July 28, 2020

Unsolicited Seeds From Foreign Sources

Several states are now reporting and you may have read or heard news reports of packets of seeds arriving in the mail from foreign shipping addresses that were not ordered. If you receive such a packet, DO NOT open or discard them. Rather, follow these directions from the NJ Dept of Agriculture:

UPDATED NJDA ALERT (https://www.nj.gov/agriculture/news/hottopics/topics200727.html)

We have been receiving reports of people receiving seeds in the mail from China that they did not order. Sometimes the seeds are sent in packages stating that the contents are jewelry. Unsolicited seeds could be invasive, introduce diseases to local plants, or be harmful to livestock.

Here’s what to do if you receive unsolicited seeds from another country:

This is known as agricultural smuggling. Report it to the USDA!

  1. DO NOT plant them and if they are in sealed packaging don’t open the sealed package.
  2. Take a photo of the package and seeds and send the photos to the New Jersey Department of Agriculture Joseph.zoltowski@ag.nj.gov and USDA SITC at  SITC.Mail@aphis.usda.gov
  3. Maintain the seeds and packaging and send to the USDA Office located at 1500 Lower Rd, Linden NJ 07036 for evidence. 

If individuals are aware of the potential smuggling of prohibited exotic fruits, vegetables, or meat products into or through the USA, they can help APHIS by contacting the confidential Anti-smuggling Hotline number at 800-877-3835 or by sending an Email to SITC.Mail@aphis.usda.gov. USDA will make every attempt to protect the confidentiality of any information sources during an investigation within the extent of the law.

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Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Field, Forage & Livestock, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Vegetable Crops Tagged With: , , , , , , ,
August 18, 2018

Monitoring for SLF Egg Masses

Spotted lanternfly egg mass

Spotted lanternfly egg mass – photo by A.L. Nielsen

Spotted lanternfly is a new invasive species in NJ. Egg masses are brownish grey and generally laid on bark in early fall and appear like a smudge of mud. Adults are expected to start egg laying in August and continue through November or the first hard frost.

SLF eggs overwinter and can be laid on multiple hard surfaces, including fence posts, trees, patio furniture, fruit bins, landscaping stones, railway cars, etc. Due to this they can be easily transported and represent a significant risk to SLF populations spreading. Vehicles, stones, agricultural equipment, and fruit bins coming from PA or VA should be inspected for egg masses beginning in August. Within state movement is also of concern to prevent new populations. If found, egg masses can be scraped into a plastic bag and frozen to limit spread and future impact of this pest.

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Plant Diagnostic Lab, Uncategorized, Vegetable Crops Tagged With: , , ,
July 18, 2018

Spotted Lanternfly in NJ

NEW PEST ALERT

Spotted lanternfly in grape

Spotted lanternfly in grape – photo credit E. Smyers

Spotted lanternfly (Lycorma deliculata, SLF) has been found in NJ. SLF is an invasive plant hopper species that could be very devastating to some NJ crops. Since its discovery in Pennsylvania in 2014, SLF has been placed under a state quarantine encompassing 13 Pennsylvania counties. Populations are also present in Virginia.

SLF adults and nymphs are phloem feeders that feed in large aggregations on woody tissue. Over 65 host plants were reported in Asia, many of which grow in the mid-Atlantic area. These host plants include hardwood trees such as Tree of Heaven, black walnut, and red maple and agricultural crops such as grape, apple, and hops. Feeding occurs on the trunk and limbs of plants, not on the fruit or leaf tissues. However, because they feed in aggregations and produce large amounts of honey dew (or sugar water), sooty mold can grow on plant surface and fruit, leading to reduced photosynthesis and plant vigor. In Pennsylvania, adults and nymphs have been observed feeding in commercial vineyards on cultivated grape. Economic estimates of injury are not available but growers report direct yield losses due to sooty mold and reductions in plant health and canopy coverage. Insecticides are effective but due to the high mobility of this pest, in highly infested areas, vines should be monitored closely for new bugs. Populations and injury are higher along vineyard edges, especially near Tree of Heaven. Interestingly, SLF tends to aggregate on a few trees or vines. Survey for SLF along the perimeters of fields and on Tree of Heaven, Black Walnut, Red Maple, and wild grapevines at the edges of wood lines. Aggregations of adults were found on commercial apple trees in PA near apples harvest in 2017, so apple growers need to be diligent as well.

The adults are large (~1” long) and quite colorful with a black head, grayish black spotted forewings and reddish black spotted hind wings. Adults may start to appear mid-late July (now) and will feed through the first hard freeze in the fall. Young nymphs hatch from eggs in late Spring/early summer and are black with white spots and as they get older they become red and black with white spots. While 4th instars have been reported in NJ, adults are present in VA, so be on the lookout for all life stages.

Spotted lanternfly on tree

Spotted lanternfly on Tree of Heaven – photo by A.L. Nielsen

If you think you seen or collected a spotted lanternfly please report it the New Jersey Department of Agriculture and the Department of Entomology at the Rutgers University School of Environmental and Biological Sciences by emailing slanternfly@njaes.rutgers.edu

Filed Under: Blueberry, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Plant Diagnostic Lab, Tree Fruit, Uncategorized, Vegetable Crops, Wine Grape Tagged With: , , ,