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Online at:www.uky.edu/KPN
Number 1273 June 21, 2011
WHEAT
-Wheat Disease Situation: What Went Right?
FORAGE CROPS-Leaf Streak (=Brown Stripe) of Orchardgrass
SHADE TREES & ORNAMENTALS
-Whats wrong with My Taxus?
-Asian Longhorned Beetle Detected in SouthernOhio
-Bagworm Feeding Underway
-First of Two Fall Webworm GenerationsAppearing
WHEAT
Wheat Disease Situation: What Went Right?By Don Hershman
If you have been following some of my wheat
disease concerns this spring, you would be pleased
to know that wheat yields and test weights forfields harvested (so far) throughout west Kentucky
have generally exceeded all expectations. Yields
in excess of 90 bu/A and test weights above 60
lb/bu are fairly common. In addition, I have heardof many fields topping the 100 bu/A mark.
Everybody is happy, all the way from the farmer
to the miller to the end-use food manufacturer.
Since FHB and/or leaf and glume blotch appearedto be at significant levels in many fields, one could
reasonably ask, whats up with that? I must
confess I do not have all the answers. But I thinkthe good end result probably has something to do
with the unseasonably hot early June, which
resulted in a very rapid dry-down in fields. For
about a week, temperatures existed in early June
that are normally experienced in late July. I
believe this rapid dry-down, in turn, reduced the
negative effects of disease. In essence, the crop
outraced diseases to the finish line, the result
LIVESTOCK
-Face Fly Control a Part of Managing Pinkeye
PEST OF HUMANS
-Some Insect Nuisances around Swimming Pools
but Control Options are Limited
HOUSEHOLD
-Camel or Cave Crickets Denizens of Basements
and Crawlspaces
INSECT TRAP COUNTS
DIAGNOSTIC LAB HIGHLIGHTS
being that the impact of the infections was far less
than it otherwise would have been. I also believe
many fields started out with a better-than-averageyield potential. Thus, small yield reductions
related to disease development would not be
noticed as much.
A large number of acres remain to be harvested, sothe overall state-wide result may not end up being
as favorable as I have indicated here. Still, I think
2011 will go down as being one of our better years
in terms of wheat yield and quality.
FORAGE CROPS
Leaf Streak (=Brown Stripe) of Orchardgrass
By Paul Vincelli
The most common and destructive disease oforchardgrass in Kentucky is leaf streak. The
disease is also known by other names, including
brown stripe and brown leaf blight. It is caused by
the fungus Cercosporidium graminis (which also
goes by its outdated name, Scolecotrichum
graminis). While orchardgrass is a common host,
Lexington, KY 40546
http://www.uky.edu/KPNhttp://www.uky.edu/KPNhttp://www.uky.edu/KPNhttp://www.uky.edu/KPN8/6/2019 Kentucky Pest News June 21, 2011
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this fungus has been reported to cause serious
damage on timothy.
This fungus produces spores that are spread
primarily by splashing droplets and wind-blownrain. It survives between growing seasons in crop
residue. Infection results in tan to brown spots ofdead tissue on leaf blades (Figure 1). These spots
may extend into the leaf sheath. They eventually
become numerous and cause leaf blighting. Cool,wet weather in spring and fall provides ideal
conditions for disease development. Substantial
leaf blighting can result in earlier maturity,
resulting in reduced yield and forage quality.
Management
Use high-quality seed of varieties well-adaptedto Kentucky conditions. The best source of this
information is the University of Kentucky ForageTrials, available at
http://www.uky.edu/Ag/Forage/ForageVarietyTria
ls2.htm.
Rotate for two years to a non-grass species.This allows populations ofCercosporidium
graminis and other infectious organisms to decline
to less damaging levels.
Fertility. Avoid high rates of a readily available
form of nitrogen fertilizer, especially in
springtime. Maintain adequate levels ofphosphorous and potassium.
More information on orchardgrass production in
Kentucky is available at
http://www.ca.uky.edu/agc/pubs/agr/agr58/AGR5
8.PDF.
