Insect Management
Codling moths are flying in some parts of the state. Place your pheromone traps in the orchard during bloom. I have not yet caught any in my traps but expect to soon. We define biofix as the first sustained flight of moths. Therefore, we don’t determine biofix when that first moth shows up in the[Read More…]
Eastern flower thrips are an occasional pest of strawberries. They are attracted to and feed on flowers, with the result being leathery fruit or fruit that fail to ripen. This problem occurs every year at low levels but has not been serious in recent years, with the last serious problem in 1994. Eastern flower thrips[Read More…]
One of the first and most important parts of a good insect and mite management program is the application of an early season oil spray to control European red mites, San Jose scale, and several species of aphids. Scales overwinter on the tree as nymphs and European red mites and aphids overwinter as eggs. Because[Read More…]
The 2017 growing season has officially started as vines are budding out. As we go through the next couple of weeks, it is important to realize that some potential pest and disease problems require early season sprays. The first is Phomopsis, a major problem on many grape varieties in the Midwest. Mancozeb should be applied[Read More…]
One way insects communicate with individuals of the same species is with pheromones. Pheromones are volatile chemicals released by an insect that usually can be detected only by individuals of the same species. There are a number of different types of pheromones, but the most common type is the sex pheromone. Usually the females will[Read More…]
As the spray season approaches, it is good to remember the profound impact water quality has on the performance of pesticides used by fruit growers. Purdue Pesticides Program recently published a guide, The Impact of Water Quality on Pesticide Performance PPP-86, available at the Education Store, 1-888-EXT-INFO or www.extension.purdue.edu/store/. I highly recommend this guide to[Read More…]
Managing Mites in a BMSB World For several decades, apple growers in Indiana and elsewhere in the Midwest have used a highly effective system to manage European red mites that is based on conservation of the predatory mite, Amblyseius fallacis, along with timely applications of either preventive or rescue miticides. The rationale behind this approach[Read More…]
“During the past few years considerable complaint has been made in this state of the loss of apples through rotting.” George P. Clinton, 1902. It’s been quite a season for rot. High temperatures, coupled with regular rains created a perfect storm of summer rots. If you were one of the orchards with problems, you need[Read More…]
I am still catching significant numbers of codling moths in my pheromone traps. That means that they are still mating and laying eggs on fruit. Even though you may be well into the harvest period, don’t forget that those later varieties still need to be protected from codling moth. Don’t forget to pay close attention[Read More…]