September 8, 2025

Final two Ornamental IPM Webinars 9/9 (Ticks 4 Science) and 9/23 (final pest updates for 2025) + 8/26 webinar upload

Join us for the next session Tuesday 9/9/25 

  • Emily Fontaine​ (Project Manager, Rutgers NJ Ticks 4 Science)

 

Previous webinars:

 

 

 

Filed Under: Christmas Trees, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Nursery Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,
March 4, 2025

Approaching 2025 Boxwood Blight Season

March weather is always unpredictable, however, if we have sustained periods of increased temperatures and spring rains, boxwood blight (BWB) will become an issue quickly.

New – [pictorial tri-fold] Common Boxwood Pests and Diseases (click-here). This includes Box Tree Moth images. Print the PDF out double-sided, then fold. We are working to have a better resolution print of this material very soon.

If you suspect Boxwood Blight and would like to have this verified – please contact the Rutgers Plant Diagnostic Laboratory (click here) for sample submission instructions

Boxwood Blight Risk Assessment as of 3/4/2025
Region Location CODE 3-March 4-March 5-March 6-March 7-March 8-March
Southern Upper Deerfield NJ50 Very Low  Very Low  Low Minor Risk Very Low  Very Low 
Central Howell / Freehold NJ10 Very Low  Very Low  Low Minor Risk Very Low  Very Low 
Northern High Point NJ59 Very Low  Very Low  Very Low  Minor Risk Very Low  Very Low 
M T W TH F S
 Please check YOUR LOCAL risk (click here)

There is a minor potential for boxwood blight infections this Wednesday & Thursday, throughout ALL of NJ. Incoming rains, coupled with warmer temperatures may initiate boxwood blight infections this week.

  • It is time to begin protective fungicide applications in boxwoods throughout the state if you have not already done so. 

  • If BWB is important to your business – Use the USPEST – PUSH Alerts – (click here) – to setup weekly email alerts. Create an account, watch the tutorial, and then set up your subscriptions. You select which locations (as many as you like), days you want to receive emails, and what you would like to receive alerts about (BWB and a variety of other pests and diseases). Rutgers is not directly affiliated, however this is an incredible tool. 

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Nursery, Turf Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,
July 22, 2024

UPDATE – Box tree moth confirmed at private residence in Kent County DE. BE ON THE LOOKOUT

UPDATE: Box Tree Moth has been positively confirmed in Kent County – DE. PLEASE BE VIGILANT

Click here to see the original link from DE.gov (write-up with more photos)  “The United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA-APHIS) has confirmed a find of box tree moth (BTM; Cydalima perspectalis) at a private residence in Kent County, Delaware. The box tree moth is a federally regulated pest that primarily feeds on boxwood species (Buxus spp.)”

Box Tree Moth poses a serious threat to boxwood production, maintenance, and export.

If you think you see this on Boxwoods in the landscape, garden, commercial locations, parking lots, anywhere boxwoods are growing – we want to know!!

If you see, or think you see this pest, or its damages in New Jersey please contact:

  • RCE -Cumberland Co. Nursery Agent: Tim Waller – twaller@njaes.rutgers.edu
  • or
  • Nursery Inspection Program Manager: Sarah Katzenbach –  sarah.katzenbach@ag.nj.gov  (609) 406-6939

Please educate yourself about this in-bound pest here – Resources:

Filed Under: Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Nursery, Turf Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,
March 31, 2024

High Potential for Boxwood Blight in Southern NJ – beginning Tuesday (4/2)

Boxwood Blight Risk Assessment as of 3/31/2024
Region Location CODE 31-Mar 1-Apr 2-Apr 3-Apr 4-Apr 5-Apr
Southern Upper Deerfield NJ50 Low Low Minor Risk Minor Risk Very Low  Very Low 
Southern Bridgeton D4116 Low Low Minor Risk High Risk Very Low  Very Low 
Southern Millville Airport KMIV Low Low Minor Risk High Risk Very Low  Very Low 
Southern Greenwich NJ05 Low Low Minor Risk High Risk Very Low  Very Low 
Central Howell / Freehold NJ10 Very Low  Very Low  Low  Low  Low  Low 
Northern High Point NJ59 Very Low  Very Low  Very Low  Very Low  Very Low  Very Low 
Su M Tu W Th F
 Please check YOUR LOCAL risk (click here)

There is a potential for boxwood blight infections this TUESDAY and WEDNESDAY  throughout much of  SOUTHERN NJ – especially Bridgeton/Upper Deerfield areas. Incoming rains, coupled with consistent temperatures may initiate boxwood blight infections this week.

