WATCH FOR:
By Lee Townsend

• SQUASH VINE BORER in cucurbits
• MILLIPEDES invading houses in some areas
• WASP and YELLOWJACKET nests becoming more noticeable
• BEET ARMYWORM in peppers, tomatoes, and eggplant.

BLUE MOLD REPORTED IN NORTH CAROLINA AND MASSACHUSETTS
By Kenny Seebold

Blue mold was confirmed on plants in a field in NC, and on shade tobacco in MA. In both situations, actively sporulating lesions were found. The remnants of Dennis created favorable conditions for the development and spread of blue mold in eastern and western KY this past week, therefore we have placed these areas on a blue mold watch. Our growers should scout their fields regularly for signs and symptoms of blue mold. A warning means that viable spores are known to be in an area (blue mold has been confirmed) and conditions are projected to be favorable for development and spread of blue mold. A watch indicates that spores may be present and conditions are projected to be favorable for disease development and spread. Growers in areas under a blue mold warning should be following a recommended fungicide program, while those in areas under a watch should begin fungicide applications before blue mold is found if possible. The fungicides registered for use against blue mold of tobacco perform best if applied before disease appears.

For the latest blue mold status and other tobacco disease information, check the KY Blue Mold Warning System online.
http://www.uky.edu/Agriculture/kpn/kyblue/kyblue.htm

For more information about tobacco pests, visit "Insect Management Recommendations".

PEAR LEAF SPOT DISEASE IS ACTIVE
By John Hartman

Some cultivars of pears grown for fruit production are highly susceptible to leaf spot, or leaf blight disease. Pear leaf spot is caused by the fungus Fabraea maculata, an apothecia-producing ascomycete fungus. The stage of the fungus being observed now is called Entomosporium maculatum, so named due to the "bug-like" appearance of the spores when viewed microscopically. Thousands of these spores are produced in leaf lesions in a microscopic fruiting structure called an acervulus. Pear leaf spot is active now and the most susceptible trees show heavy incidence of leaf spotting and some defoliation.

Symptoms. Leaf spots being seen now are roughly circular and dark brown, sometimes with a chlorotic halo. Where spots are numerous, they may coalesce and leaves may appear blighted. Severely infected leaves turn yellow and drop from the tree. When leaves are young, spots may first appear as tiny reddish to purple spots on either surface of the leaf. Most of the infections are occurring in the lower part of the tree canopy and the defoliation can reduce fruit yield and quality. Sunken lesions similar to leaf spots may also appear on the fruit.

Disease management. A combination of cultural practices and chemical approaches will help to suppress Fabraea leaf spot of pears.

• Pick up and compost, bury, or burn fallen pear leaves in autumn. Old pear leaves are the main source of overwintering inoculum.
• Avoid overhead irrigation of pear trees to prevent splashing spores from infected to healthy leaves.
• Provide adequate plant spacing to encourage good sunlight penetration and rapid drying of the foliage.
• Regular seasonal applications of fungicides can be made to prevent infections. Fungicides containing ferbam, ziram, mancozeb (early in the season), or fixed copper compounds should be effective for disease prevention.

INSECT PESTS AT GRAPE HARVEST
By Ric Bessin

During much of the season, few insects are attracted to developing grape clusters, but as harvest approaches and the sugar content of the grapes increases, grapes will attract many pests. Often not even noticed for most of the season, they seemingly appear by the hundreds in the last few days leading to harvest. Two groups of insect pests cause most damage at harvest, sting insects and fruit feeding beetles.

Japanese beetle is a common pest of grapes during much of the summer. Grape leaves are among its most preferred food sources, but as the fruit ripen, they will feed on the clusters as well. Green June beetle is not a leaf feeder, it attacks the ripening fruit, often not arriving until the last few days before harvest. Some growers have attempted to control the adults through grub management on their farms. But this is not effective as the beetles are attracted to these crops from considerable distances.

Honey bees, wasps, hornets and bumble bees are common pests of grapes and as they are stinging insects, threaten pickers as they reach for the clusters. While many of these are considered beneficial insects during most of the season, as some are pollinators and others predators of insect pests, at harvest they can become serious pests. While bothersome to all pickers, they can be life threatening to those that are hypersensitive to their stings. Bees, wasps and hornets are social insects that build nests and live in colonies. Depending on the species, there can be a few dozen to many thousand individuals in a colony and many of these colonies reach their peak population close to grape harvest. Workers that are lost for one reason or another are quickly replaced by other nest mates. In mid summer, these colonies are actively searching for sugary liquids while other nectar sources may be drying up.

