As of June 29, we have tested a total of 687 corn earworm moths in our pyrethroid resistance monitoring program and the results are rather foreboding. If you open the attached PowerPoint graph you will see the data from 2010 and 2011, to date. We are seeing levels of survivors reaching 40%–not good for this early in the season. Of course things could change as we move into the season. But recent history has shown that once survivorship reaches these levels, although there will be some ups-and-downs, the overall levels will stay pretty high. The areas of the state where conditions remain dry will be at the greatest risk to intensive moth flights and the potential for less-than-satisfactory levels of control with pyrethroid insecticides.
Additional information: cew-avt-data-jun-29-2011-herbert-pptx

Most black light trap operators have their traps up and running now. The Tidewater AREC trap in Suffolk, VA captured an average of 2.6 corn earworm moths per night, while Neil Clark (Virginia Cooperative Extension, Southampton County) reported zero corn earworm moths for this week. Please click “More” to view the summary table. Additional information: blacklight-table-11-docx

Following a bit of local news coverage about the brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) and its potential to become a problem in our coastal plain region, I have received numerous contacts from local homeowners/gardeners. To date, of those that have been able to provide insect samples, none have been the dreaded critter. Most have been either our native brown stink bug, or the squash bug, which is beginning to attack squash plants throughout the region. Although damaging, we understand these insects and know how to manage them…as opposed to BMSB which would pose a much bigger challenge. So for now, the good news is that BMSB has not been reported attacking crops in our area…yet. Locals are encouraged to send in suspected samples for ID (Attn: Ames Herbert, Tidewater AREC, 6321 Holland Road, Suffolk, VA, 23437). We recommend that folks put any bugs-in-question into a zip-lock sandwich bag and into the freezer. When mailing, just pad them to prevent breakage during the delivery process.

Although we are beginning to catch a few more moths than last week, we are still between generations. If things go according to previous patterns, the second generation will peak at a time to coincide with when field corn is developing ears. Some fields are beginning to tassel, so it won’t be long. We will be tracking and posting our trap catch and AVT (adult vial pyrethroid test) results weekly.

Incidence of TSWV is increasing in the peanut crop. We have the advantage of having a lot of peanut thrips trials evaluating varieties and many insecticide control options where we are also able to rate TSWV severity. Hopefully, we will find the most effective alternatives for minimizing both thrips and the disease. We are also getting reports from home gardeners that tomato plants are showing disease symptoms. When disease symptoms begin to express in a plant, there is essentially nothing that can be done to decrease the severity. Some feel that removing infected tomato plants will prevent, or at least minimize the risk of transmission to other plants. Maybe, but the transmission has to occur from adult thrips that acquired the virus by feeding on infected plants while in the larval stage. An insecticide protection regime designed to control thrips can help a lot in reducing the spread of the virus from plant to plant.