SHADE TREES & ORNAMENTALS
Whats wrong with My Taxus?By John Hartman
Taxus (yew) is a popular landscape shrub in
Kentucky, but occasionally homeowners havedifficulty growing them in the landscape.
Problems associated with Taxus may be related to
infectious disease, insects, or adverse growing
conditions. There are numerous conditions that
cause Taxus to turn yellow or brown. For
diagnosis, a thorough examination of the affected
shrub, an investigation of the surrounding area,
and some knowledge of possible environmental
stresses are needed to diagnose Taxus problems.
The following are questions that may be posed to
County Extension Agents by clients inquiring
about the health of their yews. The answers mayhelp Agents to assist their clients in determining
the cause of their shrub's decline.
1. Question: Why are the tips of thebranches ofTaxus shrubs turning brown?
Answer: There are multiple causes for
death of taxus shoot tips in the landscape
and they range from disease to weather.
Examine the trunk, branches, and twigstems for wounds from physical injury.
Taxus cannot tolerate much injury and is
easily damaged (Figure 2). Childrenfalling into the shrubs or snow and ice
sliding off the roof into shrubs can causeinjury. Bark torn from as little as one-
third the circumference of a branch may
cause the branch to die from that point all
the way to the growing tip. Also, look for
nursery tags wired to a branch which mayeventually constrict its growth. Even
termites, which can build their mud
tunnels up the trunk and branches of
Taxus, can kill parts of the shrub due to
feeding activity. Injured branches oftendo not die immediately but dead branches
may be evident the following summer.
Dead twigs should be pruned back to
healthy tissue.
Twig blight on scattered branches canresult from canker diseases. Cankers
(dead, sunken areas) may be associated
with various fungi (Pestalotia,Figure 1. Close-up of leaf streak (=brown stripe) symptoms onorchardgrass (from http://oregonstate.edu/valleyfieldcrops/pest-
management). More images available at
http://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/crops/diseases/fac60s00.html.
http://www.uky.edu/Ag/Forage/ForageVarietyTrials2.htmhttp://www.uky.edu/Ag/Forage/ForageVarietyTrials2.htmhttp://www.uky.edu/Ag/Forage/ForageVarietyTrials2.htmhttp://www.ca.uky.edu/agc/pubs/agr/agr58/AGR58.PDFhttp://www.ca.uky.edu/agc/pubs/agr/agr58/AGR58.PDFhttp://www.ca.uky.edu/agc/pubs/agr/agr58/AGR58.PDFhttp://www.ca.uky.edu/agc/pubs/agr/agr58/AGR58.PDFhttp://www.ca.uky.edu/agc/pubs/agr/agr58/AGR58.PDFhttp://www.uky.edu/Ag/Forage/ForageVarietyTrials2.htmhttp://www.uky.edu/Ag/Forage/ForageVarietyTrials2.htm8/6/2019 Kentucky Pest News June 21, 2011
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Physalospora, and Sphaeropsis.) These
fungal cankers can girdle twigs and
branches, causing them to die back from
the tip. Where canker disease is present,
dead twigs should be pruned out anddestroyed.
Browning tips of individual branches canbe due to cold temperature injury. Tender
new growth in late spring or current
season's growth in fall may show damage
shortly after a frost. The plant usuallygrows out of this condition (Figure 3).
Tips may turn brown with individualneedles twisted and curled due to exposure
to growth-regulator type herbicides
(Figure 4).
Browning and death of 1-year-old or olderfoliage can be due to winter injury.
Symptoms become evident on olderneedles in spring, while new growth is
unaffected. Damage may occur mainly on
portions of the shrub exposed to prevailing
winds. This condition occurs as the resultof moisture lost from foliage on warm,
windy days in winter. Because the ground
is frozen, moisture cannot be replenished
rapidly enough and needles dry out.
During the drought late last summer andfall, Taxus should have been watered as
needed up until the ground froze. Avoid
planting Taxus on sites that are exposed todrying winter winds.
2. Question: Why are major branches oreven the whole Taxus shrub turning
yellow, then brown, and dying?
Answer: There are several causes for
decline and death ofTaxus in the
landscape. They range from excess soil
moisture to mechanical injury to the roots.