Insecticides
Many grape growers would like to have an insecticide that could control these pests at harvest, but spraying to control insect pests at harvest has several limitations. First, bees, wasps and hornets are social insects, killing a few workers does little good, as they are readily replaced by others from the nest. Second, the products that are effective against these pests have required pre-harvest intervals (PHI's) that prohibit their use in the final few days before harvest. PHI's will vary from product to product and growers should select inseciticide products close to harvest with consideration to their PHI. Growers must strictly adhere to required PHI's as listed on insecticide labels.

Sanitation
Bees, wasps and hornets are very opportunistic, in mid to late summer they are actively searching for sources of sugars. Once they find sources of sugary foods, they will aggressively forage in those areas and recruit additional workers from the colony. For this reason, it is important to maintain good sanitation around the vineyard in the weeks leading up to harvest. This includes other types of produce that may attract these pests as well as trash receptacles. Empty soda and juice cans are highly attractive to foraging bees and wasps.

Colony Elimination
If bee, hornet or wasp nests are spotted during the season, they need to be eliminated prior to the harvest period. The closer they are to the vineyard, the greater the potential problem. Nests for these social insects can be located in the ground, trees, or outbuildings. Some growers have had limited success using yellowjacket traps to reduce the number of foraging workers. These traps do not eliminate the colonies, but may reduce the number of workers in an area if used for the entire season. These traps can be baited with tuna fish, cat food, or sugary liquids. The traps are clear with a funnel in the bottom that allows the workers to enter.

Netting
In some backyard or hobby vineyard situations, netting may be a practical alternative. Netting should be selected that is fine enough to exclude insect pests. This has the advantage of also excluding birds. Netting should be placed on the vines just as the grapes begin to color (verasion) and removed shortly after final harvest.

Protecting Pickers
If bees, wasps or hornets are common in the vineyard at harvest, then hypersensitive pickers should wear gloves and/or head netting for protection.

GREEN JUNE BEETLES
By Lee Townsend

Rain-softened soils have unleashed flights of green June beetles to join with the Japanese beetles that have been flying for several weeks. Green June beetles will be most active during July and August but some late emergers may hang around into September.

The adults will buzz around over grassy areas with lots of organic matter. Females will enter the soil to lay their eggs. The resulting white grubs will feed on decaying organic matter in and on the soil surface.

Adults will feed on many fruits and sweet materials as well as on corn ear tips. These active fliers will continue to move in from surrounding areas. A variety of insecticides, such as those recommended for Japanese beetle control, should help to reduce numbers. Examples include carbaryl (Sevin), cyfluthrin (Bayer Advanced Garden Multi-Insect Killer Concentrate), lambda-cyhalothrin (SpectracideŽ TriazicideŽ Soil & Turf Insect Killer Concentrate), esfenvalerate (Ortho Bug-B-Gon Garden & Landscape Insect Killer Concentrate), and permethrin (SpectracideŽ Bug Stop Multi-Purpose Insect Control Concentrate and many other brands). Be sure the plants or crops you are treating are listed on the product label and follow the harvest intervals.

WHAT ARE THOSE BIG YELLOW, ORANGE & BLACK THINGS?
By Mike Potter

Cicada killers have been flying about and burrowing into lawns, prompting calls from homeowners. Despite their menacing appearance (up to 2 inches long with rusty red head/thorax, amber-yellow wings, and black and yellow striped abdomen), the wasps seldom sting unless provoked.

Biology - Cicada killers do not live in communal nests like hornets or yellowjackets. They overwinter as larvae within cocoons deep in the soil, emerging as adults during July. The females feed, mate, and excavate burrows in the ground about ˝ inch in diameter, ending in a series of brood chambers. Bare ground or sand are especially prone to infestation. Excess soil is pushed out of the burrow, leaving a mound of dirt at the entrance. Each female excavates numerous burrows and provisions them with adult cicadas which she ambushes, paralyzes with her venom, and stuffs into individual brood chambers. She then lays an egg on top, backs out, and seals the cell behind her. The egg hatches within a few days and the hungry larva devours the offering, eventually transforming into an adult the following summer.

Management - Cicada killers seldom sting and the females normally do not defend their burrows. The males, while incapable of stinging, sometimes dive-bomb passers-by, or hover menacingly nearby. Insecticide treatment may be warranted where the soil burrows become unsightly, or the wasps are digging in a high-traffic area such as along a sidewalk, playground, or sand trap on a golf course. Individual burrows can be effectively sprayed or dusted with most lawn & garden insecticides (Sevin, Bayer Advanced Lawn & Garden Multi-Insect Killer, Spectracide Triazicide Soil & Turf Insect Killer, etc.), or a wasp & hornet aerosol. Multiple nests may need to be treated with a broadcast application to the ground surface, using a pump up or hose-end sprayer.

As a deterrent to future nesting, clients should be advised to eliminate bare-ground areas. Cicada killers generally do not prefer burrowing into well-managed turf, gravel, pebbles or mulch. In situations such as playgrounds, camping areas, or commercial landscapes, these materials may be substituted for sand or bare soil. Another option is to wait and do nothing - in a matter of weeks the adults will die off and there's a chance the problem will not reoccur next year.

