Apple scab, cedar apple rust, and powdery mildew: Few apple scab lesions have been found in orchards throughout the state. Mildew infections have also been observed on leaves in several orchards with a history of the disease. This past week, cedar apple rust symptoms were also reported at several orchards throughout the state (Figure 1). If you see apple scab lesions on your cluster leaves, products such as Merivon, Luna Sensation, ProPhyt, or Inspire Super can be applied to burn them out. These products also work well on powdery mildew. In periods of hot days with high humidity and no rain, sulfur (e.g., Microthiol Disperss at 10 lb./A) can be applied. Do not tank mix captan and sulfur. Powdery mildew needs to be managed through July.

Figure 1. Cedar apple rust lesions forming on apple leaves.

Fire blight: Shoot blight symptoms increased over the past week. When blight is present, it is appropriate to prune out infected shoots. Do not cut out infections during wet weather, as bacteria can spread through water. The recommendation is to cut back to last year’s growth, at least 12” back into healthy tissue, and to sterilize pruners between cuttings.

Rots: Hot, humid weather like we experienced last week will increase the risk of fruit rots, including white rot, bitter rot, black rot, sooty blotch, and flyspeck. White rot was observed in South Jersey apple orchards this week, underscoring the importance of maintaining protective fungicide coverage during periods conducive to disease development. Broad-spectrum fungicides, such as captan and ziram, are effective, and adding single-site products, including Merivon, Luna Sensation, Pristine, Omega, and Aprovia, may improve control. The addition of phosphorous acid products such as ProPhyt or Rampart to captan sprays can improve control of rots and other summer diseases, such as sooty blotch and flyspeck, and may help suppress scab infections when present.

Marssonina Blotch, Glomerella Leaf Spot, and Frogeye Leaf Spot: In orchards with reduced spray programs, we continue to see increases in frogeye leaf spot. These diseases should be managed, as they will cause defoliation and provide a source of inoculum for black rot and bitter rot next season. Maintain coverage of captan, manzate, or ziram before rain events through the growing season according to the cover spray rule of applications every 2” of rain or 14 days, whichever comes first.

Codling Moth (CM): Biofix has been set for southern counties as of April 20 and in northern counties as of May 5. Although we are past the model timings for CM, some orchards with a history of injury continue to experience trap captures above the threshold (5 moths per trap); further treatment may be needed.

Figure 2. Frass, or chewed wood, looks like “toothpicks” being pushed out from the trunk where the ambrosia beetle is boring into the tree.

Tufted Apple Bud Moth (TABM): Trap counts have decreased from the previous week. This has been a minor pest in recent years, and many materials used for codling moth will also control TABM, including Lannate, Delegate, diamides, and Intrepid. The timing for management of the first generation has ended.

Scale: Crawler emergence was reported at the end of May and will continue for the next 6 weeks. Control options during crawler emergence include Neonicotinoids (suppression only), Sivanto, Esteem, and Centaur. See also the scale discussion under the peach section.

Woolly Apple Aphid (WAA); Green Apple (Spirea) Aphids (GAA): Populations continue to build in some orchards statewide, but on average remain below treatment levels. A treatment threshold is set at 50% of the terminals infested with live colonies. Predation by lady beetles and other predators has been observed and can help maintain pest populations below damaging thresholds. As the terminals stop growing and harden, aphid populations should decrease. Movento will control WAA and GAA and can suppress scale when crawlers are active.

Ambrosia Beetle: Trap captures have started to increase. Monitor signs of stress or infested trees with “toothpicks” from boring activity (Figure 2).

Dogwood borer: We continue to capture a high number of males in pheromone traps across orchards statewide. Mating disruption is recommended and effective for this pest and should be considered for next season in blocks with a history of infestation. Assail has demonstrated activity when targeting adults to reduce egg laying. See the 2026 Integrated Orchard Management Guide for Commercial Apples in the Southeast.

Average Trap Captures in Apple – Southern Counties

Average Trap Captures in Apple – Northern Counties

Powdery mildew: Warm days followed by cool, humid nights are ideal conditions for powdery mildew in orchards, and it has been observed on leaves. Mancozeb is not effective. In periods of hot days with high humidity and no rain, sulfur (e.g., Microthiol Disperss at 10 lb./A) can be applied. Powdery mildew needs to be managed through July. Do not tank mix captan and sulfur.

Fire blight: The shoot blight phase of the disease is present in a few areas throughout the state (Figure 1).

Where blight is present, it is an appropriate time to prune out infected shoots. Do not cut out infections during wet weather, as bacteria can spread through water.

Rots: In orchards with fruit, management moving forward will focus on summer diseases, including fruit rots such as bitter rot, sooty blotch, and fly speck. Broad-spectrum fungicides captan and ziram are effective, and adding single-site products such as Merivon, Luna Sensation, Pristine, Omega, and Aprovia may improve control. The addition of phosphorous acid products such as Prophyt or Rampart to captan sprays can improve control ofrots and other summer diseases, such as sooty blotch and flyspeck. It may help suppress scab infections when present.

Marssonina Blotch, Glomerella Leaf Spot, and Frogeye Leaf Spot: We continue to see frogeye leaf spot in apple orchards throughout the state (Figure 2). These diseases should be managed, as they will cause defoliation and provide a source of inoculum for black rot and bitter rot next season. Maintain coverage of captan, manzate, or ziram before rain events through the growing season according to the cover spray rule of applications every 2” of rain or 14 days, whichever comes first.

