Hi all,
With the solstice right around the corner, all of the resident pests that are able to overwinter here in Vermont are mostly all being seen. In addition, several pests that we often see later in the season have been found in fields and traps quite a bit earlier than in years past.
As mentioned last week, potato leafhoppers (PLH) are already around, and in some crops/fields, they seem to be quite abundant. We haven’t seen spotted wing drosophila (SWD) adults in our traps yet, but with reports from NY indicating some positive catches, it is only a matter of time till we see them in our traps. We will keep you posted.
Leek moth adults are just now beginning to emerge from allium crops, as we have caught a hand full of adults this past week across several farms. This second “flight” of moths is particularly concerning for onion growers, and with rising temperatures, we anticipate the peak flight arriving sooner rather than later. Next week’s trap counts will provide a clearer picture of what to expect.
Onion thrips are being reported throughout the region. We are yet to see significant pressure on the farms that we’ve been monitoring but thrips populations typically thrive in hot and dry conditions. So, be on the lookout for thrips in your onions. They are quite small, but they can be easily identified with a hand lens or even the naked eye. Early infestations can be monitored by looking between the leaves near the base of the plant.
Finally, there have been reports of high incidence of cabbage root maggot outbreaks in brassicas this season. Generally, cabbage root maggots will feed on the roots of a wide range of brassica plants. Reports of outbreaks have been common in broccoli and kale this year. That said, field research has shown that CRM does prefer turnip-like brassicas (B. rapa) and Chinese cabbage (B. rapa chinensis and B. rapa pekinensis) to most other brassicas. It is also notable that tuberous brassicas (e.g. radishes, turnips, etc.) better support maggot development and survival.
A few of the most important developments from other areas:
- First squash vine borer caught in traps in southern NH. We haven’t seen any in our traps in VT yet.
- One fall armyworm moth has been caught in southern NH.
- Spring swede midge emergence ongoing in the region. There is yet to be any positive crop damage reported.
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, Julian, Maya, Zack, and the rest of the VEPART team
| Pest | Crop | Observations |
| Colorado Potato Beetle | Potatoes, Solanums | Seeing mostly adults and young (1st and 2nd instars) larvae. Though pressure is bulidng |
| Squash Bug | Cucurbits | Low pressure in most of the plantings that we have been monitoring. |
| Striped Cucumber Beetle | Squash, Cucumbers | Very high pressure and outbreaks on many farms. |
| Flea Beetle | Kale, Collards, Cabbage | Finding quite a few flea beetles, though most plants are tolerating the pressure and the high temps could push this first flight out. |
| Cabbage worms | Kale | Low pressure cabbage worm on dino kale only. A few cocoons found. |
| Potato Leafhoppers | Potatoes | High pressure of adult leafhoppers in potato fields. We are yet to see any leaf burn or significant nymph populations |