Pest Activity -- April 7, 2000

Pest Activity > Pest Activity Archives > April 7, 2000

Welcome to the Woody Ornamental Pest Scouting Report for Western Pennsylvania for April 7, 2000, brought to you by Penn State Cooperative Extension. This tape 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 April 5, the following growing degree days using a base temperature of 50 degrees have accumulated:

Fox Chapel	93
Butler
Uniontown
New Stanton	93

Aphids were spotted on the newly emerging birch leaves this week in Westmoreland County. This pest feeds on the young leaves and developing catkins and can cause distorted leaves if population levels are high.

European Pine Sawfly larvae hatched in Allegheny and Westmoreland counties last week but the cold weather has slowed their development. The 1/4 inch long larvae can be found feeding on last year's terminal growth of their preferred host plants of Scotch, Japanese Red and Mugho Pines. At this time the larvae are confined to a localized area and a spot treatment or physical removal will provide control.

Cooley Spruce Gall Adelgids observed on Douglas Fir in Westmoreland County this week showed white wax around the perimeter of their bodies. Once the wax completely covers their entire body, the window for spring control is closed. If you are spraying to control this pest, it is important to check for this protective covering.

White Pine Weevil feeding was observed again in Westmoreland County and Beaver counties this past week but no egg laying has been observed. Egg laying was observed on the terminals of eastern white pines in Perry county this past week, so we shouldn't be far behind. Glistening droplets of fresh sap found on the terminal leaders of white pines is the result of feeding by adult males and females prior to egg laying. Use a pocket knife to scrape away the sap and expose the burrowed hole. Then use a hand lens to check to see if egg laying has occurred. If no eggs are found, a registered insecticides applied according to label directions should be directed to the tops of the trees.

Eriophyid mites continue to be active on hemlocks in Westmoreland and Beaver counties. High populations of this pest will cause needles to take on a silverish appearance from the loss of chlorophyll. The occurrence of this pest has steadily increased in southwest Pennsylvania in the past few years and hemlocks should be regularly scouted for this pest in early Spring. Registered insecticides applied according to label directions should be used at this time.

The next page update will be on Friday, April 14th.