Strength Management

Strength Management

           As we enter a New Year it is often a good idea to review the way we manage our business, our staff, our teams as well as ourselves.   In doing so it may be a good idea to take an inventory of the strengths within each of those entities.   We are all born with a certain set of talents.  Talents that often are referred to as strengths.   Some of us are simply better at some things than others.  Our personalities as well as physical attributes play specific roles in developing those talents.

          Recently, I was privileged, as a few of you, to listen to an excellent presentation by Chris Keating, District Sales Manager with Toro Company.  Some of the following material came, with permission, from his presentation.   This information is provided as food for thought and to help you begin thinking about the strengths you have and those of your company.
 

Let the Rabbits Run

           Imagine there is a meadow.  In that meadow there is a duck, a fish, an eagle, an owl, a squirrel and a rabbit.  They decide they want to have a school so they can be smart, just like people. With the help of some grown-up animals, they come up with a curriculum they believe will make a well-rounded animal:  running, swimming, tree climbing, jumping, and flying.
          On the first day of school, little br’er rabbit combed his  ears and went hopping off to his running class.There he was a star.  He ran to the top of the hill and back as fast as he could go, and oh, did it feel good.  He said to himself, “I can’t believe it.  At school, I get to do what I do best.”  
The instructor said, “Rabbit, you really have talent for running.  You have great muscles in you rear legs. With some training, you will get more out of each hop.” The rabbit said, “I love school.  I get to do what I like to do and get to learn to do it better.”
           The next class was swimming.  When the rabbit smelled  the chlorine, he said, “Wait, wait!  Rabbits don’t like to swim.”  The instructor said, “Well, you may not like it now, but five years from now you’ll know it was a good thing for you.
            In the tree-climbing class, a tree trunk was set at a 30º angle so that all the animals had a chance to succeed.  The little rabbit tried so hard he hurt his leg.
            In jumping class the rabbit got along just fine; in flying class he had a problem.  So the teacher gave him a psychological test and discovered he belonged In remedial flying. In remedial flying class, the rabbit has to practice jumping off a cliff.  They told him if he’d just work hard enough he could succeed.  
           The next morning he went to swimming class and the instructor said, “Today we jump into the water.”  “Wait, wait.  I talked to my parents about swimming.  They didn’t learn to swim.  We don’t like to get wet. I’d like to drop this course.”  The instructor said, “You can’t drop it.” “The drop-and-add period is over.  At this point you have a choice: either you jump in or you flunk.” The rabbit jumped in.  He panicked!  He went down once.  He went down twice.  Bubbles came up.  The instructor saw he was drowning and pulled him out.  The other animals had never seen anything quite as funny as this wet rabbit who looked more like a rat without a tail.  So, they chirped and jumped and barked and laughed at the rabbit.  The rabbit was more humiliated than he had ever been in his life.  He wanted desperately to get out of class that day.  He was glad when it was over.
             He thought that he would head home, and his parents would understand and help him.  When he arrived, he said to his parents, “I don’t like school.  I just want to be free.” “If the rabbits are going to get ahead, you have to get a diploma.” The rabbit said, “I don’t want a diploma.” The parents said, “You are going to get a diploma whether you like it or not.” They argued and finally the parents made the rabbit go to bed.  In the morning the rabbit headed off to school with a slow hop.  Then he remembered that the principal had said that any time he had a problem to remember that the counselor’s door is always open.  
              When he arrived at school, he hopped up in the chair by the counselor and said, “I don’t like school.” And the counselor said, “Mmmm, tell me about it.” So the rabbit did.  
             The counselor said, “Rabbit, I hear you.  I hear you saying that you don’t like school because you don’t like swimming.  I think I have diagnosed that correctly.” “Rabbit, I’ll tell you what we’ll do.  You’re doing just fine in running.  I don’t know why you need to work on running.  What you need to work on is swimming.  I’ll arrange it so you don’t have to go to running anymore and you can take two periods of swimming.”  When the rabbit heard that, he just threw-up!  
       As the rabbit hopped out of the counselor’s office, he looked up and saw an old friend, Wise Old Owl, who cocked his head and said, “Br’er rabbit, life doesn’t have to be that way.  We could have schools and businesses where people are allowed to concentrate on what they do well.”
Br’er rabbit was inspired.  He thought that when he graduated he could start up a business where the rabbits would do nothing but run, the squirrels could just climb trees, and the fish could just swim.  As he disappeared into the meadow, he sighed softly, “Oh, what a great place that would be.” 

