Pest Activity -- April 15, 2002

Pest Activity > Pest Activity Archives > April 15, 2002

Welcome to the Woody Ornamental Pest Scouting Report for Western Pennsylvania for April 15, 2002, 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 April 10, the following growing degree days with a base temperature of 50 degrees have accumulated:

Uniontown	110	Franklin	56
New Stanton	91	Meadville	48
Pittsburgh	92	Erie	32
Wexford	84	Fairview	24
Prospect	61	Harbor Creek	24
Mercer	33

Southern Red Mite eggs are hatching and young nymphs were obsrved on Japanese Hollies in Westmoreland County last week.

Eastern Tent Caterpillar hatched out this past week in Westmoreland and Allegheny counties. The tents are approaching 1-2 inches in length and the larvae are in early instars. The insecticide B.T. is effective against the eastern tent caterpillar when the larvae are under one inch long and sprays are directed toward the foliage surrounding the tents since the material must be injested. If using a contact insecticide, be sure to apply when the caterpillars are feeding outside of the tents. While not practical in all situations, the tents and caterpillars can be removed by hand at this time. The best time to do this is early morning and evening, when the caterpillars are in the tents.

Adult Inkberry leafminers, a key pest of Ilex glabra or inkberry holly, were observed in Westmoreland County last week. Control sprays should be applied when the adult flies are active to prevent egg laying. The adult is a tiny 1/8" long blackish colored fly and can be seen laying eggs in last years foliage on inkberry holly. This pest also has a second generation that occurs from mid-August to mid September.

European Pine Sawfly eggs are hatching in Allegheny and Westmoreland counties and the 1/8 inch long larvae can be found feeding on last year's terminal growth. Their preferred host plants are 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.

Now is the time to think about apple scab control on flowering crabapples. Recent research indicates that a combination of the fungicides Banner and Daconil provides very good control of apple scab with the first spray applied at the early pink stage and a second one applied three weeks later.

Spruce Rust Mites and Hemlock Rust Mites remain active on Spruce and Hemlocks in Western Pennsylvania at this time.

Cooley Spruce Gall Adelgid nymphs scouted in Westmoreland County are becoming covered with white waxy strands and the warmer temperatures we are currently will be closing the window of opportunity for control sprays.

White Pine Weevils have started egg laying in Westmoreland County so any control measures directed to the leaders show be applied asap.

 

The next scouting report will be on Friday, April 19th.