Probably the most common cause of taxusproblems is Phytophthora root rot which isassociated with excessive soil moisture
(Figure 5). Where the shrub bed soil is
poorly drained, where plants are
overwatered, or where a downspout from
the house empties into the bed, taxus
plants or parts of plants often turn yellow,
then brown and die (Figure 6). In a taxus
hedge, it is usually the plant in the lowest
part of the hedge that dies. Wet soil
provides conditions favorable for root
decay caused by the fungus Phytophthora
(Figure 7). Infected roots will be brown
and rotted; sometimes the disease
progresses to and decays the lower trunkof the plant. When roots fail to function,
the Taxus plant declines and eventually
dies. Gardeners should avoid this "wet
feet" condition by planting Taxus shrubsin well-drained sites away from a
downspout.
Taxus can also turn yellow, decline anddie over a period of several months or
years when growing in soil where pH is
unfavorable (Figure 8). Taxus is often
planted near ornamentals in the heath
family (e.g. andromeda, azalea, laurel,rhododendron). Species in this group are
considered "acid-loving" plants and prefera soil pH of 4.5 to 5.5. Taxus, on the other
hand, requires a less acid soil (pH 6.0 to
6.5). Fertilizers prepared specifically for
plants in the heath family tend to make
soil more acidic. This can cause nearby
Taxus shrubs to turn yellow and die. Soil
which is naturally too acidic will also
cause problems. Gardeners will want to
have shrub bed soil tested to be sure that
the pH is optimum for the plants beinggrown. Contact your County Extension
Office for details on the correct procedure
for collecting a soil sample. Your County
Extension Agent will advise you on how
to raise the soil pH with ground limestone,
should this be necessary.
Other stresses can cause Taxus to die inthe landscape. Shrubs that die a year or
two after transplanting may have been
killed by transplant shock, that is, the
stress of moving from one environment to
another. New transplants often passthrough a period of shock, regardless of
the care taken. However, by following
correct cultural procedures fortransplanting, this stress can be
minimized. Planting too deeply is a
common transplanting problem that must
be avoided.
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Additional stresses causing yellowing,browning and death include holes orditches dug for gas and sewer lines or
during home construction that can result in
damage to Taxus roots. Digging within
several feet of the shrub may damage
roots that supply water and mineralelements to the plant. Injured plants turn
yellow, wilt and can eventually die. Even
tunnels dug through the root zone by
chipmunks or moles may damage rootssufficiently to cause top symptoms.
If only inside foliage turns yellow in latesummer or early fall it may be due to
normal needle drop. At this time, 3 to 5-
year-old needles may suddenly turn
yellow. Needles remain on the shrub forseveral weeks and then drop. This is a
normal process and should not causeconcern.
Figure 2. Dead Taxus twigs due to stem injury associated
with chunks of ice and snow falling from a nearby
rooftop.
Figure 3. A late spring frost has caused newly emerged
Taxus shoots to droop and die.
Figure 4. Taxus needles curling and turning
brown due to misapplication of growth-
regulator herbicide.
Figure 5. Phytophthora root rot left this bed with
numerous dead Taxus. The soil in this bed had poor
internal drainage and when dead plants were removed,
water remained in the planting hole.
Figure 6. Taxus plant with Phytophthora root
rot. Root rot disease has begun to cause
branch dieback.
8/6/2019 Kentucky Pest News June 21, 2011
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Asian Longhorned Beetle Detected in Southern
OhioBy Lee Townsend
The Asian
longhorned
beetle (ALB)(figure 9) was
detected in
Bethel, OH,
which is 30
miles east
southeast of
Cincinnati,
according to anews release from state and federal officials late
last week. The insect was discovered when a
resident investigated unusual damage to three
maple trees. The site is being surveyed todetermine the extent of the population. The ALB
has been found in Illinois, Massachusetts, New
Jersey, and New York.