             So how does this reflect on your company, staff, or personal life?    Are you a rabbit or a fish?  No this question has nothing to do with characters from Chinese Zodiac but with your strengths or those of your business.    When we can focus on our strengths instead of our weaknesses we can develop successful and lives which translate into successful, efficient businesses.  The moral of this story is that everyone needs to be in the place they belong and using their talents or strengths efficiently to be successful.  Rabbits don't swim and fish can't run!

            Unfortunately, many of us spend a lot of time trying focus on our weaknesses and those of our teams instead of letting the “rabbits run” and the “fish swim” we spend excessive time trying to cross-train everyone.   “Trying to succeed in an area in which you are weak will lead to a negative self-concept.  When we focus on a weakness, it takes on a life of its own, and begins to smother our strengths.”   This low self-esteem, whether it is with individuals on our teams or within ourselves leads to low morale within the entire organization and spreads like wild fire.  Having the wrong people in positions they really aren't talented for is never effective.  Low morale within an organization is not productive and results in higher cost of doing business and often failure.

       As you make your New Year’s resolutions be sure to stop and look at your personal strengths, those of your staff members, as well as those of your company.  Where can you focus your energy and be most productive?  If you have a small company it may mean out sourcing or sub-contracting those tasks that you are weak in.  If you have a larger company it could mean restructuring the organization so that the right people are doing what they do best.    And yes it could mean encouraging individuals that have strengths that don't fit your organization to move on to positions where their strengths can be used more effectively.

For more information contact your local Cooperative Extension Center and ask for the Commercial Horticulture Agent.

A New Chapter: CALS Strategic Plan 2013

A New Chapter: CALS Strategic Plan 2013

Want to be a part in making input into the future of NCSU's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences as well as Cooperative Extension?  Then you might want to read this article and consider coming to one of the listening sessions listed in the article. There is also a survey that you can fill out online at any time.

http://www.cals.ncsu.edu/agcomm/news-center/strategic2013/cals-strategic-plan-2013


There is a listening session near you!





For more information contact your local Cooperative Extension Center and ask for the Commercial Horticulture Agent.

Christmas Tree Pest Alert

Some of you are selling Christmas Trees and may have customers come back wanting to know what to do with the tiny critters that decide to wake up on their trees once they are warm and cozy in their homes.

PEST ALERT
December 20, 2012

From: Steve Frank, Extension Entomologist

Uninvited Holiday Guests: Part 1

Christmas trees like other crops have many pests that feed on them. Also like other crops, they are grown outside. Thus, many insect species may be unfortunate enough to stop for a rest just as the tree is bundled up and trucked to your local box store. Every year people report arthropods that have hitchhiked into their house on a Christmas tree. Here are a few of the most common.

Cinara sp. aphids feed on Christmas trees and are sometimes present at harvest time (http://www.freshfromflorida.com/pi/pest-alerts/christmas-tree-aphids.html). These critters feed on tree sap and are often mistaken for ticks once inside a house. They are easily distinguished from ticks because they have 6 legs whereas ticks have 8. In addition they are round whereas ticks are flat. These aphids cannot survive long without a living tree and will soon fizzle out as the tree dries.

Spruce spider mites are another Christmas tree pest that could come in on your tree. You would have to be looking very hard to see these guys. They are very small.


Spruce spider mite. Photo: Ward Strong, BC Ministry of Forests, Bugwood.org.

Cooly spruce gall adelgids are Christmas tree pests and super interesting (http://www.bugoftheweek.com/BugOfWeek_52C.html). They have a complex life cycle in which they alternate between two hosts. The produce galls that look like cones that actually contain hundreds of young aphids.

It is important to remember that all of these pests feed on live trees. The will not set up shop under your couch or on your dog. As the tree dies so will they. If there are more than you can handle then return the tree and pick a new one. It is very unlikely you would get another infested tree even from the same dealer.


