Hi all,
Thanks to the cooler temps many pest populations have slowed down their growth rates, leading to a rather “normal” progression of pest outbreaks for this time of the year. However, the one thing we can bet on is that normal will surely change to “abnormal” at some point.
The key notes from this week’s scouting:
Several growers have reached out to our team to inquire about our plans for monitoring Spotted Wing Drosophila (SWD) within Vermont. Our current SWD monitoring program is primarily based in Chittenden County and will begin this upcoming week as we deploy our monitoring traps. We will be reporting on those numbers going forward. For growers interested in trapping on their own farms, recent research from Jaime Piñero at UMass has shown that a simple diluted concord grape juice + salt mixture works better than many commercial traps. His research on comparisons of the traps can be found here. The basic bait cocktail is: 1 part concord grape juice + 3 parts water + 2% salt by weight.
Striped cucumber beetles are in full force in most squash and cucumber plantings within warmer regions. We are seeing lots of mating pairs and feeding damage, especially in winter squash of the maxima species (e.g. Blue Hubbard). Though feeding damage can be worrisome for smaller plants and seedlings, SCB are also a vector of bacterial wilt which can be quite a challenge. Cucurbita maxima is known to be the preferred species of winter squash for cucumber beetles (and squash bugs) and is often utilized as a trap crop for other less preferred species (C. pepo and C. moschata). C. maxima has been well researched as a potential trap crop. As mentioned previously, Kaolin clay applications (e.g. flat dunks) are a popular and effective organic method for reducing pressure on smaller seedlings.
Mexican bean beetle adults are being found in all of the bean crops that we are monitoring, and we have reports from other growers that they are seeing eggs and adults as well. Be sure to scout your crops over the next week, especially if you are already seeing eggs being laid on the underside of leaves. Once bean beetle larvae begin to pop out of their eggs, damage can build very quickly. Luckily, for those growers interested in using biological control tactics, there is a rather effective option. The parasitoid wasp species, Pediobius foveolatus is commercially available within the region. The wasp is currently reared and sold by the New Jersey Dept of Agriculture and can be purchased from other biocontrol suppliers. For more information on the wasp and ordering directly from suppliers, you can check out the informative UMass website dedicated to the wasp.
Finally, I want to acknowledge and extend gratitude to our newest summer undergraduate research scouts, Ava Toomey-Cordeiro (University of Santa Barbara) eand Katie Monacella (University of Vermotn). These two burgeoning entomologists will be doing the bulk of the scouting work for the rest of the season. You may see them on a farm or at a farmer’s market, in which case give them a high five! These scouting reports wouldn’t be possible without their tireless effort.
As always, our website for the scouting reports can be found here. In addition to the pests reported here, our website also has a more comprehensive list of pests. The list also documents the progression of many common pests as they emerge throughout the season.
For detailed management information about these pests, as well as a comprehensive guide to current production and pest management techniques for commercial vegetable crops, check out the New England Vegetable Management Guide. And, as always feel free to reach out to us if you have any questions.
Cheers,
Vic, Scott, Ava, Katie, and the rest of the VEPART Team and Collaborators
| Pest | Crop | Observations | |
| Colorado Potato Beetle | Potatoes | We are still primarily seeing adults and eggs, but presumably there is likely some growers that are seeing larvae…any day now. | |
| Spinach/Beet leaf miner | Spinach, Swiss Chard, Beets | The first generation of larvae is just about over in most of the region. Most populations are currently pupating in the soil below plants. | |
| Mexican Bean Beetle | Beans | We are seeing adults in beans and eggs. | |
| Striped Cucumber Beetle | Squash/Cucumber | In the warmer areas of the state cucumber beetles have really taken off and are decimating susceptible cucurbits. | |
| Flea Beetle | Broccoli/ Kale | Now that many of the primary hhost plants for flea beetle are larger in size, beetle outbreaks have become less worrisome. | |
| Imported cabbage worms | Brassica crops | We are beginning to see damage in various brassica crops and reports of diamondback moth are coming out of Massachusetts | |
| Tarnished plant bug | Strawberries | Tarnished plant bugs are being found in relatively high numbers in strawberries. | |
| Potato Leafhoppers | Alfalfa | We are still yet to hear of any major outbreaks, | |
| Three-lined potato bug. | Tomatillos | We are seeing some large outbreaks in tomatillos and ground cherries. | |
| Leek Moth | Onions/Garlic | Baited traps for adult moths are still clear, so the second flight is still yet to begin. | |