Kentucky Pest News, May 29, 2013

7/28/2019 Kentucky Pest News, May 29, 2013

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Online at:www.uky.edu/KPN

Number 1341 May 29, 2013

TOBACCO- Tray Drench and/or Transplant Water

Insecticides for Tobacco

SHADE TREES AND ORNAMENTALS

- Fungicide Recommendations for Home Orchards

FORAGES

-Darkling/Mealworm vs Blister Beetles-Root Mealybug on Alfalfa

PESTS OF HUMANS-Controlling mosquito larvae wrigglers

-Backyard Bug-Zappers: Dont Expect Much Help

DIAGNOSTIC LAB HIGHLIGHTS

INSECT TRAP COUNTS

TOBACCO

Tray Drench and/or Transplant Water

Insecticides for TobaccoBy Lee Townsend, Extension Entomologist

This table summarizes options for tobacco insectcontrols available as tray drench and /or transplantwater applications. The insecticide common name,

brand names, and insecticide mode of action group

number appear in the first column; pests appear inthe others (x represents control).

Tray drench / transplant water applications providean efficient way of applying preventive controls

for key pests. Pest levels may be high enough insome fields to cause damage even if preventivetreatments are used. Therefore, it is important tocheck fields to see if supplemental control isneeded. Many products have a range of rates.

Normally, high rates provide better control underheavy infestation pressure and for longer periodsof time.

For example, tray drench / transplant waterapplications may not provide effective cutworm orwireworm control if pest pressure is high. Theinsecticide is present in a small area around the

plant and the insect may cause significant damagebefore there is an effect. Prospects for cutwormdamage are greatest in fields where there was asignificant flush of weed growth in late winter or

early spring, especially if transplanting is delayedby wet field conditions. Wireworm injury can beanticipated in tobacco fields that have had asignificant bluegrass component for several years

prior to tobacco. In these instances, pre-plantincorporated insecticide applications are likely to

provide better protection of transplants.

Insecticide

(Group #)

Flea

beetle

Aphid Wireworm Cutworm Budworm/

Hornworm

Acephate (1b)Orthene, etc.

X - - X -

Bifenthrin (3)Brigade / Capture

Larvaeonly

- X X -

Clothianidin (4) BelayImidacloprid AdmirePro, etc.

Thiomethoxam Platinum

XX

X

XX

X

- - -

Chlorantrahiliprole

(28) Coragen

- - - - X

Figure 1. Tray drench and transplant water insecticide options for tobacco

Lexington, KY 40546
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SHADE TREES AND ORNAMENTALS

Fungicide Recommendations for HomeOrchardsBy Nicole Ward Gauthier, Extension PlantPathologist

Home orchards and backyard fruit plantings oftenoperate on simplified, reduced spray

schedules. Following are fungiciderecommendations (pg 6) and disease control

products (pg 7) suitable for these situations. Feel

free to copy and distribute them as needed. Formore information or for specific product listings ,

refer to fact sheet PPFS-MISC-07 HomeownersGuide to Fungicides

http://www.ca.uky.edu/agcollege/plantpathology/ext_files/PPFShtml/PPFS-MISC-7.pdf.

Also available is publication ID-21 Disease andInsect Control Programs for Homegrown Fruit inKY

http://www.ca.uky.edu/agc/pubs/id/id21/id21.pdf .

FORAGES

Darkling/Mealworm vs Blister BeetlesBy Lee Townsend, Extension Entomologist

Finding beetles in alfalfa hay raises an immediatered flag. Are they blister beetles? If not, what are

they and are they harmful? Darkling beetles ormealworm beetles are relatively common in stored

hay and resemble the black blister beetle. Theseinsects feed on broken kernels and fines so theyare common around barns and hay storage areas.

They avoid light so they can be found under, in, orbetween stacked hay bales. Darkling beetles do not

contain cantharidin, the toxin in blister beetles;they are not harmful.

Figure 2. Darkling/mealworm beetle.

Darkling beetles have some features that can beused to distinguish them from blister beetles. The

most obvious feature is the distinctly narrowneck area of a blister beetle which lies between

the head and thorax. In contrast, the neck of thedarkling beetle is wider than its head. Also, theyhave hard front wings compared to the soft, more

flexible front wings of blister beetles.

Figure 3. Blister beetle (left) with distinct "neck", the

darkling beetle (right) does not have a narrow neck.