Uninvited Holiday Guests: Part 2

We discussed arthropod pests of Christmas trees that people find once they bring trees into their home. In this article we will discuss arthropod hitchhikers that do not feed on Christmas trees but were unlucky enough to be on one when it was cut, bundled, and shipped. When you get home with your tree these critters may wander off and startle the kids or amuse your cat but will not cause harm to people or become permanent residents of your home. They do not want to be there any more (probably way less) than you want them there.

Many arthropods spend the winter as eggs that their parents laid in the fall. The eggs typically hatch when warm weather comes in the spring. However, if the eggs are on a tree that you place in front of your warm yuletide fire they will hatch (please don’t put your Christmas tree near a fire, yuletide or otherwise).

Spiders frequently lay eggs on trees and hitchhike into homes on Christmas trees. Spider hatchlings get around in nature by climbing to the top of plants and ballooning on silk threads. Essentially they get blown around and hope to land in a good spot. In your living room there is probably not much wind (though Grandpa always complains about the draft) but they will still string silk around the tree as they try to catch a breeze. Eventually they will give up and crawl off the tree where you might spot them on the wall.

Praying mantids are a fun insect to rear. The egg case looks like brown foam from which hundreds of small mantids emerge. The young mantids are an inch or so long and very quick. They climb all over and really freak people out who aren’t expecting them. Young mantids are hungry, voracious predators so maybe they will eat the other bugs you didn't know you had. A lot of bugs live in your home no matter how clean it is. Our friends at http://www.yourwildlife.org can tell you all about this.

People also report adult and larval lady beetles or green lacewings. Of course people often find Asian multicolored lady beetles in their house that come in through vents and cracks to spend the winter. It is possible that adult or larval lady beetles of other species could be hunkered down for the winter on your Christmas tree along with green lacewings and their larvae. Green lacewings are beautiful delicate insects as adults and predators as larvae. They are very cool to watch and to feed if you happen to have some other bugs lying around.

As we mentioned yesterday, Christmas trees are a natural product grown outdoors. Any insect that happened to land on a tree and get bundled up will emerge in your living room. Other things we have found include bark beetles, psyllids, stinkbugs, weevils, and moths. Just vacuum them up. It is very unlikely any human pest, like ticks, or structural pest, like termites, would ever get transported on Christmas trees. So don’t worry. Watch the cat go crazy and enjoy the wildlife.






For more information contact your local Cooperative Extension Center and ask for the Commercial Horticulture Agent.

New Nursery Crops Website/Portal

New Website for Nurseries

Dr. Anthony Lebude

NC State Department of Horticultural Science has introduced three new information portals for commercial nursery crops (Fig. 1), landscape and floriculture.  The sites are intended for growers and Cooperative Extension Agents in North Carolina.  The portal covers the main areas of production, for example, water, substrates, IPM, cultural practices, diagnostics, plant choices for problem areas and more.  News and upcoming events are kept current and there are wholesale prices listed for common green and hard goods in the green industry to gauge their average in the state.  Use the portal to learn about a new challenge to the green industry at your own pace.  For example, there are primary documents that tell the whole research story about a new production practice but that may be too technical for you, instead you might read an extension article that makes the information more practical for North Carolina growers, or read a similar article in a trade publication that might be more broad-based for the southeast, but contain many of the same concepts. There are photos to describe the practices and in some cases videos and podcasts to show you some of the concepts being used in production.  As always, there are links to other relevant information on important topics.
To access the information visit:

nurserycropscience.info
floriculture.nurserycropscience.info
landscape.nurserycropscience.info

Thank you!!

For more information contact your local Cooperative Extension Center and ask for the Commercial Horticulture Agent.

Pest News for Week of September 17

ORNAMENTALS AND TURF

From: Steve Frank, Extension Entomologist

Fall Pest Cleanup

Fall is a good time for nurseries and landscapers to consider dormant oil applications for spider mite and scale management. It is also a great time to scout for these critters. After leaves drop you can get good coverage of trunks and branches where scales and mites are overwintering. Scouting is also easy in the fall because scales are often overwintering in their adult, or near adult stages, which are (a little) larger and easier to see. Without leaves it is also much easier to see the scales. Trees that have scales should be examined in spring to determine if live scales are still present and if further treatment is necessary. The squish test will give you a good idea if scales are alive. If you squish some scales with your finger nail and juice comes out they are alive. If it is dry and crumbly they are dead. Most horticultural oils have a low and high rate listed that may even indicate that they should be used on growing or dormant trees respectively. On dormant deciduous trees you can safely use the high rate. 

