Folks, this is the final insect pest trap data for 2009 for the Eastern Shore. We’ve pulled up all of the blacklight and pheromone traps.
In general, there is still a little bit of moth activity of corn earworm and beet armyworm, and fall armyworm has increased on the Shore. Blacklight trap counts for this week were as follows: David Long (Cape Charles) = 25 corn earworm, 7 beet armyworm, 4 fall armyworm, 4 green stink bug. Blacklight trap – Mark Colson (Eastville) = 14 corn earworm, 10 beet armyworm, 13 Fall armyworm; 0 green stink bugs, 1 brown stink bugs. Blacklight trap Painter = 8 corn earworm moths, 8 beet armyworm, 3 fall armyworm, 16 green stink bugs, 0 brown stink bugs. ******************************************Corn earworm Pheromone Traps (weekly catch): Keller = 8; Tasley = 0; Modesttown = 1 ; New Church = 3; Horntown = 2; Eastville = 25; Machipongo = 9 ; Painter = 3; Guilford = 0. Beet armyworm Pheromone traps (weekly catch): Modestown = 0; New Church = 1; Horntown = 12; Machipongo = 53 (increase); Painter = 1. Fall armyworm pheromone traps (weekly catch): Painter: 75(big increase); Newman – Eastville: 29 (increase); Hortntown: 28 (increase). ****************************************************************************************Summary, corn earworm and beet armyworm moths are still flying on the Eastern Shore, and are likely still depositing eggs on whatever green plants they can find. Late planted beans, fruiting vegetables and cole crops are prime host crops this time of year for both species. We’ve also observed an increase in fall armyworm moths at every location on the Eastern Shore. This pest can attack a wide range of vegetable host plants as well, and can even be a pest of turf.

Insect Trap Counts for the Eastern Shore for Week ending Sept 18. Moth activity picked up a little bit from the previous rainy last week. Blacklight trap counts for this week were as follows: David Long (Cape Charles) = 22 corn earworm, 5 beet armyworm, 4 fall armyworm, 1 green stink bug (very low). Blacklight trap – Mark Colson (Eastville) = 31 corn earworm, 9 beet armyworm, 6 Fall armyworm; 12 green stink bugs, 1 brown stink bugs. Blacklight trap Painter = 27 corn earworm moths, 15 beet armyworm, 15 fall armyworm, 36 green stink bugs, 3 brown stink bugs. ******************************************Corn earworm Pheromone Traps (weekly catch): Keller = 0; Tasley = 0; Modesttown = 1 (drop); New Church = 1; Horntown = 0; Eastville = 16; Machipongo = 3 (big drop); Painter = 3; Guilford = 1. Beet armyworm Pheromone traps (weekly catch): Modestown = 3; New Church = 2; Horntown = 24; Machipongo = 27; Painter = 20. Fall armyworm pheromone traps (weekly catch): Painter: 11; Newman – Eastville: 0; Hortntown: 2. ****************************************************************************************Summary, corn earworm moth activity appears to be finally dropping off on the Eastern Shore. Corn earworm, beet armyworm, and fall armyworm moths are still flying on the Eastern Shore and laying eggs on crops. Tomatoes in Painter at the ESAREC had above threshold numbers of new eggs on leaves this week. Sprays for “worm” pests are advised. Beet armyworm larval activity has also been seen in tomatoes and peppers. Stink bugs are present, but not in high numbers in late-planted soybean fields. Soybean loopers have been reported as a big pest problem in lower Northampton County. This insect pest appears to have survived the preventative pyrethroid sprays on many soybean fields, and may need some different insecticide classes to kill it, such as Steward, Tracer, Lannate, or Larvin, or Intrepid. The new Cobalt insecticide from Dow would likely also control soybean looper.

Insect Trap Counts for the Eastern Shore for Week ending Sept 11
In general moth activity has dropped off considerably this week.
The Blacklight trap counts for this week were as follows: David Long (Cape Charles) = 10 corn earworm (down from last week), 3 beet armyworm, 0 fall armyworm (low), 0 brown stink bug, 1 green stink bug (very low). Blacklight trap – Mark Colson (Eastville) = 9 corn earworm, 6 beet armyworm (drop), 2 Fall armyworm; 2 green stink bugs, 0 brown stink bugs. Blacklight trap Painter = 7 corn earworm moths (drop), 1 green stink bugs, 0 brown stink bugs. ******************************************Corn earworm Pheromone Traps (weekly catch): Keller = 0; Tasley = 0; Modesttown = 15 (moderate); New Church = 1; Horntown = 0; Eastville = 6 (drop); Machipongo = 9 (drop); Painter = 7 (drop); Guilford = 0. Beet armyworm Pheromone traps (weekly catch): Modestown = 5; New Church = 2; Horntown = 14; Machipongo = 52 (drop, but still active); Painter = 31 (rise). Fall armyworm pheromone traps (weekly catch): Painter: 21 (moderate); Newman – Eastville: 1; Hortntown: 4. ****************************************************************************************Summary, corn earworm moth activity appears to be finally dropping off on the Eastern Shore. The moths are on the decline in Northampton County and lower Accomack. However, larval activity in tomatoes, cotton, soybeans, green beans, and lima beans is probably quite active if insecticide sprays were not applied over the past couple weeks – during the heavy flights. Beet armyworm moth activity has dropped in Northampton County, but remains moderate in the Machipongo location. Stink bug adult activity appears to be done for the season. Heavy rains like we’ve recently experienced on the Eastern Shore will often finish off the pest outbreaks of number of insect species, particularly caterpillar or “worm” pests. In additon to washing small larvae off of plants, heavy precipitation often will trigger high mortality from insect disease pathogens such as fungi and bacteria. This natural control may save growers an insecticide spray.