Raef Parker from Parker Farms Oak Grove, Va reports the following catch of corn earworm moths this week: Both traps averaged about 1 moth per night this week. Thus egg laying from this pest is probably low right now in the Northern Neck of Virginia.
Category Archives: Insect
Brown marmorated stink bug black light trap catches for the week ending June 30, 2011
Many cooperators are watching for brown marmorated stink bugs (BMSB) in their black light traps (in addition to corn earworm moths). A total of 10 BMSB were caught in Hanover County’s trap this past week; 6 were caught in Virginia Beach. No BMSB were caught in Chesapeake, Southampton, or Suffolk black light traps. Thanks to Watson Lawrence, Neil Clark, Helene Doughty, Laura Maxey, and the Tidewater AREC entomology crew for their reports this week.
Corn earworm moth counts for the week ending June 30, 2011
Corn earworm moth black light trap catches remain low, with a range of 0.3 to 2 per night. Watson Lawrence reported 0.9 in Chesapeake; Neil Clark had 0.3 in Southampton; Laura Maxey caught 2.0 in Hanover; and we caught 1.7 per night in Suffolk, VA. Please click “More” to see the black light data table. Also, Helene Doughty reported that pheromone traps in Pungo captured a weekly total of 6 (Baker farm) and 29 (Henley farm) corn earworm moths, with 2 captured in the Hampton Roads AREC pheromone trap in Virginia Beach. Additional information: blacklight-table-11-docx
Peanut insect pest update
The peanut crop has responded to the recent rains and in some fields rows are already nearly ‘touching the middles’. The ‘old-timers’ used to say that the best yields occurred in years when plants ‘shook hands’ by the 4th of July. In that regard, things look very promising. We are seeing an increase in potato leafhopper populations with untreated fields reaching 5-10% hopper burned leaves. Our recommendations for hopper management are to scout field prior to any planned fungicide applications (e.g., for leaf spot) and tank mix an insecticide if plants are approaching 25% hopper burn and hoppers are still active. Automatic sprays may or may not have value. It is easy to check fields for hopper and make those tank mix applications IF NEEDED. Unnecessary insecticide applications are never good, as they waste money and kill beneficial insects that can help suppress future pests by eating their eggs and immatures (e.g., corn earworm). We are also getting some calls about the need for Lorsban 15G applications for soil insects, especially southern corn rootworm. Wet years favor rootworm populations, as the eggs and larvae require high levels of soil moisture to survive. But even in a wetter summer, we have seen little value for Lorsban applications in the sandiest fields. We recommend confining Lorsban to fields with heavier soils and those with a history of rootworm damage.
Cotton insect pest update
The cotton crop in Virginia looks as good as any in recent years. Recent rains have resulted in lush growth, to the point that growers are starting to make plant growth regulator applications. Along with this lush growth comes an increase in the levels of plant bug populations, but we will take it—and deal with it. Will we see a larger population of stink bugs? Will brown marmorated stink bugs attack cotton? Too soon to tell, but we will be checking and reporting our findings.
Corn earworm pyrethroid resistance monitoring update
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
Plant bug in cotton, product choice and restriction on Bidrin use
We are seeing a few more fields than usual with plant bugs and damage. According to Johnny Parker with Commonwealth Gin, the number of fields reaching the threshold is about 3-5 percent, and that is based on his surveying about 100 fields over the past week. Since fields are still in the pre-bloom stage, thresholds are based primarily on square retention: Do not let fields drop below 80%. Plant bug damage is distinct and pretty easy to see. Bugs prefer to feed on the small pinhead terminal squares causing them to turn black and shed. You can find the tiny black squares (hit the ‘More’ button to see the image) or the scar where the square was shed. We do not have a lot of experience doing insecticide trials with plant bugs so I called one of my colleges in a state that deals with a lot of plant bug pressure. He recommends using only the insecticides in the neonicotinoid class (e.g., Admire Pro @ 0.9-1.7 oz, Belay @ 3-4 oz, Centric, @ 1.25-2.0 oz) and that they are effective. For resistance management and fear of flaring secondary pests, they recommend avoiding use of either pyrethroids (e.g., Bifenthrin, Karate, Baythroid) or organophosphates (e.g., Bidrin, Orthene). And, he reminded me that Bidrin CANNOT be used during this pre-bloom period. These are the statements on the labels (Bidrin: Early Season—Emergence to pre-square; Late Season—First bloom to 30 days prior to harvest) (Bidrin XP: Use only after cotton reaches the ‘First Bloom’ stage of growth).
Additional information: tpb-square-damage-herbert-doc
Early corn earworm activity in Virginia subsides
After some higher than usual corn earworm pest activity for the spring in Virginia, moth catch at traps has subsided. Raef Parker in the Northern Neck of Virginia is maintaining a couple corn earworm pheromone traps. A couple weeks ago he was catching several moths per night, but this week, the traps have gone silent, which is a good indication that new eggs of this pest are not being laid. Typically, corn earworm pest activity picks up dramatically in mid-July. So, hopefully, we’re in the clear for a little while anyway.
TK
Corn earworm moth black light trap averages for the week ending June 23, 2011
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
Stink bug update
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.