As a side note, I have seen a lot of wax scale on conifers and broad leaf evergreen plants. I probably see them a lot because they stand out so much. Right now most are juveniles about half the size of the adults.

Rose Bud Caterpillars

This is not a species of caterpillar but several generalists that will feed on rose plants and particularly the buds. Tobacco bud worm and corn earworm are the most common culprits. They are active throughout the year and I found some on my knockout roses this week. This does not usually cause extreme damage but can reduce flowering if you have a lot of caterpillars present. 

      

There are many incidental and beautiful caterpillars out now such as the American dagger moth. I have catalogued some pictures and information on my blog: http://ecoipm.com/

General caterpillar information:http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/ent/notes/Ornamentals_and_Turf/shrubs/note07/note07.html

From: David Orr, Extension Entomologist

Soldier Beetles on Flowers

The margined leatherback (Chauliognathus marginatus) is one of two soldier beetles commonly seen feeding on nectar and pollen on garden flowers in the late summer and early fall. Sometimes they can be quite numerous and cause concern for gardeners. However, they do not damage plants and can be considered beneficial. The adult of this beetle can be predatory on small insects such as aphids, while the larvae feed on ground-dwelling invertebrates such as slugs and insects. Occasionally, the larvae can be found inside of damaged produce such as tomatoes that have split from rainfall, or been opened up by caterpillars.

Adult margined soldier beetles have somewhat flattened bodies and soft, leathery wing covers rather than the hard covers found in many beetles. They can appear clumsy as they 'stumble' around flower heads on their long legs looking for both food and mates. Margined soldier beetle larvae look velvety and soft, and their legs are small and hard to see. This can make them appear similar to caterpillars. However, if you watch them carefully they have no legs near their rear end so they move by dragging their bodies along using the 3 pairs of legs under their thorax. Caterpillars, on the other hand, use either an "inchworm" or slinky type movement to lift up and bring their back legs closer to the front ones. 

For more information contact your local Cooperative Extension Center and ask for the Commercial Horticulture Agent.

Pest News for September 10

ORNAMENTALS AND TURF

From: Steve Frank, Extension Entomologist

Yellownecked Caterpillars

Adult yellownecked caterpillars, Datana minstra, occur in June or July and lay eggs on deciduous shrubs and trees. They will feed on many fruit and ornamental trees including birch, elm, oak, maple, Prunus spp. and others. They feed gregariously in late summer. They consume entire leaves except large mid-veins and can rapidly defoliate trees or cause significant damage. I found the caterpillars pictured below in the forest on a bush I couldn't identify because every leaf was gone. Scouting for small caterpillars can help reduce damage and improve control if it is needed. Caterpillar management information is available: http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/ent/notes/O&T/shrubs/note07/note07.html. See more caterpillars on my blog: http://ecoipm.com/.


Redheaded Pine Sawfly

The redheaded pine sawfly, Neodiprion lecontei, is a pest of pines in ornamental landscapes, nurseries, and plantations. Adults emerge in spring and a second generation occurs in mid-summer. Eggs are laid on many 2 and 3 needled pine species such as Jack pine, loblolly pine, and red pine. Sawflies are not flies and the larvae do not turn into butterflies. They are non-stinging herbivorous wasps. They can defoliate trees and bushes in the landscape. Since they are gregarious it is sometimes possible to prune off an infested branch and remove all the larvae. Management for sawflies is similar as for caterpillars though not all the insecticides will work so check the label. Horticultural oil is a good bet especially for small larvae. Formulations that contain azadirachtin or spinosad are also effective. For sawflies and caterpillars, management of full grown caterpillars is generally not warranted. The damage is already done and they are hard to kill.