Mealworms, the larval stage of the darkling beetle,are common in stored or spilled grain or feed,where they eat broken kernels and fines. Adultsoften wander breeding site and enter stacked hay

so it can be hard to find the source of the

infestation.
http://www.ca.uky.edu/agcollege/plantpathology/ext_files/PPFShtml/PPFS-MISC-7.pdfhttp://www.ca.uky.edu/agcollege/plantpathology/ext_files/PPFShtml/PPFS-MISC-7.pdfhttp://www.ca.uky.edu/agcollege/plantpathology/ext_files/PPFShtml/PPFS-MISC-7.pdfhttp://www.ca.uky.edu/agc/pubs/id/id21/id21.pdfhttp://www.ca.uky.edu/agc/pubs/id/id21/id21.pdfhttp://www.ca.uky.edu/agc/pubs/id/id21/id21.pdfhttp://www.ca.uky.edu/agcollege/plantpathology/ext_files/PPFShtml/PPFS-MISC-7.pdfhttp://www.ca.uky.edu/agcollege/plantpathology/ext_files/PPFShtml/PPFS-MISC-7.pdf


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Figure 4. Mealworm / darkling beetle larva.

Sanitation is the key to dealing with darklingbeetles but it can be difficult to find and eliminateall breeding sites of these insects. Fortunately,their development is relatively slow so it takestime for large numbers to develop. Brooms and

shop vacs need to be used to clean all accessiblefines.

Infestations in stored bulk feed are more difficultto address, depending on the amount that is

present, how quickly it will be used, and time ofyear. It may be best to feed out the supply andthoroughly clean the storage area and surroundings

before re-filling it. A pyrethrin spray labeled foruse in feed storage areas after clean up will help to

eliminate surviving insects.Information on blister beetles in alfalfa is availablein this factsheet -www.ca.uky.edu/entomology/entfacts/ef102.asp

Root Mealybug on AlfalfaBy Lee Townsend, Extension Entomologist

Figure 5. Mealybugs on alfalfa tap root

Root mealybugs were found on a poor stand ofstunted alfafa seeded this spring in FlemingCounty. The previous crop was soybean.

Mealybug-iInfested plants are generally stuntedand may be chlorotic, depending on the numbersof insects present. These mealybugs are sapfeeders on the roots of many legumes: alfalfa, redclover, white clover, and soybean. They also have

been found on the roots of corn, Johnsongrass,sorghum, curly dock, milkweed, and plantain.

It is likely that the insect is widely distributed in

the state and high populations will be associatedwith continuous legumes or undisturbed pastures.Rotation to corn or tillage are most likely controloptions. The species is listed from all of ourneighboring states and seems to occur over muchof the eastern US.

PESTS OF HUMANS

Controlling Mosquito Larvae Wrigglers

By Lee Townsend, Extension Entomologist

Most any accumulation of standing water is apotential mosquito breeding site. Clogged gutters,abandoned tires, empty containers, stock wateringtroughs, and float tray beds can produce large

numbers of mosquitoes. If the sites cannot beemptied, then a mosquito larvicide provides ameans of treating the water to reduce or prevent
http://www.ca.uky.edu/entomology/entfacts/ef102.asphttp://www.ca.uky.edu/entomology/entfacts/ef102.asphttp://www.ca.uky.edu/entomology/entfacts/ef102.asp


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mosquito production. While there are no productsfor use in swimming pools or drinking water,

many are labeled for animal watering troughs andother common water collection areas and

ornamental pools and ponds.

The two basic mosquito larvicides are microbialtoxins produced by common soil and water

bacteria (Bacillus thuringiensisisraelensis (Bts)

andBacillus sphaericus). They are formulated intosolid blocks or granules that can be tossed into orsprinkled over water. The matrix slowly erodes,releasing the insecticide into the water. Themicrobial toxins are effective only against actively

feeding mosquito larvae

Microbial insecticides - Bacillus thuringiensisisraelensis andBacillus sphaericus toxins

Summit B.t.i. Briquets 10.31 % 1 briquet / 100 sqft surface area.

Summit Quick Kill Mosquito Bits 2.86%Bti 1 tspper 25 square feetMosquito Dunks 10.31%Bti 1 briquet / 100 sq ft

surface area. suppresses mosquito development forup to 30 days.

Safe for use in fish habitats. Place in containerizedstanding water wherever it accumulates near the

household: flower pots, tree holes, bird baths, roof

gutters, rain barrels, old tires, unused swimmingpools, animal watering troughs. Do not apply totreated finished drinking water reservoirs ordrinking water receptacles when water is intended

for humans consumption.

FourStar Briquets 45, 90, 180 for 45, 90, and 180-days of control.Contains 1 briquet / 100 sq ft surface area. Can be

applied to areas that contain aquatic life, fish andplants as well as areas used by or in contact with

humans, animals, horses, livestock, pets, birds or

wildlife.

Examples of application sites include, but are notlimited to: storm drains, catch basins, undergrounddrainage systems, storm water retention areas,retention ponds, abandoned swimming pools,

ornamental fountains and ponds, fish ponds, watergardens, animal drinking troughs, standing water,

water holding receptacles, man-made and naturalsites where mosquitoes may develop.

