Hi all,
Generally, it looks like pest distributions are starting to align more closely with previous years as I look back at past seasons. We fell behind a bit with the cooler weather, but things have picked up recently.
Unfortunately, after several weeks of clean plants, we are now starting to see some Spinach/Beet leaf miner eggs in some select plantings in Vermont. No huge outbreaks yet but we now have confirmation that they are flying around in the region. If you have struggled with them in the past, you might want to consider covering any plants you want to protect. Scouting for leaf miners, is relatively straight forward. 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. The larvae feeding in those leaves will eventually make their way to the soil to pupate. Removal of those larvae from the field will reduce the size of the second flight.
Striped Cucumber Beetle (SCB) are also starting to appear in greater numbers. While we are still behind last year’s pace, beetle activity is increasing at a concerning pace in some of the fields we’ve scouted. 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. If you are putting out any small starts, it might be helpful to employ some kaolin clay to slow the impact of their feeding.
Just prior to posting this report we received word from a local grower near UVM that Mexican bean beetle adults they are seeing a few Mexican bean beetle (MBB) adults in snap beans. This early alert should be helpful for those outside the warmer Burlington area. If you are in the Champlain Valley, it would be advisable to scout your crops over the next week for MBB eggs being laid on the undersides 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.
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. There has been some discussion on the listserv and in other informal grower conversations about non-chemical options for CPB management. Thank you to everyone who has shared ideas with Stony Loam Farm about innovative tactics you are using on your farm, and thanks to Dave Quickel for getting that conversation started.
Our team has been exploring CPB management strategies extensively over the past couple of years and is hoping to hold a field day or community meeting later this season to discuss shared challenges and successful approaches. If you are interested in joining one of these events, please reach out. We will share specific details as plans are finalized.
Some other quick notes from around the area/region:
- The first leek moth flight seems to be over in the Champlain Valley. You are likely to find most damage in the center of your garlic plants where scapes are beginning to form. You can squish them to reduce the population.
- The first swede midge capture just across the river in Essex County, NY!
- As mentioned last week, Three-lined potato beetle are out and about in just starting to pick up steam. Check your tomatillos if you got’m.
- We’ve seen some onion thrips outbreaks in high tunnels on over-wintered onions. That said, yields have not been particularly affected.
As always you can connect with us via our website: 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. | ||
| Striped Cucumber Beetle | Squash/Cucumber | Beetle popuations are really picking up. | ||
| Flea Beetle | Broccoli/ Kale | Pressure is consistent but with the warmer temps, hopefully things will subside. | ||
| Three-lined potato bug. | Tomatillos | They are being reported in region the distribution is spotty | ||
| Mexican bean beetle | Beans | Just got word of some adults in the Burlington area | ||
| Leek Moth | Onions/Garlic | We are seeing larval feeding, mostly in center of garlic. Our traps are mostly clear, so the first flight is over in the area. | ||