MILLIPEDES ON THE MOVE
By Lee Townsend and Mike Potter

Millipedes are long, multi-segmented creatures that use their two pairs of legs per body segment to move with deliberate determination to some apparently specific destination. There are several species in Kentucky so we can see a variety of shapes and colors. Millipedes can be very abundant in forest litter, grass, thatch, and in mulched areas. These places provide them with the food and dampness that they prefer. Usually, millipedes stay out of sight unless abundant rainfall or some other event, such as the mating season, puts them on the move.

Samples of flat-sided millipedes from Breckinridge and Clay counties may indicate that something is afoot with them. In both cases, they were moving into houses in noticeable numbers. These millipedes have a small but distinct flat plate extending from the side of each segment, rather than the round body of our more familiar species. While harmless and in fact, helpful recycles, millipedes generally are not welcomed with enthusiasm.

Millipedes often invade crawl spaces, damp basements and first floors of houses at ground level. Common points of entry include door thresholds (especially at the base of sliding glass doors), expansion joints, and through the voids of concrete block walls. Frequent sightings of these pests indoors usually mean that there are large numbers breeding on the outside in the lawn, or beneath mulch, leaf litter or debris close to the foundation. Because of their moisture requirement, they do not survive indoors more than a few days unless there are very moist or damp conditions.

MILLIPEDE MANAGEMENT

1) Minimize moisture & remove hiding places - The most effective, long-term measure for reducing entry of millipedes (and many other pests) is to minimize moisture and hiding places, especially near the foundation. Leaves, grass clippings, heavy accumulations of mulch, boards, stones, boxes, and similar items laying on the ground beside the foundation should be removed, since these often attract and harbor pests. Items that cannot be removed should be elevated off the ground.

2) Seal entry points - Seal cracks and openings in the outside foundation wall, and around the bottoms of doors and basement windows. Install tight-fitting door sweeps or thresholds at the base of all exterior entry doors, and apply caulk along the bottom outside edge and sides of door thresholds. Seal expansion joints where outdoor patios, sunrooms and sidewalks abut the foundation. Expansion joints and gaps should also be scaled along the bottom of basement walls on the interior to reduce entry of pests and moisture from outdoors.

3) Insecticides - Exterior applications, in the form of barrier sprays, may help to reduce inward invasion when applied outdoors, along the bottom of exterior doors, around crawl space entrances, foundation vents and utility openings, and up underneath siding. It also may be useful to treat along the ground beside the foundation in mulch and ornamental plant beds, and a few feet up the base of the foundation wall. Heavy accumulations of mulch and leaf litter should first be raked back to expose pest hiding areas. Insecticide treatment may also be warranted along the interior foundation walls of damp crawl spaces and unfinished basements.

There is no benefit from treating indoors. Millipedes that do get inside will not find what they need to survive.

DIAGNOSTIC LAB - HIGHLIGHTS
By Julie Beale and Paul Bachi

During the past week, we have diagnosed black head mold (Cladosporium) on wheat, boron deficiency in alfalfa; charcoal rot, downy mildew, thrips injury, potassium deficiency, and Rhizoctonia root rot on soybean; black shank, tomato spotted wilt virus, soreshin, frogeye leaf spot and Fusarium wilt on tobacco.

On fruit and vegetable samples, we have diagnosed black rot and crown gall on grape; bacterial stalk rot on sweet corn; anthracnose and common rust (Uromyces) on bean; scab on potato; powdery mildew and Phytophthora root rot on squash; blossom end rot on pepper; early blight, Septoria leaf spot, tomato spotted wilt virus, blossom end rot, bacterial canker and stinkbug injury on tomato.

On ornamentals and turf, we have seen bacterial spot on almond; Rhizoctonia root rot on impatiens and filbert; scab on crabapple; black knot on plum; anthracnose on bentgrass and perennial ryegrass; and brown patch on fescue.

By Patty Lucas, University of Kentucky Research Center

View Princeton trap counts for the entire 2005 season at - http://www.uky.edu/Ag/IPMPrinceton/Counts/2005trapsfp.htm

Fulton County trap counts are available at -http://ces.ca.uky.edu/fulton/anr/Insect%20Counts.htm

For information on trap counts in southern Illinois visit the Hines Report at - http://www.ipm.uiuc.edu/pubs/hines_report/comments.html The Hines Report is posted weekly by Ron Hines, Senior Research Specialist, at the University of Illinois Dixon Springs Agricultural Center.

NOTE: Trade names are used to simplify the information presented in this newsletter. No endorsement by the Cooperative Extension Service is intended, nor is criticism implied of similar products that are not named.

Lee Townsend
Extension Entomologist

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