ALBs are large distinct black beetles spotted with
white; their long antennae (1.5 to 2.5 times body
length) are banded with black and white. Adults
emerge from round 3/8- to -inch diameter holes
in infested trees. See this pest alert for more
details:
http://www.na.fs.fed.us/pubs/palerts/alb/alb_pa.pd
f
In the United States the ALB prefers maple
species (Acerspp.), including boxelder, Norway,
red, silver, and sugar maples. Other preferred hosts
are birches, Ohio buckeye, elms, horsechestnut,
and willows. Occasional to rare hosts include
ashes, European mountain ash, London planetree,
mimosa, and poplars.
The ALB is not known to occur in Kentucky.
Report suspected infestations to the Office of the
State Entomologist - (859) 257-5838.
Figure 7. When Taxus seedlings are exposed to
Phytophthora in the soil (+) and periodic flooding, (pair
of plants to the right) roots and shoots are nearly dead
while those in well drained soil and no Phytophthora (-)
have healthy roots and shoots (pair of plant of plants to
the left). Flooding without Phytophthora (-) or
Phytophthora (+) with well-drained soil resulted in
Taxus stunting (middle two pairs of plants) but not
plant death.
Figure 8. Yellowing ofTaxus needles can
sometimes be caused by plants growing
in soil that is too acidic.
Figure 9. Asian longhorned beetle
(ALB).
http://www.na.fs.fed.us/pubs/palerts/alb/alb_pa.pdfhttp://www.na.fs.fed.us/pubs/palerts/alb/alb_pa.pdfhttp://www.na.fs.fed.us/pubs/palerts/alb/alb_pa.pdfhttp://www.na.fs.fed.us/pubs/palerts/alb/alb_pa.pdfhttp://www.na.fs.fed.us/pubs/palerts/alb/alb_pa.pdfhttp://www.dispatch.com/live/export-content/sites/dispatch/local_news/stories/2011/06/17/beetle.jpg8/6/2019 Kentucky Pest News June 21, 2011
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Bagworm Feeding UnderwayBy Lee Townsend
Small bagwormlarvae (figure
10) have beenfeeding and
growing for
about a weekand the bags
that they carry
are getting
larger. They
are still small
and the damage
is easy to
overlook but
now is the timeto check for them in the landscape, especially
where they were a problem last year.
Bagworms prefer juniper, arborvitae, spruce, pine,
and cedar but also attack deciduous trees. They
can be controlled but success requires early
detection and some persistence to make sure the
first application was successful. If only a few
small trees or shrubs are infested, handpicking and
destroying attached bags may provide satisfactory
control. This must be done effective during fall,
winter or early spring before the eggs hatch.
When many small bagworms are present andfeeding, an insecticide may be needed to prevent
serious damage. It is best to treat while the larvae
are still small (less than 1/2-inch long), usually in
early June. Small larvae are more vulnerable to
insecticides, and feeding damage is relativelyminor. Carefully inspect susceptible landscape
plants. Young bagworms are hard to see at first;
look closely for the small, upright bags which
have the appearance of tiny ice cream cones made
of bits of plant material.
Control options include products containing Bt,
carbaryl, neem, pyrethriods, and spinosad sprays.
See ENT 440 Bagworms on landscape plants formore details and options.
http://www.ca.uky.edu/entomology/entfacts/ef440.
asp
First of Two Fall Webworm Generations
AppearingBy Lee Townsend
The light
gray silktents of fall
webworm
caterpillars(figure 11),
recently
hatched from
masses of
400 or soeggs, are
beginning to
appear at the ends of tree branches. These
caterpillars are covered with long white to yellow-tan hairs. They feed on over 100 species of
deciduous trees but black cherry, walnut, hickory
and mulberry are favorites.
Fall webworm larvae incorporate the leaves they
are eating into their tent. The tent is expanded to
include more leaves as needed. Usually, there are
not enough caterpillars to completely defoliate
trees but the webbing makes their presence
obvious.
Accessible nests can be pruned out and discarded.Products listed for bagworms are effective on
small larvae if control is necessary and the sprayer
can reach foliage around the nest. There are two
generations in Kentucky each year- from mid-June
to early July and again in August.
Figure 10. Small bagworm with
developing cases on pine (Photo by S.
Vanek).
