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Edited by Tom Kuhar, Assistant Professor, Dept. of Entomology, Virginia Tech
Greetings crop producers, researchers, extension personnel, and crop consultants,
Weather summary for week ending June 11, 2004 - Painter, VA
James T. Custis, Jr. (Farm Manager, ESAREC)
TIMELY RAIN of about 1 inch over the weekend!! (Many people don't like weekend rain, I think it is GREAT!) This has slowed field work the first half of this week, but has been followed by great field working conditions, very much like the week before. We are really enjoying not running irrigation and still getting field work done. (We know it can not go on but so long, but it is good while it last). Highs in the mid 70s for the first of the week and upper 80s for the end of the week and lows in the low 60s for the first of the week and in the low 70s by the end of the week.
Blacklight and Pheromone Insect Traps
Jack Speese & Tom Kuhar (ESAREC)
Weekly catch:
Blacklight trap (BLT) in Painter, VA: 1 European corn borer moths, 5 cutworm spp., 2 true armyworm, 1 corn earworm, 10 green stink bugs, 11 brown stink bug
BLT in Cheriton, VA: 5 ECB moths, 5 cutworm spp. (mostly black cutworm), 3 corn earworm, 4 true armyworm, 13 green stink bug, 6 brown stink bugs
We're not catching very many of the agricultural pest moths at this time. Brown stinkbug adult activity is picking up. This pest can damage fruiting vegetables by feeding on buds and fruit.
Northampton County news from our roving reporter in the field
(Bill Shockley (VCE, Northampton Co.)
Thrips continue to be a problem in string beans. Rainfall amounts on Friday June 4, 2004 ranged from 1-2 inches in various areas of the county. String bean harvest is underway. Likewise wheat harvest has started with initial yields in the 75-100 bu/ac range.
Thrips activity on crops
Tom Kuhar (ESAREC)
We are seeing a fairly high population of thrips this year, including tobacco thrips on leaves, and Eastern flower thrips on blossoms of crops. These insects are taking flight and migrating to crops as weeds and cover crops are drying or being harvested. Tobacco thrips can vector tomato spotted wilt virus, and flower thrips can damage and scar the fruit of numerous crops. In recent trials at the ESAREC, we have achieved adequate control of these pests in tomatoes and snap beans with pyrethroids, such as Warrior and Mustang Max, SpinTor, Monitor, and Provado.
European corn borer in peppers
Joanne Whalen (IPM Specialist, Univ. Delaware)
In areas where European corn borer trap catches are above 2 per night and pepper fruit is ½ inch in size or larger, fields should be sprayed on a 7-10 day schedule for corn borer control. If fruit is not present, larvae hatching from egg masses will feed on the leaves then move into the petioles and stems. For these fields, a pyrethroid application should be considered especially if egg masses are found and trap catches are above 10 per night in your area.
Correction to the Vegetable Recommendations for Acephate (Orthene) on Peppers:
If you read the current Orthene 75S label (as well as all current acephate labels), European corn borer control (ECB) is only listed under bell peppers and the rate is 1-1.33 lb per acre of Orthene 75S (not 0.67-1.33 as listed in the book). After talking to Valent, it appears that ECB was mistakenly dropped from the non-bell pepper label. The current label states aphid control only at a rate of 0.67 lb/acre.(Orthene 75S). Another difference is the maximum amount allowed on each pepper type (bell versus non-bell). Regardless of the formulation (Orthene 97, Orthene 75S or generic acephate), the maximum amount allowed for bell peppers is 2 lb ai/a/season. On non-bell peppers the maximum amount is 1 lb ai/a/season. Valent Corporation ( manufacturer of Orthene 97) has agreed to submit a 2ee label to EPA for DE,MD, NJ, PA, and VA to add corn borer back on the Orthene 97 label for non-bell peppers at a rate of ¾ - l lb per acre. With this label change, you will be limited to one Orthene (acephate) application for corn borer control on non-bell peppers. We will let you know when we receive the 2ee label.
Insect control in snap beans
Joanne Whalen (IPM Specialist, Univ. Delaware)
All fields should be scouted for leafhopper and thrips activity, especially seedling stage beans. The thrips threshold is 5-6 per leaflet and the leafhopper threshold is 5 per sweep. If both insects are present, the threshold for each should be reduced by 1/3. Dimethoate, Lannate, Asana, Capture, or Warrior will provide control of both insect pests. Once corn borer catches reach 2 per night, fresh market and processing snap beans in the bud to pin stages should be sprayed for corn borer. Acephate should be used at the bud and pin stages on processing beans. Once pins are present on fresh market snap beans and trap catches are above 2 per night, a 7-10 day schedule should be maintained for corn borer control. Lannate, Asana, Capture, Warrior or Mustang are labeled. Acephate has a 14-day wait until harvest.
Eastern Shore AREC Field Days, June 28 & June 29
Henry Wilson (ESAREC)
Please come and join us for the Eastern Shore Field Day and Weed Tour, held at the Virginia Tech Eastern Shore Agricultural Research and Extension Center (AREC), Painter, VA. The Field Day starts at 4:30 p.m. on June 28 with tours of research in vegetables, including potatoes and snap beans, and a BBQ dinner will be provided following the tours. The Weed Tour starts at 9:00 a.m. on June 29, and includes weed management research in corn, cotton, potatoes, soybeans, snap beans, and wheat. For more information contact Jason Sanders (757-414-0724 ext. 42 or jcsander@vt.edu) or Henry Wilson (757-414-0724 ext. 13 or hwilson@vt.edu). Information can also be obtained from the Eastern Shore AREC website at http://arecs.vaes.vt.edu/arec.cfm?webname=painter.
Thomas P. Kuhar
Assistant Professor
Department of Entomology
Eastern Shore Agricultural Research & Extension Center
Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University
33446 Research Drive
Painter, VA 23420
E-mail: tkuhar@vt.edu
Tel: 757-414-0724
FAX: 757-414-0730
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