Plant Protection Update #15, 1996
Fri, 12 Jul 1996
Insect Identification Laboratory (Eric Day)

Field Crops

Check out:

http://www.ento.vt.edu/Facilities/OnCampus/IDLab/bollweevil/bollweev.html

This is a new Boll Weevil site that I put together.  Some of the slides look
kind of so-so on the IBM monitors but you can still get a good idea of what
this critter looks like.  This slide set is also for loan if you want show
it to growers.  Both Ames Herbert and I have a set.

Fruit

Plum Curculio damage is quite evident now as half-moon scars on the fruit
and/or sap oozing from a wound on the side of the fruit.  Plum curculio is
quite common esp. in unsprayed trees and on trees next to old unsprayed
trees.  Plum Curculio will feed on apple, peach, plum, pear, and nectarines.
The female will leave a 1/8" scar on the fruit in the shape of a half-moon
when she lays eggs.  The scar will remain even if the larvae fails to
develop.  The only remedy is to follow the spray schedule in PMG 018 pg. 66
and 67.  For backyard growers trying to get away with a reduced spraying
often just the two sprays just after petal fall will do a good job of
controlling this pest.

Green June Beetles are flying Statewide now and are generally minor turf
pests but will sometimes damage fruit and ornamentals.  Sevin 50W can be
used up to 1 day from harvest and will give control of these beetles if they
are damaging the fruit.  Sevin can also be used on most ornamentals (check
the label.....)

Vegetables

Squash Bugs Marginal burn and wilting along with clusters of rusty red eggs
would be diagnostic for this pest.  Diazinon, Asana, Sevin or Malathion
should control, treat when the grayish nymphs are found on the base of the
stem and repeat every 7-10 days for heavy infestations.

Ornamentals

Walnut Lace Bug is sometimes found on walnut in Virginia.  It looks like a
typical lace bug although the damage may appear as brown spots instead of
the typical yellow spots on other plants.  Look also for the cylindrical
eggs on the mid-rib of the leaves.

Gall Midges on Tulip Poplar - Small dark green, yellow, or brown spots on
tulip poplar leaves are possibly from a small midge.  Cut the spots open and
look for the small fly maggots in these flattened small galls.
----------------------------------------------------------------
Eric R. Day
Manager, Insect Identification Laboratory
State Survey Coordinator, CAPS Program
voice :540/231-4899
FAX:  540/231-9131

IDLAB@VT.EDU

Visit My Homepage  -   http://www.ento.vt.edu/Facilities/OnCampus/IDInfo.html

Department of Entomology
Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University
Blacksburg, VA  24061-0319
FTS2000Mail  !a348capsblva