Due to subnormal temperatures and storms, there has not been enough pest activity to warrant producing maps.
Sweet corn
European corn borer moths have now been trapped in Gloucester and Salem County blacklights. This is the beginning of the first, over-wintering generation of moths whose numbers will increase over the next two to three weeks. The most common strain of corn borers has two generations per year and sometimes a partial third. Corn borers attack a wide range of crops including potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, and others, as well as sweet corn.
Stray, individual corn earworm moths have been caught, now, in both blacklight (south) and pheromone (north) traps. These moths likely overwintered in protected areas around the state. A distinct early season flight will commence towards the end of May and increase in early June, especially in the southern and central parts of the state. In recent years, populations of corn earworms have become resistant to pyrethroid insecticides and farmers should not rely on the continual use of pyrethroids for managing earworms.
Peppers
Transplanting of peppers is underway and especially for the southern New Jersey farmers, consider placing pepper weevil pheromone traps in your fields. Early detection of the weevil may help save your crop. Farmers wanting traps can contact Joe Mahar at mahar@sebs.rutgers.edu for arranging a monitoring program. The Rutgers Fact Sheet 1330 also provides information on trapping and monitoring for pepper weevil that can be downloaded from the Rutgers Cooperative Extension website, https://njaes.rutgers.edu/fs1330/
Cole crops
At least two fields in the northern part of the state have been found to be at threshold levels for flea beetles. For details on the management of flea beetles, imported cabbageworm, and diamondback moth, please refer to the 5/11/2022 edition of the IPM Update.
We are looking for field infestations of diamondback moths. There are concerns that local farm populations have become resistant to some insecticides. If there are sufficient numbers to do so we will attempt bioassays to determine resistance. Cultural controls, as well as a change in insecticide usage, may be required.
