Hi all,
Generally, around this time in season, we start to see the usual suspects showing up, and in some cases, thriving in the fields. This year seems to be a bit slower overall, but in warmer areas like the Burlington region, sightings are definitely picking up.
After a few weeks with relatively few Spinach/Beet leaf miners, we are now starting to see both eggs and mines in chard and beets. If you are scouting for leaf miners, start by checking the undersides of the leaves. Their small, bright white eggs are usually visible in tight clusters. Leaf mines begin as small, transparent tunnels in the leaf tissue and grow larger as the larvae develop. If you are already seeing mines in the foliage, be sure to remove the “infected” leaves from the field before the larvae exit to pupate. This will reduce the size of the second flight. If you have not yet seen any eggs or mines, but have in the past, it might be a good time to consider using insect exclusion netting or row cover.
Striped Cucumber Beetle (SCB) are also starting to appear in greater numbers. While we are still behind last year’s pace, beetle activity is definitely increasing. Keep in mind that SCB shows a strong preference for certain cucurbit species and cultivars. In general, C. maxima varieties such as blue hubbard and summer C. pepo types including zucchini and some summer squash tend to be more highly preferred than C. moschata varieties like butternut and winter C. pepo types such as acorn squash. 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. Our team is currently experimenting with a combination of trap cropping and baited bucket traps to manage SCB. We will keep you posted on how it goes.
Colorado Potato Beetle (CPB) adults are actively moving into fields, particularly onto eggplant and potato. So far, we are seeing mostly adults and very few egg masses, which indicates a slower start compared to previous years. One important note about CPB, based on our past work: in New England, CPB often prefers eggplant over most other solanaceous crops, or at the very least shows equal preference to potato. This can pose particular challenges for eggplant, as it tends to grow more slowly and is generally less resilient than potato. For growers with a significant investment in eggplant, prioritizing protection from CPB early in the season may be especially important.
Some other quick notes from around the area/region:
- The first leek moth flight seems to be over in the Champlain Valley. Most growers are beginning to larval feeding, particularly in garlic scapes.
- The first swede midge capture just across the river in Essex County, NY
- Three-lined potato beetle are out and about in Maine, probably here in VT too.
Finally, I want to acknowledge and extend heartfelt gratitude to our summer research scouts: Julian Wise, Emmy Juenger, Jill White, and Natalie Redfield Gale. These budding 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 farmers market. If you do, give them a high five! These scouting reports would not be possible without their tireless effort and sharp eyes.
A big shout out as well to Last Resort Farm, Khelcom Farm, and The Farm Upstream for generously allowing our team to scout and monitor on their land. Your collaboration makes this work both possible and useful.
You can now access our website via this link: https://go.uvm.edu/vpart. Also, you can now directly submit any pest sightings or questions to our team. Direct emails from the VVBGA listserve are acceptable as well. As always, you can access our pest reports on our website or by directly navigating to the scouting blog.
Feel free to reach out to us if you have any questions.
Cheers,
vic
| Pest | Crop | Observations | ||
| Colorado Potato Beetle | Potatoes | We are seeing CPB adults and eggs in eggplant and potato. Populations are predominantly adults and eggs | ||
| Spinach/Beet leaf miner | Spinach, Swiss Chard, Beets | Adult flies are flying and laying eggs. We are seeing some mines in warmer areas | ||
| Striped Cucumber Beetle | Squash/Cucumber | Beetles are beginning to be seen in multiple areas | ||
| Flea Beetle | Broccoli/ Kale | Pressure seems relatively modest in most areas | ||
| Three-lined potato bug. | Tomatillos | They are being reported in Maine, likely are up and searching for tomatillos here in VT as well | ||
| Leek Moth | Onions/Garlic | We are seeing larval feeding, mostly in garlic scapes. Our traps are clear, so the first flight is over in the area. | ||