From: Mike Munster, Ornamental Pathologist, Plant Disease and Insect Clinic, and Kelly Ivors, Extension Plant Pathologist

Poinsettia Scab

Poinsettia scab, caused by the fungus Sphaceloma poinsettiae, was found on a sample from a commercial greenhouse this week. It has been six years since the PDIC last diagnosed this disease in a North Carolina poinsettia crop. As the name implies, this fungus causes leaf spots and stem lesions, but the most noticeable effect is an abnormal elongation of the poinsettia stem. The purple leaf spots may develop a light tan center, and they sometimes have a yellow halo. The surface of the spot is characteristically puckered, which is best seen under magnification. An olive-colored, velvety layer of spores may be present on the spots and stem lesions. These spores are spread to other plants via water splash. Long-distance transport occurs on infected planting material. This disease cannot survive between seasons in North Carolina in the absence of a poinsettia crop. For a good summary of the disease, see the 2001 APSnet publication by Mike Benson et al. (http://www.apsnet.org/publications/apsnetfeatures/Pages/PoinsettiaFlower.aspx). Growers should be sure they get clean stock and should scout points for leaf and stem symptoms. Keeping leaf wetness to a minimum will help reduce the advance of the disease. Apply azoxystrobin (Heritage), trifloxistrobin (Compass O), triflumizole (Terraguard) or triadimefon (Strike) to protect plants.




For more information contact your local Cooperative Extension Center and ask for the Commercial Horticulture Agent.

Pest News for September 1

ORNAMENTALS AND TURF

From: Steve Frank, Extension Entomologist

Lacebugs Other Than Azalea Lacebugs

Numerous additional lacebugs were discovered in the landscape this week. These lacebugs have been around most of the year, but the damage is becoming especially apparent. Sucking insects damage plant cells and as the cells die necrotic spots and stippling become more apparent. This can be exacerbated by plant stress and drought. Lacebugs and damage on service berry and oak were discovered this week. Of course, sycamore and cotoneaster always incur damage from the sycamore and hawthorn lacebugs, respectively. A pyracantha plant on campus was especially loaded down with hawthorn lacebugs. Upon closer look, fire ants tending aphids on the tips of the branches were seen. Often ants that are tending aphids will kill all other herbivores that would compete with the aphids and predators that would kill the aphids. In this case the ants didn't seem to be tending the lacebugs, but were also not destroying them. The lace bugs were definitely benefiting from not having predators around though!

At least six species of scales can be found on liriope. Most of the time scales do not cause extensive damage. Whatever building you are located, it probably has liriope planted outside and that liriope probably has scale. However, plants in stressful environments or nurseries may be more susceptible to infestations that could degrade plant aesthetics. The armored scales most common on liriope are hard to distinguish, but cause small yellow spots where they feed. Often they are at the base of leaves out of site of you and predators.


From: Mike Munster, Ornamental Pathologist, Plant Disease and Insect Clinic

Rose Rosette on the Rise

Those of you living in the Raleigh, North Carolina, area may have read the article in the News and Observer on Saturday, August 25, 2012 about the removal of several rose bushes from the Raleigh Rose Garden and from a traffic circle on Hillsborough Street. The reason: they had been diagnosed with rose rosette. This disease has been known in North America for decades, but it has become more common in our area over the last two years. Only roses are affected.

Symptoms and Diagnosis. Symptoms of rose rosette can vary depending on the variety of rose involved. They include elongated flexible shoots, proliferation of shoots leading to “witches' brooms”, excessive development of thorns (soft or not), leaf deformation, retention of juvenile red coloration in shoots, flower abnormalities, decreased cold hardiness, and plant death. There is a molecular test that can be used to confirm the presence of the virus that causes rose rosette, but we do not currently offer that service at the North Carolina State University Plant Disease and Insect Clinic. Instead the diagnosis is based on symptoms and can range from definitive (when the “hyperthorniness” is seen) to tentative. Not all symptoms may be present in any given plant. In particular, shoot proliferation and leaf deformation can be misleading, since they can be caused by exposure to low doses of the herbicide glyphosate. If you observe these two symptoms alone, do some sleuthing to see if drift might have occurred.

Cause and Spread. Rose rosette was only recently proven to be caused by a virus, but it has long been known to be transmitted by the microscopic eriophyid mite Phyllocoptes fructiphilus. These are not the same as the more familiar spider mites. Small size makes up for their lack of wings, and these mites can be carried about on air currents, perhaps by other insects. There is some experimental evidence that rose viruses can move through natural root grafts, but no published studies have looked specifically at rose rosette transmission via this mechanism. The risk of spreading the virus on pruning shears appears to be very low, but it is a good general practice to sanitize knives and shears frequently during pruning operations anyway. Of course propagating from infected plants or grafting onto infected rootstocks would be very likely to result in infected roses.

