Hi all,
After visiting a bunch of farms the last week or so, it seems that the season has been very productive and seemingly going well for growing lots of different crops. That said, there are quite a few pests that have arrived earlier than expected and some populations are starting their second generations in the region.
One of the more discussed pests this year has been leek moth, and for good reason, as we have seen very high pressure early in the seasons in allium crops (e.g. garlic, scallions, etc.). For those paying attention, we are currently at “peak” flight in the region with very high counts in most traps. Eggs are currently being laid on onions and other alliums, and we expect them to hatch within the next week, leading to larval feeding. Look for signs of leek moth caterpillar feeding, often recognized by “window-paning” in onion crops. For effective chemical controls, it’s best to apply treatments about 7 days after the peak, which should align near the end of this week for growers in the Champlain Valley.
In cucurbits, we are beginning to catch squash viner borers in our traps and seeing them out in the field landing on leaves. Reports from neighboring states indicate high trap counts, so it’s crucial to watch for larval entry holes at the base of squash plants. Individual plants can recover if larvae are removed from the vine and the wound is buried with soil. Additionally, cucumber beetles have caused some plant losses, primarily due to bacterial wilt, a disease spread by the beetles. If you notice sudden squash plant death, inspect them to determine if it’s due to squash vine borers or bacterial wilt.
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, for berry growers, we still are yet to catch any spotted wing drosophila (SWD) in any of our traps this season. We’ve switched to the Scentry brand traps this season as opposed to the homemade grape juice “dunking” liquid traps. We have been pleasantly surprised with the efficiency and ease of using the Scentry SWD traps. They seem to be highly selective for fruit flies. If SWD are present, we anticipate they will be captured by these traps. Additionally, we’ve received reports of a positive trapping of blueberry maggot in the Champlain Valley, marking the earliest detection that we can remember. We’ll continue to monitor this situation and provide updates as it develops.
Some notes from outside Vermont:
- Spring emergence of swede midge continues in Northern New York. Damage symptoms now visible (blind plants, twisted leaves, etc)
- The first western bean cutworm and corn earworms found in southern NH.
- Downy mildew in cucurbits detected in NJ
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 | Finding mostly eggs and larvae of all stages, mostly 2nd and 3rd instars (medium sized). Larvae will begin pupating in the soil soon. |
| Squash Bug | Cucurbits | Eggs masses are numerous, and a few nymphs are emerging. |
| Striped Cucumber Beetle | Squash, Cucumbers | Quite variable from plant to plant and farm to farm, but where there are outbreaks they seem to be rather concerning. Seeing the first incidence of bacterial wilt in the region. |
| Flea Beetle | Kale, Collards, Cabbage | Not much of a problem at this stage. |
| Cabbage worms | Kale | We are seeing some diamondback moth outbreaks on some farms and surprised with how many we are seeing. Other cabbage moth caterpillars are present but not yet cause much damage. |
| Potato Leafhoppers | Potatoes, Beans | High pressure of adult leafhoppers in potato fields. Leaf burn is really picking up. |
| Tarnished plant bug | Strawberries, potatoes | Tarnished plant bugs are being found in relatively high numbers in strawberries and potatoes |
| Three-lined potato bug. | Tomatillos | Pressure is waning a bit. |
| Leek Moth | Onions/Garlic | The second flight is peaking and eggs are being laid. We saw our first small caterpillar this week |
| Squash vine borer | Winter and Summer Squash | Trap numbers are increasing and high in some regions |
| Mexican Bean Beetle | Beans | Seeing a relatively high number of adults |
| Onion Thrips | Onions | Pressure is building as we are spotting most stages of the insect. Damage is also beginning to crop up in many onion plantings. |