Insect management programs should be adjusted this season to account for reduced crop load in many orchards. In blocks with little to no fruit, many insect pests will not require treatment; however, monitoring should continue, and management should be maintained where pests threaten tree health or next year’s crop. 

Codling Moth (CM): Biofix has been set for southern counties as of April 20 and in northern counties as of May 5. The second of two treatments can be applied in northern counties. All timed treatments in other areas of the state should be applied. Growers should rely on a 5-month-per-trap threshold; if counts exceed this level, further treatments are needed. 

Tufted Apple Bud Moth (TABM): A biofix for TABM was set in southern county orchards on 4/28. Trap counts are higher on individual farms this year compared to recent years, either due to a higher population or a reduced insecticide spray program. Consider management when pheromone trap counts are high, if injury was noted last year, or if leaf shelters and fruit feeding are easily found. Many materials used for codling moth will also control TABM, including Lannate, Delegate, diamides, and Intrepid. Timing for management of the first generation is best timed for 500-650 DD and 805-850 DD base 45°F. As of 6/8, Gloucester County is at 788 DD base 45°F. 

Woolly Apple Aphid (WAA); Green Apple (Spirea) Aphids (GAA): Populations continue to build in some orchards statewide, but on average remain below treatment levels. A treatment threshold is set at 50% of the terminals infested with live colonies. Predation by lady beetles and other predators has been observed and can help to maintain pest populations below damaging thresholds. As the terminals stop growing and harden, aphid populations should decrease. Movento will control WAA and GAA and can suppress scale when applied in late May or early June when crawlers are active. 

Figure 3. Dogwood borer adult moth on apple.

Dogwood borer: The number of males captured in traps has decreased from last week, but trap captures remain high, particularly in orchards with a history of the pest (Figure 3). Mating disruption is recommended and effective for this pest. Manage as needed in blocks with a history of infestation. Assail has demonstrated activity when targeting adults to reduce egg laying. See the 2026 Integrated Orchard Management Guide for Commercial Apples in the Southeast.

Average Trap Captures in Apple – Southern Counties 

Average Trap Captures in Apple – Northern Counties 

Foliar diseases should be managed with Mancozeb or Ziram, plus a single-site fungicide, to maintain pressure and reduce inoculum levels, protecting fruit and maintaining a healthy orchard going into the next season (Figure 4). See the New Jersey Commercial Tree Fruit Production Guide for more information. 

Figure 4. Fabraea leaf spot on foliage in pear. Photo by Katrina DeWitt.

Pear psylla: Psylla adults are still actively laying eggs, and nymphs continue to hatch. Options for control include Actara, Assail, and Belay (IRAC group 4A); Sivanto Prime (IRAC group 4D); Delegate (IRAC Group 5); and products containing abamectin (IRAC group 6). Other options include Movento (IRAC Group 23). The addition of 0.25-1 gal of summer oil may improve control. Be sure to read and follow the label instructions for adding penetrants to these products.

Given the widespread crop loss in many orchards, disease management programs should be adjusted accordingly. With little to no fruit present in most blocks, emphasis should shift away from fruit protection and toward maintaining tree health and reducing inoculum for next season.

Bacterial spot:

Growers should continue to manage symptoms with oxytetracycline and lower copper rates, particularly during rainy periods and severe weather. Fruit will become less susceptible to infection at pit hardening. Avoid combining copper with captan, especially following extended cloudy or slow-drying conditions.

Rusty spot:

Rusty spot infections are appearing on fruit across the state and are ongoing until pit hardening. Maintain coverage with effective materials such as Rally, Rhyme, or potassium bicarbonate products. Other choices include Flint Extra, Inspire Super, and Luna Sensation.

Peach scab:

Maintain good coverage with captan or other effective fungicides until July in orchards where scab was previously an issue.

Insect management programs for peaches and nectarines should be adjusted this season due to reduced crop load. In blocks with little to no fruit, many fruit-feeding pests will not require treatment; however, monitoring should continue, and management should focus on pests that impact tree health or future production. Oriental Fruit Moth (OFM): A biofix point for OFM was set on 4/7 for southern counties and 4/15 in northern counties. Treatment timings targeting the second generation are shown in the table below. 

 Scale: White peach scale and San Jose scale crawlers began emergence around May 27 and will continue for the next 6 weeks. Control options during crawler emergence include Neonicotinoids (suppression only), Sivanto, Esteem, and Centaur.  

Green Peach Aphid: We continue to observe reduced aphid populations across farm sites. If more than 1 colony of aphids per tree is found in nectarines, or 2-3 colonies are found in peaches, an insecticide for aphids is needed. Management options include Assail, Actara, Admire Pro, or Sivanto. 

Thrips: Thrips continue to be present in peach blocks. In dry conditions, flower thrips may become an issue in ripening fruit, especially in poorly managed ground covers that contain clover or other flowering weeds. Thrips damage appears as “silvering” and usually appears on fruit close to harvest. Delegate or Entrust at the highest labeled rate are the usual recommended materials for thrips in stone fruit. Lannate also has activity on thrips. These materials all have short PHI’s and may be applied close to harvest when damage typically appears.  

Plum Curculio: We continue to report on recent injuries to developing peaches and apples across the state. If recent injury is observed, management options include Avaunt and neonicotinoids (Actara, Belay). 

Tarnished plant bugs and other catfacing insects: Activity is increasing with dry weather and summer temperatures. Very little recent fruit feeding has been observed. In most blocks with little to no fruit, treatment is not necessary.

Average Trap Captures in Peach – Southern Counties 

Average Trap Captures in Peach – Northern Counties