Figure 11. Webworm caterpillars.
http://www.ca.uky.edu/entomology/entfacts/ef440.asphttp://www.ca.uky.edu/entomology/entfacts/ef440.asphttp://www.ca.uky.edu/entomology/entfacts/ef440.asphttp://www.ca.uky.edu/entomology/entfacts/ef440.asphttp://www.ca.uky.edu/entomology/entfacts/ef440.asp8/6/2019 Kentucky Pest News June 21, 2011
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LIVESTOCK
Face Fly Control a Part of Managing PinkeyeBy Lee Townsend
The face fly (figure 12) often is one of the factorsinvolved in pinkeye outbreaks in cattle herds. The
sponge-like mouthpart of this pasture fly is used to
blot up moisture from cattle including tears, saliva,
mucous, and blood. The blotting surface is raspy
enough to stimulate tear flow, giving the fly the
protein-rich liquid it needs.
While not the sole factor in pinkeye outbreaks inherds, the face fly can play an important role. It is
a strong flier and its irritating feeding abrades the
eye allowing it to pick up the pathogen from an
infected animal and to transfer it to an uninfectedone. Feeding by face flies is often interrupted soan individual may visit several animals before
getting the liquid and protein it needs. This
provides the opportunity to spread the pathogen,
Moraxella bovis, especially since it can survive onthe fly for up to three days. See ID-135 Pinkeye in
cattle: infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis for
more information.
http://www.ca.uky.edu/agc/pubs/id/id135/id135.ht
m
Face flycontrol is an
important
component
of a herdprogram to
limit
pinkeye.
However, this is a difficult insect to manage for
two reasons: 1) it spends relatively little time on
animals and 2) visits are primarily limited to the
face, an area that is difficult to treat. While
elimination of face flies is not a practical goal, it is
possible to reduce their numbers. Some
insecticide impregnated ear tags can cut face flynumbers by 70% or more. In general though,
forced use applicators (such as dust bags) that
animals must contact while getting water or
minerals, or back rubbers with fly flips (figure 13)
are a means of getting the head and face treated
regularly enough to provide very good results.
PEST OF HUMANS
Some Insect Nuisances around Swimming Pools
but Control Options are LimitedBy Lee Townsend
Pools will attract certain
aquatic insects every year
but during dry periods the
rush to water may bring inmany seldom seen
creatures. The most
dramatic are thrips (figure14), tiny elongate yellow
insects that usually are
described on the
accompanying Insect IDform as follows: "These little biting things covered
an aboveground pool and deck. They were so thick
that you could wipe them off with your hand. They
have a painful bite, children could not play in the
pool for them."
Thrips have shown up in these circumstances
before, probably drawn to water and perhapsdriven there from nearby recently-cut hay fields.
On normal days thrips use their abrasive
mouthparts to rasp at plant tissue, especially
flowers. However, they will scrape skin, perhaps
as they attempt to pick up small amounts of
moisture. An occasional thrips scrape probably istolerable but lots of them do not add to the
Figure 12. Face flies feeding on tears and mucous (l) and
sponging mouthpart with raspy undersurface (r).
Figure 13. Mineral feeder with insecticide
applicator hanging at opening.
Figure 14. Thrips (Photo
cals.ncsu.edu).
http://www.ca.uky.edu/agc/pubs/id/id135/id135.htmhttp://www.ca.uky.edu/agc/pubs/id/id135/id135.htmhttp://www.ca.uky.edu/agc/pubs/id/id135/id135.htmhttp://www.ca.uky.edu/agc/pubs/id/id135/id135.htmhttp://www.ca.uky.edu/agc/pubs/id/id135/id135.htm8/6/2019 Kentucky Pest News June 21, 2011
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swimming experience. A strong jet of water maybe used to plaster them to decks and other surfaces
where they have accumulated.
Honey bees need water to air condition their hive.They are able to communicate with hive mates and
recruit increasing numbers of workers to a goodwater source. A small wading pool could be
relocated if necessary but this is not an option with
large pools. Usually, the bees are focused on theirtask and are not aggressive. Their presence may be
disconcerting but if not disturbed, they should
pose no problem. The occasional wasp may show
up, too but they are less likely to bring help with
them.
