July 28, 2025 , and

Box tree moth confirmed in MD, VA, and expanded quarantines in MI, OH. Plus+ IPM webinar recordings and 8/12 session

Box tree moth has been detected in MD and VA.

Additionally quarantines have been expanded (7/21/25) in counties of Michigan and Ohio: Click here for: APHIS Expands Box Tree Moth (Cydalima perspectalis) Quarantines in Michigan and Ohio (July 2025)

Click here for: Maryland BTM confirmed in Washington Co., MD.

Click here for: Virginia BTM confirmed at four sites in Clarke and Loudoun Counties, Va.

Efforts are being made to eradicate the pests at these locations & no additional quarantine information is available at this time. More information to follow.

Box Tree Moth – Resources:

Still time to Sign up for the 2025 – Rutgers Ornamental IPM Program

(Join us for the next Session Tuesday 8/12/25 – Rutgers Plant Diagnostic Lab – Rich Buckley (Guest Speaker))

Previous webinars:

Please visit our new –Rutgers Ornamental IPM Program Website

 

 

Filed Under: Christmas Trees, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Nursery, Turf Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,
June 23, 2025

NEW – Ornamental IPM Website & Upload of 6/10 Webinar – Next Session Tuesday 6/24

Still time to Sign up for the 2025 – Rutgers Ornamental IPM Program

(Join us for the next Session Tuesday 6/24/25)

UPLOADS 6/10 SESSION: (contains information on oriental beetle, SLF, Two-spotted spider mites, soft scales, box tree moth, bacterial shothole, virus symptoms)

  1. Click here for a PDF of June 10, 2025 webinar
  2. Click here for VIDEO of June 10, 2025 webina

Previous webinars:

New –Rutgers Ornamental IPM Program Website

With links to all PDFs and recorded Webinars

Pest and Disease specific information 

…and ever expanding Resources  

Click here for the NEW Rutgers Ornamental IPM Program Website

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June 5, 2025 , and

Bagworms + PEST ALERTS (SCALE crawlers) + Ornamental IPM 5/27 Recording Upload

Days old bagworm size

Bagworms should begin hatching NOW through – 4 weeks in NJ, beginning in the southern regions. Now is an optimal time to get this pest on your radar and prepare materials or approaches to attack first/second instar caterpillars. The control window for this pest is typically between 600-900 GDD50  when they begin to hatch and become airborne, i.e. the “ballooning” phase. It is important to check for egg-hatch prior to applications for greatest chemical efficacy, and to continue scouting as they often hatch and develop at asynchronous rates.

It is critical to target these insects EARLY! We need to target when they are as small as shown in the image. 

Bagworm management – mechanical: If eggs have not hatched: hand-remove sacs/bags. Typically female/egg filled sacs are higher in the canopy so keep that in mind while scouting. This removes the problem from the field or landscape.

Treatment options for Lepidoptera (caterpillars) to have at the ready – containing: B.t. (Bacillus thuringiensis), spinosad , bifenthrin ), cyfluthrin, carbaryl, chlorantraniliprole, cyclaniliprole, cyclaniliprole + flonicamid, Lambda-cyhalothrin, cyantraniliprole, Indoxacarb.  NOTE – Lethal pesticide doses are important, as sub-lethal doses can trigger early pupation, making the pest all but invincible to chemical or biological treatments. Follow label exactly.

Still time to Sign up for the 2025 – Rutgers Ornamental IPM Program

(Join us for the next Session Tuesday 6/10/25)

Note we have clearwing borer lures and wing or delta traps, scale crawler tape, and yellow sticky cards available to commercial grower program members at our Cumberland (twaller@njaes.rutgers.edu) and Monmouth (william.errickson@njaes.rutgers.edu) RCE offices.

