Author Archives: Sean Malone

Sugarcane aphid in sorghum: Sep. 1, 2016 update

White sugarcane aphid, Melanaphis sacchari, was found infesting sorghum in New Kent county this week.  Thanks to ANR Agent John Allison for submitting the sample.  Edit to original post:  MIke Arrington and Kayla Babb (Tidewater AREC Entomology) reported finding infestations of M. sacchari in Surry County sorghum, near Bacon’s Castle (this is not on the state map).SCA_map_1_Sep_2016

Brown marmorated stink bug and kudzu bug in soybean: Sep. 1, 2016 update

This week, our soybean scouts Ed and Jamie reported two new counties with BMSB this season (Rockingham and Rapphannock).  Eight counties had threshold levels of BMSB (3-5 adults+medium & large nymphs per 15 sweeps or 2-minute visual inspection)–see the BMSB map for details.  Kudzu bugs were found in one new county–Chesterfield.  Over all counties sampled, kudzu bug numbers ranged from zero to 3 per 15 sweeps–still below threshold.

BMSB_map_1_Sep_2016KB_map_1_Sep_2016

BMSB and kudzu bug in soybean: update for Aug. 25, 2016

This past week our scouts found four new Virginia counties with brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) in soybean (Caroline, Shenandoah, Rockbridge, and Henry).  Thresholds for field edges where BMSB is the predominant stink bug species are 3-5 adults + medium and large nymphs per 2-minute visual count, or 3-5 in 15 sweeps.  The Shenandoah field (R5 growth stage) that was sampled was above threshold with 8 BMSB per 2-minute count; six counties were approaching threshold (please see the map for specifics).

BMSB_map_25_Aug_2016

Kudzu bugs were found in three new counties (Prince George [reported by ANR Agent Scott Reiter), James City, and Franklin).  No counties had threshold levels of kudzu bugs (threshold is one nymph per sweep, which equals 15 nymphs per 15 sweeps).

KB_map_25_Aug_2016

Vial test results for Aug. 18, 2016

This week, we vial-tested 96 H. zea moths (corn earworm/bollworm) captured in Suffolk, VA pheromone traps and had 32.9% survival to the 24-hour exposure to cypermethrin (a pyrethroid insecticide).  The survival rate averaged over the entire season is 38.8%.  AVT_18_Aug_2016a