Received at the ID Lab a True Armyworm from corn from the Montgomery County area and this field's stand is about 35% infestated. Now is a good time to scout and to use the thresholds in Pest Managemnet Guides.
Report from Curt Laub:
We found several potato leafhoppers in sweep net samples in alfalfa in Montgomery County. Also, last week they found potato leafhoppers on sticky traps from an apple orchard in Steeles Tavern.
Hickory Leaf Stem Gall Aphid - Look for 1/4 - 1/2" galls on the petiole and stem of hickory. This gall can be serious for new trees but will not harm older established trees. Homeowners will still be concerned about the twigs that fall from the tree. See the fact sheet in the 3-ring binder, see also:
http://www.ext.vt.edu/departments/entomology/factsheets/hickleaf.html
13 Year Cicada - Sevin is the only insecticide known to work on these critters although others may work. New cicadas are flying in to replace those killed and it may not appear as if the control is working. Fine mesh netting is the best protection for small trees.
Yucca Plant Bugs are now active and feeding on the leaves on Yucca. Look for red and blue/black bugs moving quickly on the foliage. Treat with malathion or insecticidal soap if they are causing objectional damage.
Many birches have puckered and folded leaves. The aphid inside the leaf fold is the Spiny Witch-Hazel gall aphid; often dusty white material is found with the aphid. When it feeds on birch it causes the leaf fold we find, on witch-hazel it causes a spiny gall on the leaves.
European hornet - Queen European hornets and other yellowjackets are establishing new nests now and frequently get into houses. Each individual queen will start an individual nest that will eventually have up to several hundred workers. At this time of year the nest should be about the size of a golf ball with eggs and larvae but still tended by the one queen. I have not seen any workers here in the mountains but some of the warmer areas of the state may have workers active now.
See:
http://www.ext.vt.edu/departments/entomology/factsheets/hornets.html
and
http://www.ext.vt.edu/entomology/factsheets/euhorn.html
Thursday, June 11, 1998 Southwest Virginia AREC
Christmas tree growers and interested persons are invited to attend a field day on Thursday, June 11 beginning at 6:00 p.m. at the Southwest Virginia Research and Extension Center, Glade Spring.
The program will include a sheering demonstration by Dr. Richard Kreh, Extension Specialist for Christmas trees. Eric Day, Extension Entomologist will discuss integrated pest management strategies. Also featured will be a tour of ten different vegetation management treatmeants including ground covers, complete kill with herbicides, sod suppression, mowing, and no control. This program is sponsored by Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia Christmas Tree Growers Association, Mt. Rogers Christmas Growers Association, Virginia Dept. of Forestry, and the Southwest Virginia Agricultural Research and Extension Center. Please contact Charlie Conner (conner@vt.edu), Eric Day (idlab@vt.edu), or Richard Kreh (rkreh@vt.edu) if you have any questions.
On Monday May 18th, I officially joined the Department of Entomology at Va Tech in Blacksburg. I wanted to take this opportunity in the Virginia Entomologist to introduce myself. I am new to Virginia, moving here from the Washington, DC area where I was a Research Associate in the Entomology Department at the University of Maryland in College Park. Most of my entomological background has emphasized working with the ecology and management of pests (insects, nematodes, and even some mammals) using an IPM approach that emphasizes biological control methods. I am especially familiar with insect pathogens and their conservation in landscapes. My primary responsibility at Va Tech is to define insect problems associated landscape systems and to devise safe and effective approaches to their solution.
Since I am a newcomer to the region, I am not familiar with all of the various insect problems that occur throughout the season. However, with the help of people around the state bringing problems to my attention and my close association with the diagnostic lab here in Blacksburg I will soon be up to speed. Please contact me by phone, e-mail or in person about insect pest problems in turf or ornamental plants.
Ed Lewis
308 Price Hall
Phone: (540) 231-6614
Fax: (540) 231-9131
e-mail: LEWISE@VT.EDU
See my lab homepage: