CURRENT BLUE MOLD STATUS
by William Nesmith

METALAXYL-RESISTANT BLUE MOLD CONFIRMED IN GEORGIA!

Blue mold has not been detected anywhere in Kentucky. But blue mold remains active in the southeastern U.S. and in Texas. Moreover, scientist with Novartis have confirmed, by laboratory tests, that the blue mold active in Grady County, Georgia is insensitive to metalaxyl (Ridomil-resistant). This finding significantly changes the blue mold picture for Kentucky, because transplants are arriving in Kentucky from south Georgia. Even though blue mold has not been reported from any of the counties in Georgia, where burley transplants are being produced, the presence of metalaxyl-resistant blue mold in Grady County is sufficiently close to posing a threat to transplants produced in the southeast and shipped to Kentucky.

The levels of blue mold activity in Florida, Georgia, and Texas remains about the same as last week. No other states have reported activity.

ACROBAT MZ STATUS: As indicated last week, EPA has approved the use of Acrobat MZ in Kentucky for 1997, but Kentucky's Commissioner of Agriculture must still authorize release of the label. Now that metalaxyl-resistant blue mold is present in the U.S. and a potential threat to Kentucky via importation on transplants, approval is expected very soon.

PHONE NUMBER TO NORTH AMERICAN BLUE MOLD FORECAST SYSTEM: A direct toll-free telephone line has been established to access blue mold forecasts from all areas of the United States and most countries around the world.

For U.S. callers the toll-free number is: 1-888-835-BLUE (1-888-835-2583).

For international callers to access the forecasts, first enter the AT&T Direct Access Number for your country. When prompted, enter the U.S. telephone number - 888-835-BLUE (888-835-2583).

Voice updated forecasts are released three times each week, and more often if necessary.

DISEASES AND DISORDERS IN TRADITIONAL PLANT BEDS
by William Nesmith

Although traditional plant beds now account for only a small percentage of the total transplant production in Kentucky, they remain an important and valuable source of transplants for Kentucky. Unfortunately, few growers are taking steps to protect them from diseases with regular preventive programs. A number of diseases and disorders are beginning to develop rapidly in traditional plant beds now that more normal temperatures have developed.

SALT DAMAGE (YELLOW PATCH): Patches of yellowing and stunting plants are developing in many plant beds, due to salt build-up near the surface, following high evapo-transpiration for several weeks. In some cases, plant death has already occurred because the roots have been killed by the salt. This is expected anytime dry, windy weather develops during the seedling stage. The best corrective step is timely and proper watering to leach the salts out of the root zone.

ANGULAR LEAF SPOT: I have received a number of calls about angular leaf spot in tobacco plant beds during the past weekend, mainly involving beds that were receiving regular irrigations. The symptoms involved necrotic lesions surrounded by a small yellow halo, often concentrated toward the leaf tip. With time the leaf tips are tattered from the marginal infections.

In none of these cases had the grower been using a regular fungicide or bactericide program. In all cases, the growers had pushed the plants with nitrogen. Angular leaf spot is especially serious in plant beds that have been over-fertilized with nitrogen and/or those under low potassium.

PROTECTIVE SPRAY PROGRAMS NEEDED: Regular spray programs are needed in outdoor beds too. For prevention and control of angular leaf spot, remove the covers on larger plants to aid in drying and apply streptomycin at 100 to 200 PPM (1 to 2 teaspoons/gallon of water) using enough water to insure adequate coverage. Weekly sprays are needed, but in severe cases use high rates and frequent intervals (see the label) until the disease is under control. It usually requires multiple applications to achieve control. Good coverage is critical to obtaining control, because the material is only locally systemic. Do not mix streptomycin with other materials and apply under slow drying for greater systemic uptake.

Regular fungicide applications are needed in plant beds. Use Ferbam or Dithane. Ferbam should be used at 1.5-3.0 lbs/100 gallons of water (3 to 5 tablespoons per gallon) and Dithane DF at 0.5-1.0 lbs/100 gallons (1 Tablespoon per gallon). Thorough coverage of the seedlings is very important, so use high pressure and remove the covers for best results. These fungicides are broad-spectrum and will control or suppress a range of fungal diseases associated with the bed, including metalaxyl-insensitive strains of blue mold.

If Acrobat MZ becomes labeled, it can be substituted for the Ferbam or Dithane. Also, note that Ridomil is not labeled for use in the beds other than at seeding time. The supplemental applications at 50 days post seeding are not labeled uses.

CUTWORMS AND FLEA BEETLES ACTIVE NOW
by Lee Townsend

Cutworms are generally present in tobacco fields because of early weed growth in the spring. Once their food is removed through tillage, they will feed on new transplants. Orthene or Dylox are the two insecticides available rescue treatments. Either can be applied as a foliar spray to kill cutworm. Treatments should be relatively effective if cutworms are feeding aboveground on the leaves. Under dry soil conditions, they will tend to feed below the soil surface and cut the plant stem. Foliar sprays are largely ineffective in these situations.

Preventive cutworm control is available in broadcast, incorporated applications of Lorsban 4E or 15G prior to transplant. Orthene, as a transplant water treatment, can provide good cutworm control, also. Some plant loss can still occur under high infestation pressure.

Tobacco flea beetles should be present in fields now and will be feeding for the next 3 to 4 weeks. These overwintering adults will feed and lay their eggs near the base of tobacco plants. Tobacco will be large enough that it will not be damaged by subsequent generations.

CORN INSECTS TO WATCH FOR
by Ric Bessin

Corn Flea Beetles
This past winter has been mild and has favored higher than normal flea beetle numbers. Flea beetles are important in corn for two reasons, first, they are leaf feeders and large infestations can kill small seedlings. I have had reports of large numbers on corn just spiking through the soil. Feeding by these beetles results in scaring of the leaf surface and evidenced by a frosted appearance to the leaves. Serious damage can occur on plants less than six inches tall. Flea beetles are also vectors of Stewart's Wilt, also known as bacterial leaf blight.

With most hybrids under good growing conditions the corn seedlings will recover from flea beetle damage, so control is not recommended unless some plants are killed or taking on a whitish cast. Control is rarely justified, unless damage is extensive and growing conditions are poor. Fields with Stewart's Wilt should be scouted carefully. Most field corn varieties are not as susceptible to this disease as sweet corn.

Armyworm
The armyworm, or true armyworm, is a common early season pest that can cause occasional losses in corn and should be monitored now. In no-till or reduced tillage systems, infestation may cover the entire field. Cool, wet, spring weather usually favors armyworm development. This spring we have had high numbers of moths captured in pheromone traps.

The full-grown 1-1/2 inch armyworm has a greenish brown body with a thin stripe down the center and two orange stripes along each side. The head is brown with dark honeycombed markings. Armyworms overwinter as partially grown larvae in grasses or small grain fields. When warm spring temperatures return, armyworm feeding resumes. Armyworms may move into corn during this period.

Feeding is usually confined to leaf margins, but occasionally they may strip the entire plant leaving only the midrib of the leaves. During the day, armyworms are found in the soil or underneath ground cover. Corn can usually recover from light to moderate feeding by armyworm without significant yield loss. However, severe damage, particularly if the growing bud is injured, can cause significant loss in yield.

Scouting is used to determine if armyworms are present (identify hot spots) and to evaluate if they are worth treating. If the characteristic armyworm damage is observed while scouting, look on the ground for armyworms or their black pepper-like droppings littering the ground. To sample for armyworms, examine 20 consecutive plants in each of at least 5 random locations in the field. Note the number of plants with the characteristic damage and the size of the larvae.

In conventional tillage, infestations usually begin around the field margins adjacent to small grains or grassy strips. These areas should be scouted first. If armyworms are present, then determine how far the infestation extends into the field. Entire fields are rarely infested and armyworms can be controlled by treating just a portion of the field.

Before deciding whether to treat for armyworms with an insecticide, there are a few things to consider. First, what sizes are the armyworms. If the armyworms are longer than about 1-1/4 inch they have completed most of their feeding. Controlling larvae of this size is not profitable because the damage is already done. Control actions in corn are recommended when armyworms average between 1/2 and 3/4 inches and the entire field averages 35% infested plants or 50% or more defoliation is seen on damaged plants.

Preventive treatments for armyworms are not justified. Keep in mind that majority of fields will have some armyworms in most years, but the chance of encountering a infestation that economically justifies the cost of treatment is small on a field by field basis. Only rescue treatments are recommended for armyworms in corn. Spot treatments can usually provide effective control of field-margin infestations.

POTATO LEAFHOPPER THREAT FOR SPRING-SEEDED ALFALFA
by Lee Townsend

Potato leafhoppers are relatively abundant in alfalfa now. Many females arrived on the storm fronts that have been passing through Kentucky regularly this spring. These small insects pose a threat to spring-seeded alfalfa fields. The delay until the first cutting of these fields will allow leafhoppers to build to damaging numbers. Weekly field monitoring with a sweep net is the only way to evaluate potato leafhopper numbers accurately. Once "hopperburn" is evident the damage has been done.

See ENTFACT 115 for more information on this insect. Sampling procedures, treatment guidelines and insecticide recommendations are contained in ENT 17- Insecticide Recommendations for Alfalfa and Clover.

NEW MITICIDE REGISTRATION FOR APPLES AND PEARS
by Ric Bessin

A new miticide recently received EPA registration. In early May, the EPA granted Pyramite registration for mite control on apples and pears. This is a new registration for a new active ingredient, pyridaben. Unlike many of the other newly registered miticides, this is available for midseason use (Apollo is pre tight cluster, Savey is pre pink, and AgriMek is used during a six week period following petal fall).

Pyrimite 60 WP is a general use miticide that contains pyridaben as its active ingredient. It is sold in 4.4 ounce water slouable bags. Its label bears "DANGER" as the signal word and requires a 12 hour REI. Pyrimite provides knockdown and residual of European red mite with 1 to 1.5 bags per acre in 100 to 200 GPA. It should be applied when populations are building and reach economic thresholds. During the summer, growers should alternate products with differing modes of action (e.g., Carzol, Kelthane, Summer oil) to reduce the potential for development of resistance. The label requires 30 days between sequential applications, a limit of two applications per year, a pre-harvest interval of 25 days and a minimum of 100 gallons of water volume per acre.

LILAC BACTERIAL BLIGHT IS ACTIVE*
by John Hartman

Bacterial blight of lilac has been observed this past week. Blackened and shriveled shoots and leaves of lilac characterize this disease caused by Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae. In addition, blighted girdled shoots and stems produce brown dieback of distal plant parts. Some strains of the causal bacterium have the capacity to act as nuclei for ice crystal formation, resulting in more plant damage when freezing temperatures occur in spring. A synergistic effect between spring freeze and bacterial blight has been reported. Widespread frosts a few weeks ago may have been associated with some of the blight seen last week; additional scattered frosts late last week may increase the damage. At this point, there are no controls suggested. If the disease is allowed to run its course, natural defenses in most lilacs will eventually stop the spread or infection in the plant.

*Written for a 1994 issue of Kentucky Pest News, but 100% applicable for the current situation (Vincelli).

THERMAL DEINFESTATION OF HOUSEHOLD ITEMS
by Michael F. Potter, Urban Extension Entomologist

The Entomology Department often receives calls from clientele asking if anything can be done to eliminate insects living within foods, furnishings, and other household items. In many cases, the culprits are wood-boring powderpost beetles, distinguishable by the fine, flour-like powder streaming from their small, round emergence holes (Figure 1). Other cases involve insect infestation of fabrics, crafts, animal trophies, or stored food items.

In some areas of the country, especially further south, professional pest control firms commonly fumigate such infestations using lethal gases. Not so, here in Kentucky, where there simply is not enough demand to justify the cost of maintaining the necessary fumigation equipment, licenses, and insurance. Insecticide sprays typically are of little use, since the insects are often living deep within the infested item where sprays cannot penetrate. Risk of staining and/or contamination further negates the use of insecticides on some fabrics, not to mention, food items. So what can the homeowner do, other than discard the item or tolerate the infestation?

One alternative is to chill or heat the item to a temperature lethal to the pests living within. Insects are unable to tolerate sudden, unanticipated extremes of hot and cold. In fact, most insects, being cold-blooded, have rather narrow temperature ranges within which they can survive. Heating and chilling deinfestation methods have been used by museums, furriers, and the food processing industry for years. By following the steps outlined below, homeowners will be able to salvage that piece of furniture, picture frame, or bamboo basket riddled with powderpost beetle holes, or that delicate wool craft item or animal trophy infested with clothes moths or carpet beetles. The techniques can even be used to kill grain beetles and meal moths in those 50 pound bags of bird seed or pet food some folks cannot bear to throw out.

COLD TREATMENT
This method is especially useful for deinfesting chairs, dressers, picture frames, and other wood items infested with powderpost or other wood-boring beetles. It requires the use of a freezer cold enough to maintain the infested item at minus 4 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 20 degrees Centigrade). Many home freezers attain such temperatures. Items too large to fit in a household freezer can be placed in a commercial freezer or "meat locker." (Check the yellow pages under "cold storage," or with your local supermarket.)

Chilling Procedure:

1. Wrap the infested item in a cloth bed sheet.
2. Place sheet-covered items in a large polyethylene bag (e.g., trash or dry-cleaning bag), or simply wrap them in polyethylene and tape the seams. Force as much air out of the bag as possible.
3. Place bagged item in freezer (- 4 degrees F / - 20 degrees C) for seven days.
4. After seven days, carefully remove item from freezer.
5. Before removing item from polyethylene bag, allow it to gradually warm up again to room temperature. This may take up to 24 hours for larger items. This step ensures that any condensation forming will occur on the outside of the polyethylene bag, rather than on the item itself.

The above chilling procedure generally is effective in killing all pest life stages, including eggs. Adverse effects seldom occur to furniture or their veneers and finishes. Wood inlays or mother-of -pearl', however, may be affected. Infested rugs, woolens, fabrics, and animal trophies can also be treated in this manner, again with negligible adverse effects. However, extra care should be taken when handling crafts and delicate items immediately after freezing and before they have returned to room temperature.

HEAT TREATMENT
This method is especially useful for rapid deinfestation of small wooden objects (e.g., wood carvings, bamboo baskets) infested with powderpost beetles. It can also be used to kill grain beetles and other stored product pests. Heating is not recommended for fabrics, glued items, or oil paintings. Lethal temperatures can conveniently be attained using a standard household oven, but heated items should be carefully monitored.

Heating Procedure:

1. Place infested item directly on center rack inside of oven.
2. Insert a pan (e.g., cookie pan) filled with water on the rack below. The purpose of the water is to maintain high relative humidity and minimize drying of the item during heating.
3. Set oven control to lowest temperature setting (warm). In most ovens this produces a temperature of about 150 - 170 degrees F. A meat thermometer or temperature probe, placed inside the oven, can help ensure that the temperature does not exceed this range.
4. Forty-five minutes to one hour of heating is sufficient for most infested items. Wooden objects several inches thick may need to be heated a bit longer. Turn off the heating element and allow items to remain inside the heated oven for one additional hour or until cool enough to handle.

Microwaving is not recommended since it is impossible to know how much time is needed to achieve lethal temperatures, while avoiding damage to the item.

MANAGING CARPENTER BEES
by Mike Potter

If you haven't yet received calls about large, black bees hovering around the eaves, decks, and wood siding of your clients' homes, you will shortly. These are probably carpenter bees searching for mates and nesting sites. Carpenter bees cause cosmetic and structural damage to wood. They can be quite intimidating to homeowners and have the potential to inflict painful stings.

Biology and Pest Significance
Carpenter bees are similar in appearance to bumble bees, but have nesting habits which are different. Bumblebees nest in the ground whereas carpenter bees tunnel into wood to lay their eggs. Bare, unpainted, or weathered softwoods are preferred, especially redwood, cedar, cypress and pine. Painted or pressure-treated wood is much less susceptible to attack. Common nesting sites include eaves, fascia boards, siding, wooden shake roofs, decks and outdoor furniture.

Carpenter bees overwinter as adults in old nest tunnels. After mating, the fertilized females excavate tunnels in wood, laying their eggs within a series of small cells. The cells are provisioned with a ball of pollen on which the larvae feed, emerging as adults in late summer. The entrance hole and tunnels are perfectly round and about the diameter of your finger. Coarse sawdust (the color of fresh cut wood) often is seen beneath the entry hole, and burrowing sounds may be heard within the wood. Female carpenter bees may excavate new tunnels, or enlarge and reuse old ones. Considerable damage can result when the same piece of wood is utilized for nesting year after year.

Male carpenter bees are often aggressive, hovering in front of people who are around the nests. The males are harmless, however, since they lack stingers. Female carpenter bees can inflict a painful sting, but seldom will unless handled or molested.

The Solution
The best time to control carpenter bees is before the tunnels are fully constructed. Liquid sprays of carbaryl (Sevin), chlorpyrifos (Dursban), or a synthetic pyrethroid (cypermethrin, cyfluthrin, lambda cyhalothrin, etc.) can be applied to wood surfaces attracting large numbers of bees. Residual effectiveness of most sprayable formulations sold to homeowners is only about 7-10 days, so the treatment may need to be repeated. Tunnels that have already been excavated are best treated by puffing an insecticidal dust (e.g., Sevin, Ficam, Drione) into the nest opening. Aerosol sprays sold for wasp or bee control also are effective. Although carpenter bees are less aggressive than wasps, female bees provisioning their nests will sting. Treatment is best performed at night or while wearing protective clothing.

Leave the hole open for a few days after treatment to allow the bees to contact and distribute the insecticide throughout the nest galleries. Then plug the entrance hole with a piece of wooden dowel coated with carpenter's glue, wood putty, or other suitable sealant. This will protect against future use of the old nesting tunnels, as well as moisture intrusion and wood decay.

Carpenter bees normally will not tunnel into painted wood. Therefore, a more permanent solution is to paint unfinished wood surfaces, especially those with a history of being attacked. Wood stains and preservatives are less reliable than painting, but will provide some degree of repellency versus bare wood. To further discourage nesting, garages and outbuildings should be kept closed when carpenter bees are actively searching for nesting sites.

by Monte P. Johnson

COMMERCIAL APPLICATOR CHARGED WITH ILLEGAL USE OF PESTICIDE
Ruben Brown of Bellwood, Ill., was arrested on April 24, for allegedly misusing a restricted use pesticide, methyl parathion, in violation of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act. Brown allegedly used a false certificate to purchase approximately 315 gallons of methyl parathion and applied it in residential structures between August 1996 and April 1997. Methyl parathion is acutely toxic and restricted for outdoor use only. Brown operated a pest control business, Ruben Brown Extermination and J.D. McKinley Extermination in the Chicago area since 1991. If convicted, Brown faces a maximum sentence of one year and a maximum fine of $100,000. For further information, contact Joshua Buchman, U.S. Attorney's Office, 312-886-4187. This case was investigated by the Criminal Investigation Division and the FBI. (EPA Press Release, April 25, 1997)

PROPOSED CHANGE IN WPS GLOVE REQUIREMENTS
The Administrator of the EPA has proposed a revision to the Worker Protection Standard (WPS). The proposed rule would revise the WPS to allow separable absorbent liners to be worn beneath chemical-resistant gloves and would eliminate the requirement that chemical-resistant gloves be worn by pilots when entering or exiting aircraft used to apply pesticides. (EPA Notice in Federal Register, April 30, 1997)

EPA PUBLISHES TRANSCRIPTS FROM WPS PUBLIC MEETINGS
Anyone interested in reading the comments made concerning the Worker Protection Standard at the series of public meetings that the EPA held around the country last year may obtain a copy entitled "A National Dialogue on the Worker Protection Standard - Part 1: Transcripts of the Public Meetings." The 368-page volume shares 1996 testimony and letters from farmworkers, farmers, and others in eight states. A free copy may be requested from the WPS Certification and Training Office at (703) 305-7666. (WPS-Forum, May 5, 1997)

COPIES OF NAPIAP ASSESSMENTS AVAILABLE
There are a limited number of copies of recent assessments available for distribution. The titles are listed below. If you would like copies, please send in your request by e-mail (MShewan@reeusda.gov) or by mail to Mary Shewan USDA/CSREES, 827 Aerospace Bldg., Washington, DC 20250-2220.

Titles: (Number of copies available are noted in parenthesis) Biological and Economic Assessment of Propargite 1994 (40);Biological and Economic Assessment of Pesticide Usage on Cranberry 1994 (32); Biological and Economic Assessment of Pesticide Use on Corn and Soybeans 1995 (10); Biological and Economic Assessment of Chlorpyrifos and Diazinon in Ornamentals and Sod Production 1994 (15); Biological and Economic Assessment of Benefits from Use of Phenoxy Herbicides in the U.S. 1996 (20); Biological and Economic Assessment of Propoxur 1992 (12); Biological and Economic Assessment of Phorate and Terbufos 1990 (24); Biological and Economic Assessment of Pesticides on Grain Sorghum 1994 (40)

Also Publication: Directory of State Extension Entomology Specialists '97 (45) (NAPIAP, May 12, 1997)

by Julie Beale and Paul Bachi

Last week was a busy week for both diagnostic labs: diseases of wheat included barley yellow dwarf virus, wheat spindle streak mosaic virus and take-all. Diseases of tobacco included Sclerotinia collar rot, Rhizoctonia stem rot, target spot, angular leaf spot and Pythium root rot, as well as abiotic problems (cold and frost injury, nutritional imbalances and chemical injuries).

Blackberries and raspberries were diagnosed with anthracnose (Elsinoe) and cane blight (Leptosphaeria). Some diseases on ornamentals included: Anthracnose diseases on maple (Kabatiella, Discula), ash (Apiognomonia); spot anthracnose on dogwood; cedar-apple and cedar-quince rust on juniper; scab on crabapple; bacterial blight on lilac; and rose rosette on rose.

Insect Trap Count for May 9 - 16, 1997