Small Fruit IPM Report July 17, 2012

-Dean Polk, Fruit IPM Agent and
David Schmitt, Eugene Rizio and Atanas Atanassov,
Program Associates, Tree Fruit IPM

• Grape
• Blueberry

Grape

Grape Berry Moth (GBM): The long range estimate for the third generation degree day timed insecticides are about 7/27 for Intrepid and the diamides.

Grape Root Borer (GRB): This is a more southern pest, but is found in NJ, and is a problem in some vineyards. The idea with insecticidal control is to apply a barrier of insecticide on the base of the vine and surrounding ground. GRB adults are now mating and laying eggs. Larvae emerge and borrow into the roots, so the insecticide kills emerging larvae as well as adults as they lay eggs. Use 4E @ 4.5 pt/100 gal, or Lorsban Advanced @ 4.5 pt/100 gal, or Lorsban 75W @ 3lb/100 gal.

Powdery Mildew: Conditions are very good for disease development. Mildew was seen on syrah clusters this past week in southern counties. Consult the 2012 Commercial Grape Pest Control Recommendations.

Blueberry

Spotted Wing Drosophila (SWD) Blueberry Maggot (BBM): Trap captures have continued to increase, as well as the number of traps having positive captures. For every positive trap catch, we are following with a picked fruit sample and looking for live larvae. Growers should be aware that drosophila larvae can be in the fruit if under a light insecticide program. Given the population that is present, we have no choice but to recommend a weekly schedule of insecticide covers for the remainder of the season.

Aphids: Aphid presence is about unchanged since last week. About 40% of samples are positive and 4% were over the 10% infestation level. Almost no large colonies have been seen in the field. Several sites have high levels of lacewing eggs.

Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB): In our recent samples we have noticed a slight decrease in numbers. About 1% of our beating tray and shoot samples have been positive. Even though these are low numbers, growers should be aware of this insect possibly showing up in machine harvested fruit.

Leafrollers and Other Leps: About 10% of shoot and beating tray samples are positive for live worms, but almost all of these positives have been due to blueberry leafminer tents. These are foliar feeders and not a risk to the fruit, especially since most of the fruit is off by now. Some growers do have a concern for contamination issues when machine harvesting.

Japanese Beetle: No significant Japanese beetle presence has been seen this season. About 4% of samples still show beetles on fruit and foliage, and when injury is seen it is usually on the foliage. No samples have been seen where a specific treatment would be required.

Anthracnose: There has not been much change since last week. Only 3% of field fruit samples now show low levels of infection, with 0.1% infected fruit as the typical level seen.