We’ve had a somewhat slow start to spring on the Eastern Shore of VA with regards to insect pests. *****THRIPS******Over the past month we have collected flowering weeds (mostly mustard and henbit) around farms in Accomack and Northampton Counties to sample for overwintering thrips populations. Although we have found a few tobacco thrips, Eastern flower thrips, and Western flower thrips on the weeds, most flowers have been void of thrips, and overall the counts are less than they were this time last year. This is hopefully good news to farmers…, but we’ll see how populations build up in the small grains crops. ******Colorado potato beetle****** This week I found the first Colorado potato beetles coming to potato plants and mating. Egg-laying will soon follow, and probably has already begun in the Cape Charles potato-growing region. The vast majority of growers used an at-planting application of a neonicotinoid insecticide such as Admire, Platinum, or Venom, which should provide control of beetles until around June. *****Wheat***** Many growers on the Eastern Shore applied a pyrethroid insecticide this spring for aphids…I guess. This spray was probably not warranted. I’ve discussed this matter with Dr. Ames Herbert (Virginia Tech TWAREC), who has many years of experience with aphid pest management in wheat. Aphids seldom ever need to be sprayed on wheat in the early spring. Populations are rarely ever high enough, and natural enemies, particularly parasitoids, will soon catch up to the aphid populations and bring the densities under control. One grower from Northampton County called me this week to tell me that despite strong suggestions from the pesticide applicators to include a pyrethroid insecticide in the spray tank for wheat, he declined. A week later, he said that most of the aphids looked grayish and sick – aphid mummies from the parasitoids. He was glad that he didn’t spray. It’s seems like an easy decision. Sure, you are making a pass over the field anyway, and logic tells you that a pyrethroid is relatively cheap, and you should probably do it. Well even it is only $3 per acre, that’s $3 that probably most of our growers did not need to spend. One concern with aphids is vectoring Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus, but this would have been done in the Fall of the year, and spraying now would not matter. Cereal leaf beetle adults were present, but in very low numbers. Also, I recently heard a scout on the Eastern Shore tell me that in his many years of scouting wheat, he’s only seen two fields that exceeded threshold for cereal leaf beetle.

DUPONT” recently announced a new special label for the anthranilic diamide insecticide CORAGEN® for foliar use on potatoes. In our research trials, Coragen has provided excellent control of Colorado potato beetle, European corn borer, and beet armyworm, which can attack potatoes in our region. Click on More to download the special label. Additional information: coragen-potato-r959-2-pdf

DUPONT” recently announced a new special label for at-planting soil application uses for the systemic insecticide CORAGEN®. Added to the label were new vegetable crops includings BRASSICAS (cole crops), CUCURBITS, FRUITING VEGETABLES and LEAFY VEGETABLES. In our research trials, Coragen has provided excellent control of most lepidopteran pests as a systemic insecticide. Other pests including Colorado potato beetle, whiteflies, and leafminers have also been effectively controlled. Click on More to download the special label Additional information: coragen-soil-app-r958-newlabel-pdf

Valent USA Corp. recently announced a brand new supplemental label for the insecticide Belay for potato seed piece application. The active ingredient is the systemic neonicotinoid, clothianidin, which is found in the popular corn seed treatment Poncho. Field tests with Belay on potatoes in Virginia, have shown it to be excellent for control of Colorado potato beetle and potato leafhoppers. It should also provide some suppression of wireworms coming to the seed piece. Click more for the supplemental label. Additional information: belay-potato-seed-piece-label-pdf