Greetings,

On May 11, 2018 the Environmental Protection Agency approved the renewal of a Section 18 Emergency Exemption for use of the bifenthrin-based products, Brigade WSB, Bifenture EC, and Bifenture 10DF against brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) in apples, peaches, and nectarines in Virginia. This exemption applies only to the products mentioned above. These and other bifenthrin-based insecticides have a Section 3 label for use in pears. The requirements of this Section 18 are that applications must be made only from the ground, at a rate of 0.08 to 0.2 lb active ingredient (a.i.) per acre, with not more than 0.5 lb a.i. per acre per season. These application rates equate to 5.12 – 12.8 fl oz of Bifenture EC, and 12.8 – 32.0 oz of Bifenture DF or Brigade WSP per acre. Seasonal maximums are 32 fl oz of Bifenture EC, 80 oz of Bifenture DF, and 72 oz of Brigade WAB. Multiple applications may be made per season, at a minimum retreatment interval of 30 days. The REI is 12 hours and the PHI is 14 days. This insecticide is extremely toxic to fish, aquatic invertebrates, and bees, and all precautions to avoid these exposures must be observed. Bifenthrin is considered one of the strongest insecticides against BMSB but can be disruptive to natural enemies of secondary pests. Consequently, we recommend its use in apples later in the season, when BMSB populations are highest. In peaches and nectarines, it can be useful from fruit set until 14 days before harvest. This Emergency Exemption expires on October 15, 2018.

Please note: The availability of bifenthrin-based products may be more limited in 2018 than in previous years. Therefore, growers wanting to use these products are urged to contact their suppliers as soon as possible.

Until next time, best wishes.

Greetings,

Management of first brood codling moth (CM) larvae is warranted if captures in pheromone traps have exceeded the threshold of 5 moths per trap per week.  Based on the biofix for CM at Winchester (May 3), 204 DD had accumulated for this pest as of May 14. Optimal timing for most of the products considered most effective for first brood CM larvae is 250 DD, which will be reached in the Winchester area by about the middle of this week.

Peak emergence of brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) adults from overwintering sites occurs from now through the end of May, although some portion of the overwintering population typically emerges somewhat earlier, and we have captured BMSB in pheromone traps in Frederick County, VA over the last couple of weeks. Peaches and nectarines are vulnerable to it from the early stages of fruit development onward, so blocks with a history of BMSB injury or in which it has been observed this spring should be protected now. We have not yet been notified about a decision on renewals of the Section 18 Emergency Exemptions for use of dinotefuran or bifenthrin against BMSB. Bifenthrin-based products may be in short supply this year, and I will post another update when I know more about this issue.

Until next time, best wishes.

Greetings,

After a long stretch of following daily oriental fruit moth captures, we’ve set a biofix date of April 22 for both Winchester and Rappahannock county.  This year was more challenging than most, given that flight started and then stopped for multiple days on more than one occasion during April. This is the latest oriental fruit moth biofix date (by 2 days) that we’ve seen in Winchester since 2000, reflecting the slow warm-up this year but also highlighting the usefulness of biofix and degree-day models initiated at biofix to accommodate annual variations in weather. We caught our first codling moth last night (May 1), anticipate more during this warm week, and will keep you apprised of biofix for it and for tufted apple budmoth. Our twice weekly postings of degree day accumulations, percent egg hatch, and management timing recommendations will begin this week.

Until next time, best wishes.