ALERTS:

  1. Scale crawler emergence throughout the state
  2. Bronze Birch Borer (BBB) and Emerald Ash Borer approaching adult emergence
  3. Clearwing Borer adult flight – still capturing clearwings
  4. Red-headed flea beetle (RHFB) egg hatch – adult emergence
  5. Bagworm reminders – be vigilant

UPLOADS 5/27 SESSION: (contains information on flathead borers (Bronze Birch, Emerald Ash), Armored scales, bagworms, Volutella blight in Boxwoods, Mildews)

  1. Click here for a PDF of May 27, 2025 webinar
  2. Click here for VIDEO of May 27, 2025 webinar

Previous webinars:

(click the ‘Read More’ below for complete dates in S-C-Northern NJ per pest)

 

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May 19, 2025 , and

Ornamental IPM 5/13 Recording Upload – NUMEROUS PEST ALERTS

Still time to Sign up for the 2025 – Rutgers Ornamental IPM Program

(Join us for the next Session Tuesday 5/27/25)

PREVIOUS SESSION: (contains information on boxwood pests, armored scales, needlecast diseases, oomycetes )

  1. Click here for a PDF of May 13, 2025 webinar
  2. Click here for VIDEO of May 13, 2025 webinar

Note we have clearwing borer lures and wing or delta traps, scale crawler tape, and yellow sticky cards available to commercial grower program members at our Cumberland (twaller@njaes.rutgers.edu) and Monmouth (william.errickson@njaes.rutgers.edu) RCE offices.

ALERTS:

  1. Scale crawler emergence throughout the state
  2. Spruce spider mite activity and damage
  3. Boxwood Blight Risk Model for next 7days
  4. Bronze Birch Borer (BBB) approaching adult emergence
  5. Clearwing Borer adult flight – time to monitor / treat
  6. Red-headed flea beetle (RHFB) egg hatch – adult emergence
  7. Oomycete material considerations

Previous webinars:

 

(click the ‘Read More’ below for complete dates in S-C-Northern NJ per pest)

 

[Read more…]

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May 12, 2025

Ornamental IPM – Blight and pest alerts – next IPM Session 5/13/25

  1. Serious potential for Boxwood Blight
  2. Bronze Birch Borer (BBB) approaching adult emergence
  3. Clearwing Borer adult flight – time to monitor
  4. Red-headed flea beetle (RHFB) egg hatch – adult emergence soon
  5. Oomycete material considerations
  6. (click the ‘Read More’ below for complete dates in S-C-Northern NJ per pest)

Still time to Sign up for the 2025 – Rutgers Ornamental IPM Program

(Join us for the next Session Tuesday 5/13/25)

Note we have Clearwing borer lures and wing or delta traps, scale crawler tape, and yellow sticky cards available to commercial grower program members at our Cumberland (twaller@njaes.rutgers.edu) and Monmouth (william.errickson@njaes.rutgers.edu) RCE offices.

[Read more…]

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March 31, 2025 and

Register for the NEW – 2025 Ornamental IPM Program PLUS Boxwood Blight, Pest emergence, Updates

Ornamental IPM 2025 v1 flyer

Please consider signing up for the NEW 2025 – Rutgers Ornamental IPM Program.

The focus of this program is to provide timely updates on pest, disease, and weeds impacting commercial ornamental producers. The webinars will focus on the most important pests for a 2 week interval, will be recorded, and will be shared shortly thereafter with Spanish overdub (spoken word). The trap packages are in an effort to find grower led solutions for monitoring economically important pests throughout the multiple regions of New Jersey. Please consider joining this program for its inaugural year.

Registration includes:

  • Site visit to your ornamental nursery/farm from Rutgers agents
  • Delivered printed IPM resources (Guides, factsheets, bulletins)
  • Free pheromone & sticky trap kit + guidance on setup/monitoring
  • Access to live bi-weekly webinars (Zoom)
  • (First session NEXT TUESDAY 4/8 @ 12PM)
  • Every Second and Fourth, Tuesday, April through September
  • Webinars will be recorded – posted later with Spanish overdub

This program is free, however registration is required.

click here to Register

Boxwood Blight Risk Assessment as of 3/4/2025
Region Location CODE 31-March 1-April 2-April 3-April 4-April 5-April
Southern Upper Deerfield NJ50 Very Low  Very Low  Very Low  Low Minor Risk Very Low 
Central Howell / Freehold NJ10 Minor Risk Very Low  Very Low  Low Minor Risk Very Low 
Northern Wantage NJ79 Low Very Low  Very Low  Low Risk Very Low 
M T W TH F S
 Please check YOUR LOCAL risk (click here)

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 resources!

 

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