will be in addition to important alerts, critical topics, and pesticide credit opportunities. This tool is made for you, the commercial agriculture business, so please let us know if there are particular topics you would like to see included in the regular update.

Email:  twaller@njaes.rutgers.edu Phone: 856-451-2800 Ext. 1.

Insect Pests

Projected GDD50 accumulation as of 4/30/2024
CODE Location 1-Apr 1-May 1-Jun 1-Jul 1-Aug
NJ50 Upper Deerfield (South) 47 237 696 1408 2308
D4116 Bridgeton (South) 45 172 632 1346 2243
KMIV Millville Airport (South) 57 249 676 1362 2237
NJ05 Greenwich (South) 53 247 716 1436 2338
NJ10 Howell (Central) 33 172 551 1191 2026
N59 High Point (North) 18 117 440 990 1711
USPEST.ORG – Model: simple average/growing degree-day, Min: 50F – Max: 95F, NMME forecast
Forecast:  7-month NMME based seasonal climate forecast (USPEST.ORG) – Subject to change regularly = Check Often

Please download and print the Rutgers Nursery and Landscape Pest Scouting Guide  or  Conifer and Christmas Tree Pest Scouting Guide and refer to this post “Obtaining your local growing degree-days (GDD)” for additional information.  (See pest scouting guides for complete list of references) 

Please SHARE what you SEE!! If you see a pest, disease, otherwise interesting or troublesome issue please report it to the Working Group by following the QR Code on the front of the Pest Scouting Guides or by filling out this reporting form.

Keep reading for more ALERTS – Boxwood Blight risk this week – Red-headed flea beetle timing, borer activity, and upcoming pests.

 Boxwood Blight Risk this week:

Buprestid beetle / Flathead / Metallic Borer Specific models: 

If borer insects are a common problem for your operation there are specific degree-day models made for Bronze birch borer and Emerald ash borer. You can set up these emailed alerts through the USPEST – PUSH Alerts for a multitude of pests and diseases. Contact twaller@njaes.rutgers.edu for assistance.

Red-headed flea beetle – UPDATED 4/30/24 –  life stage predictions

SOUTH CENTRAL NORTH
TARGET RANGE Upper Deerfield (NJ50) Howell (NJ10) High Point (NJ59)
Growth Stage Gen. -LOW- -HIGH- LOW (DATE) HIGH (DATE) LOW (DATE) HIGH (DATE) LOW (DATE) HIGH (DATE)
Egg hatch – larvae 1 8/29 8/22 5/2 5/26 5/8 6/4 5/15 6/11
Adults 1 5/31 10/24 5/22 6/16 5/30 6/24 6/6 7/2
  • Redheaded flea beetle hatch now through the next few weeks in NJ.
  • Please refer to this updated RHFB materials and timing chart.

  • Systemic materials should be applied approximately 4weeks (now) prior to adult emergence to knock down the first generation. Refer to the link above for material considerations. 

Other important insect pests: 

Please download and print the Rutgers Nursery and Landscape Pest Scouting Guide  or  Conifer and Christmas Tree Pest Scouting Guide and refer to this post “Obtaining your local growing degree-days (GDD)” for additional information.  (See pest scouting guides for complete list of references) 

 

More information on soon-to-be-important pests and diseases will be shared soon.