Pest Activity -- April 2, 2004
Pest Activity
> April 2, 2004
Welcome to the Woody Ornamental Pest Scouting Report for Western Pennsylvania
brought to you by Penn State Cooperative Extension. This message will
be updated weekly with growing degree day counts and insect activity
through the end of June. If you would like an email copy of this report,
send your request to
mcm2@psu.edu.
As of March 31,
the following growing degree days with a base temperature of 50 degrees
have accumulated.
| Uniontown |
80 |
Mercer |
38
|
| New Stanton |
xx |
Franklin |
36
|
| Pittsburgh |
57 |
Meadville |
36
|
| Wexford |
47 |
Erie |
27 |
| Butler |
33 |
Harbor Creek |
31
|
Pest Activity
Bagworm
 |
The last few years we have seen a tremendous increase in the bagworm population in southwest Pennsylvania. The overwintering bags can be physically removed from landscape plants at this time since the female bags ( the plumpish ones) can contain 500-1,000 overwintering eggs. The eggs usually hatch in late May to early June in southwest Pennsylvania |
Fact
Sheet
|
Cooley Spruce Gall
 |
Overwintering Cooley Spruce
Gall Adelgids observed this past week on Douglas-fir in Westmoreland
County are continuing to produce the white waxy strands prior
to molting. If you decide to use an insecticide to control
this pest, now is the time for application, before they are
protected by the white waxty excretions. The list of currently
labeled insecticides for use in Pennsylvania on Douglas -fir
can be found here.
|
Fact
Sheet
|
Hemlock Rust Mite
 |
Hemlock Rust Mites have
hatched and adults are active in Westmoreland County at this
time. The list of currently labeled miticides for use on eriophyid
mites on hemlock in Pennsylvania can be found here.
|
Fact
Sheet
|
Other Pests
|
Crabapple have broken bud in the city of Pittsburgh and we are rapidly approaching the plant phenological stage called pre-pink, which is just prior to full bloom. Application of the fungicides propiconazole (Banner) + chlorothalonil (Daconil 2787) as flower buds begin to show color (early pink) and again 3 weeks later has been shown to give very good control of apple scab |
|
While we were busy shoveling ice and snow, some rabbits were busy feeding on the bark of young trees and shrubs in our landscape. While this type of damage may not kill this section of the plant, it can weaken the growth by reducing the vascular system responsible for the movement of water and carbohydrates in the plant |
The next scouting report will be on April 9 .