The rain SHOULD temporarily subside Monday EVENING – with enough time to get a spray on commercial nursery crops. 

  • It is time to begin protective fungicide applications in high value areas if you have not already done so.

  • If BWB is important to your business – Use the USPEST – PUSH Alerts – (click here) – to setup weekly email alerts. Create an account, watch the tutorial, and then set up your subscriptions. You select which locations (as many as you like), days you want to receive emails (pick Sunday/Monday), and what you would like to receive alerts about (BWB and a variety of other pests and diseases). Rutgers is not directly affiliated, however this is an incredible tool. 

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Disease Forecasting, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Turf Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,
July 14, 2022

July Pest Scouting Nursery, Landscape, and Christmas Trees – Key borer and scale insect control timings

Pest Scouting – Please refer to these documents for a full listing of insects pests for your area corresponding to growing degree-days (GDDs). 

Quick look guides for July (Borers and Scales) and (All other) 

Contact if seeing insects at different times: twaller@njaes.rutgers.edu (or call the Cumberland County Extension Office – 856-451-2800)

The following key groups of pests will be active, vulnerable, or otherwise treatable during the next month throughout most of NJ. Here, scale insects and borers with key life stage events during the 1000-2500 GDD timeframe are discussed. Note there are many other insect pests present this time of year so please view the pest scouting guides above for your particular needs.

Projected GDD50 Accumulation as of July 13 2022 Note: Growing degree-day values utilize daily average air temperatures with a minimum temperature threshold (a.k.a. ‘base’) of 50F = GDD50 (max. temp. threshold set at 95F). These values are accumulated from a biofix date, such as January or March 1st in the NE USA. Provided GDD50 are scouting ranges and should be truthed.
Region Location Station 13-Jul 1-Aug 1-Sep
South Upper Deerfield NJ50 1598 2115 2905
Central Howell / Freehold NJ10 1383 1871 2594
North High Point NJ59 1132 1541 2138
Forecast: NOAA NCEP Coupled Forecast System model version 2 (CFSv2) forecast system (3.5 months) (USPEST.ORG)

Refer to this post “Obtaining your local growing degree-days” for additional information 

BORER Insect Activity for 1000-2500 GDD (~ July)
Crop type Common Name Scientific Name GDD Min (50F) GDD Max (95F) Reference Developmental / Target Stage
Many Roundheaded appletree borer Saperda candida 802 1129 RU Adults
Ash Emerald ash borer Agrilus planipennis 1000 1200 4 Peak adult activity
Many Roundheaded apple tree borer Saperda candida 1514 1798 5 Typical treatment window
Conifer Nantucket tip moth Rhyacionia frustrana 1514 1917 RU Adults 2nd generation
Maple Sugar maple borer Glycobius speciosus 2032 2375 5 Typical treatment window
Locust Locust borer Magacyllene robiniae 2271 2805 5 Typical treatment window
Poplar and Willow Poplar and willow borer Crytorhynchus lapathi 2271 2806 5 Typical treatment window

Click here – “Identifying Clearwing Moth Borers in Pheromone Traps” or “Differentiating the Common Wood Borers of Ash Trees”

SCALE Insect Activity for 1000 – 2500 GDD (~ July)
Crop type Common Name Scientific Name GDD Min (50F) GDD Max (95F) Reference Developmental / Target Stage
Conifer Cryptomeria scale Aspidiotus cryptomeriae 600 800 3 First crawler emergence
Many White prunicola scale Psedaulacaspis prunicola 707 1151 RU Crawlers (1st generation)
Conifer Juniper scale Carulaspis juniperi 707 1260 RU Crawlers (1st generation)
Many Calico scale Eulecanium cerasorum 714 – 6 Crawlers (1st generation)
Conifer Striped pine scale Toumeyella pini 750 800 4 Egg hatch
Oak, hickory, birch, many Oak leacanium scale Parthenolecanium quercifex 789 – 6 Crawlers (1st generation)
Acer Cottony maple leaf scale Pulvinaria acericola 802 1265 5 Crawlers (1st generation)
Many, shadetrees Cottony maple scale Pulvinaria innumerabilis 802 1265 RU Crawlers (1st generation) – control target
Oaks Golden oak scale Asterolecanium variolosum 802 1266 5 Egg hatch
Maples Japanese maple scale Lopholeucaspis japonica 829 – 6 Crawlers (1st generation)
Elm European elm scale Gossyparia spuria 831 1388 6,2 Crawlers (1st generation)
Shade trees European fruit lecanium scale Parthenolecanium corni 932 1645 6,RU Crawlers  – control target
Conifer Pine tortoise scale Toumeyella parvicornis 1000 1200 4 Egg hatch ends, last of crawlers
Yew, many conifers Fletcher Scale (Yew) Parthenolecanium fletcheri 1029 1388 RU Crawlers (1st generation) – control target
Many Indian wax scale Ceroplastes ceriferus 1145 – 6 Crawlers (1st generation)
Euonymus Euonymus Scale Unaspis euonymil 1150 1388 5 2nd generation targeted treatments
Shade trees European fruit lecanium scale Parthenolecanium corni 1266 1645 5 Crawlers
Conifer Pine Needle Scale Chionaspis pinifoliae 1290 1917 3 Crawlers emerge (2nd generation) – control target
Conifer Hemlock scale Abgrallaspis ithacae 1388 2154 5 Typical treatment window
Malus, Prunus, many Peachtree borer Synanthedon sp. 1500 1800 RU Larvae Treatment
Many White prunicola scale Pseudaulacaspis prunicola 1637 – 6 Egg hatch / crawler (2nd generation)
Euonymus Euonymus Scale Unaspis euonymil 1700 – RU Continued 2nd generation treatments
Conifer Cryptomeria scale Aspidiotus cryptomeriae 1750 2130 RU, 4 Crawlers emerge (2nd generation)
Many Obscure scale Melanaspis obscura 1774 – 6 Egg hatch / crawler
Conifer Maskell scale lepidosaphes pallia 2035 – 6 Egg hatch / crawler (2nd generation)
Mainly Tulip Tulip tree scale Toumeyella liriodendri 2037 2629 RU Crawlers (1st generation)
Mainly Magnolia Magnolia scale Neolecanium cornuparvum 2155 2800 RU Crawlers (1st generation)
Maple Japanese maple scale Lopholeucaspis japonica 2508 – 6 Egg hatch / crawler (2nd generation)
Conifer Elongate hemlock scale Fiorinia externa 2515 2625 RU Typical treatment window – fall activity
Yew, many conifers Fletcher Scale (Yew) Parthenolecanium fletcheri 2515 2800 RU Fall control of overwintering stage

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Nursery, Turf, Uncategorized Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,
May 13, 2022

Pest Scouting 200-500 GDD – Get sprayers ready for Borers, Scale Crawlers, and other important pests

It’s that time of year again, many scale crawlers and borers will be active over the next few weeks throughout NJ. Be prepared to target specific pest life-stages for the highest level of efficacy per material cost and get those problem insects in check. Application of contact insecticides during specific activity windows for these pests should be coupled with systemic applications now to help protect woody plants later on.

Borers attack stressed plants. If you recently dug then heeled-in trees, transplanted seedlings, or otherwise seriously stressed a tree, please consider taking immediate action to protect them from both adult flights (contact trunk sprays) and future infestations (systemics)   

Please Download these resources: (The scouting guide is for you to print and keep on hand…these are just updates)

Nursery and Landscape Pest Scouting Guide 2022 PDF (note this contains conifer pests as well)

Conifer Pest Scouting Guide 2022 PDF

Contact if seeing insects at different times: twaller@njaes.rutgers.edu (or call the Cumberland County Extension Office – 856-451-2800)

Projected GDD50 accumulation as of 5/13/2022 Note: Growing degree-day values utilize daily average air temperatures with a minimum temperature threshold (a.k.a. ‘base’) of 50F = GDD50 (max. temp. threshold set at 95F). These values are accumulated from a biofix date, such as January or March 1st in the NE USA. Provided GDD50 are scouting ranges and should be truthed.
Region Location Station 13-May 1-Jun 1-Jul
South Upper Deerfield NJ50 297 603 1323
Central Howell / Freehold NJ10 242 508 1160
North High Point NJ59 135 345 867
Forecast: NOAA NCEP Coupled Forecast System model version 2 (CFSv2) forecast system (3.5 months) (USPEST.ORG)

Refer to this post “Obtaining your local growing degree-days” for additional information 

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Nursery, Turf Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,