Several water bugs will come plopping into pools
because they figure any water is fair game and
some unlucky non-aquatic insects may fall in andbe unable to escape. These can be taken out with a
dip net.
Some persistent problems can develop around
chronic wet areas. Springtails are particularly
common in these situations. Correcting these wet
areas should lead to the elimination of the
infestation.
HOUSEHOLD
Camel or Cave Crickets Denizens ofBasements and CrawlspacesBy Lee Townsend
Camel crickets or
cave crickets
(figure 15), call
them what you
like, are unsettlingcreatures to have
around. The
camel cricket
name comes from
the insects
humpbackedappearance. Cave
cricket refers to the dark, damp, musty placeswhich they inhabit.
They are creepy; very long thin antennae and long
spider-like legs are their main features. The stronghind jumping legs launch them several feet into
the air when approached. Its an unnerving sightwhen you unexpectedly disturb one.
These insects usually occur in cool, damp places,such as in the soil under rock or wood piles.
Around houses, they can be found in basements,
crawlspaces, storage rooms, or garages. These
insects often move indoors in the fall and spend
the winter in buildings. The crickets will eatalmost anything and can damage stored articles
where they are living.
Camel crickets lay their eggs in moist soil, in dirtfloors of crawl spaces or along foundations. The
immature and adult stages are active at night and
can move easily through cracks and crevices or
under doors into other areas of a structure.
As with many pests, habitat modification is the
most effective way to reduce or eliminate
problems.
Reduce humidity by improving airmovement in areas where crickets are seen
regularly.
Ventilation openings should be screenedto prevent entry from the outdoors.
Eliminate clutter; stack stored items offthe floor and away from walls to improve
drying and to allow placement of sticky
traps to capture crickets and monitor their
locations and abundance.
Clean overgrown vegetation alongfoundations.
Boric acid dust or any of a variety of household
insecticides, such as Ortho, Spectracide, or Raid
indoor / outdoor aerosols, will kill camel crickets.They should be applied into cracks and crevices
where the crickets hide according to label
directions.
Figure 15. Sticky traps are an
effective way to catch camel
crickets.
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DIAGNOSTIC LAB HIGHLIGHTSBy Julie Beale and Paul Bachi
Agronomic samples this week have included
potassium deficiency and compaction in corn;
potassium deficiency in soybean; glume blotch on
wheat; leaf streak (Cercosporidium) onorchardgrass; and target spot, Pythium root rot,
potassium deficiency and lightning injury on
tobacco.
On fruits and vegetables, we have seen black rot
on grape; double blossom on blackberry;
Phytophthora root and crown rot on blueberry,
raspberry and strawberry; brown rot on nectarine;leaf spot (Coccomyces) on cherry; fire blight,
cedar-apple rust and frogeye leaf spot on apple;
Alternaria leaf blight on cantaloupe; Cercospora
leaf spot on turnip; Fusarium stem rot on pepper;Botrytis blight, early blight, leaf mold and
chemical injury on tomato.
On ornamentals and turf, we have seen Fusarium
wilt on petunia; Fusarium stem rot on aster;
Pythium root rot on impatiens; scab on crabapple;
anthracnose on ash and oak; Botryosphaeria
canker on hydrangea; Verticillium wilt on redbud;
Rhizosphaera and Stigmina needlecasts on spruce;
Phyllosticta leaf blotch on witchhazel; brown
patch on fescue; and summer patch on mixed
turfgrass.
INSECT TRAP COUNTS
June 3-10
June 10-17
Graphs of insect trap counts for the 2011 season are available
on the IPM web site at -http://www.uky.edu/Ag/IPM/ipm.htm.View trap counts for Fulton County, Kentucky at -http://ces.ca.uky.edu/fulton/InsectTraps
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,
KY
Black cutworm 21 1
Armyworm 12 359
Corn earworm 11 17
European corn
borer
1 1
Southwestern
corn borer
2 0
Fall armyworm 0 0
Location Princeton,
KY
Lexington,
KY
Black cutworm 19 1
Armyworm 34 206
Corn earworm 35 2European corn
borer
0 2
Southwestern
corn borer
7 0
Fall armyworm 0 0
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