Insect Growth Regulator (IGR)

Prestrike Mosquito Torpedo 8.62% Methoprene -60 day pretection 500 sq feet

Bird baths and animal watering troughs,containerized water gardens, privately-owned

ponds,unused swimming pools or spas, flooded areas,roof gutters and tree holes, rain barrels, pool

covers and ornamental fountains, any other water-holding container.

Check the labels for higher treatment rates in

highly polluted water.

Backyard Bug-Zappers: Dont Expect Much

HelpBy Lee Townsend, Extension Entomologist

Insect electrocuters provide some impressivecrackles, flashes, and sizzles on summer nights but

apparently little pest control around the homelandscape. Homeowners expect to rid the area ofmosquitos, and perhaps a variety of other pests, by

using these devices. Research has generally shown

little positive effect. A study from Delawareinvestigated the "catch" from electrocuters placedaround some homes near potential mosquito

breeding sites during June and July. Of the

13,000+insects eliminated by the electric grids, only 0.2%(31 specimens) were biting flies. On the otherhand,more than 1,800 beneficials- including predators

and parasites- were dispatched (about 13% of thecatch). Not much return on the investment --actually a loss, considering that more than 45%

were aquatic insects that were at least, harmlessand at best, important fish food.

Several factors contribute to this performance. Forexample, UV lamps that give off a lot of visiblelight

are less attractive to mosquitoes and other night-biting flies than those that give off only UV light.That is, the more visible the light to us, the poorer


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it is in luring biting flies. Also, many species ofmosquitoes are not attracted by black lights at all.

For species that do respond to UV, only a portionwill actually make it to the charged grids.

DIAGNOSTIC LABORATORY HIGHLIGHTS

By Julie Beale and Brenda Kennedy

Agronomic samples diagnosed in the PDDL in thepast week have included barley yellow dwarf

virus, wheat mosaic virus and powdery mildew onwheat; Rhizoctonia damping off and target spot on

tobacco transplants.

On fruit and vegetable samples, we havediagnosed common leaf spot on strawberry; cedar-apple rust and frogeye leaf spot on apple; leaf curl

on peach; cane and leaf rust on blackberry; orangerust on black raspberry; Fusarium wilt on basil;angular leaf spot on squash; timber rot andFusarium wilt on tomato; and gummy stem blighton watermelon.

On ornamentals and turf, we have seen Sclerotinia

stem blight on petunia; cedar-hawthorn rust onhawthorn; Phytophthora foliar blight onrhododendron; anthracnose on ash, beech, elm,

maple and oak; Rhizosphaera needlecast on

spruce; and Pythium root dysfunction andanthracnose on bentgrass.

2013 INSECT TRAP COUNTS

May 17 - 24

Graphs of insect trap counts for the 2013 season

are available on the IPM web site at -http://www.uky.edu/Ag/IPM/ipm.htm.

Note: Trade names are used to simplify the information

presented in this newsletter. No endorsement by the

Cooperative Extension Service is intended, nor is

criticism implied of similar products that are not

named.

Location Princeton,

KY

Lexington,

KYBlack cutworm 3 0

Armyworm 9 353

European Corn

Borer

0 0

Corn earworm 0 0
http://www.uky.edu/Ag/IPM/ipm.htm.http://www.uky.edu/Ag/IPM/ipm.htm.http://www.uky.edu/Ag/IPM/ipm.htm.


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Apple & Pear

Homeowner's Guide to Fungicides

Apple & Pear

scab x x x x x xfire blight x xpowdery mildew x x x xrust x x x xfruit rots x xPeach, Plum, Cherry

brown rot x x x x x xpeach leafcurl x x x xscab x x x xblack knot ofplum x x xcherry leafspot x x x x xGrape

black rot x x x xpowdery mildew x x x xdowny mildew x x xphomopsis cane & leafspot x x xBrambles

anthracnose x xcane blight x xspur blight x xStrawberry

leafspot xfruit rots xpowdery mildew xBlueberry

mummy berry xphomopsis twig blight x

Nicole Ward Gauthier, Extension Specialist

Department of Plant Pathology

www.ca.uky.edu/agcollege/plantpathology/people/ward.htm

Facebook: www.KYPlantDisease.com

UK - Diseases of Fruit Crops, Ornamentals, & Forest Trees

Twitter: @Nicole_WardUK

Blogger: nicolewarduk.blogspot.com
http://www.ca.uky.edu/agcollege/plantpathology/people/ward.htmhttp://www.ca.uky.edu/agcollege/plantpathology/people/ward.htmhttp://www.ca.uky.edu/agcollege/plantpathology/people/ward.htmhttp://www.kyplantdisease.com/http://www.kyplantdisease.com/http://www.kyplantdisease.com/http://www.ca.uky.edu/agcollege/plantpathology/people/ward.htmhttp://www.ca.uky.edu/agcollege/plantpathology/people/ward.htm


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Kentucky Pest News, May 29, 2013

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