Management. The jury is still out on how to best manage rose rosette, so the following recommendations are provisional. This could be called the "RSVP" approach: removal, spacing, vigilance, and patience.

Removal. Since viruses become systemic in their hosts, pruning may not be sufficient. If a bush has only one affected cane, pruning that cane as close to the ground as possible might get ahead of the infection, but we have no data to show that this is effective. Removal of infected plants is the safer course of action. Plants should be bagged before digging or as soon thereafter as possible, to reduce the chance that the mites will scatter on the wind and carry the virus to nearby roses. Remove enough of the roots so that the infected plant does not re-sprout. Also remove any nearby (within 100 to 150 meters) weedy multiflora roses that may be serving as a reservoir of the virus. The virus and mites should die quickly after plants are chipped, so properly composted municipal mulch should not be a source of the disease. As a precaution, vehicles used to transport diseased plants should be closed or covered.

Spacing. Given the mobility of the mites and the possibility of root grafts, plant roses far enough apart that roots or branches don’t touch. Fragments of small roots left in the soil after plant removal should pose no risk. As long as there are no other infected roses nearby, replanting can be done immediately.

Vigilance. Examine any new plants (purchase, trade, or gift) to be sure they are symptom-free. That does not guarantee that they are healthy, since symptoms can take from 17 days to 9 months or longer to show up. Keep an eye on established plantings, too. Finally, keep a close watch on areas were diseased plants were removed, to be sure they do not sprout again.

Patience. As plant pathologists and entomologists continue to do experiments over the next several years, we'll be in a better position to know what works and what doesn't. Breeding also takes time. Perhaps some of the resistance in our native species like Rosa setigera and Rosa carolina can be brought into cultivated types.

What about spraying? There is no effective chemical treatment for plants infected with rose rosette or any other virus. According to Steven Frank in the North Carolina State University Department of Entomology, there is no evidence to suggest that pesticide applications directed at the mites will reduce the spread of rose rosette. It is certainly no substitute for removing an infected plant from the landscape.


From: David Orr, Extension Entomologist

Grub-Killing Wasps For Your Lawn

The large colorful hunting wasps, Scolia dubia (Order: Hymenoptera; Family Scoliidae) may look intimidating, but are harmless to you unless you grab one and force it to sting in self defense. Adults are most numerous late in summer (usually August) and are present now on flowers (see August 17 post for example) and hovering over lawns in search of food for their young. Their larval food is actually grubs, primarily green June beetle larvae that feed on and damage grass roots in lawns.

The adult grub-wasps dig into the soil when they “smell” (anyone who has seen holes made by skunks in their lawn knows this is possible) a grub, sting it to paralyze it, then lay an egg on it. The paralyzed grub is then helpless to defend against the hatched grub-wasp larva that will consume this fresh food supply until it is fully grown. The grub-wasp larva then pupates in the soil, ready to emerge as an adult the following summer. If there are enough of these wasps in your yard, they can help reduce the numbers of grubs in your lawn, providing natural control of pests
(http://www4.ncsu.edu/~dorr/What%20is%20Biocontrol/natural_control.html).

Here's a video of a grub-wasp feeding on nectar:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cD9sxsDvNz8&feature=player_embedded
 Grub Killing Wasp





For more information contact your local Cooperative Extension Center and ask for the Commercial Horticulture Agent.

Pest News for August 27 2012

ORNAMENTALS AND TURF

From: Steve Frank, Extension Entomologist

Azalea Caterpillars

Azalea caterpillars, Datana major, are among our most attractive caterpillar species. They feed primarily on Rhododendron spp. and are most evident late in the summer. There is one generation of this pest each year. Adults lay eggs on the underside of azalea leaves where the small caterpillars feed gregariously. As they grow the caterpillars take on the coloration seen in the picture below. Unfortunately, by the time they are noticed azalea caterpillars can consume a lot of foliage and defoliate a shrub. Scout for these caterpillars by scanning shrubs for bare twigs then look closer to investigate. If you find a group of them just prune the branch out. In larger infestations or nurseries there are several insecticides active on caterpillars but any product works best on small stages.

Information can be found at http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/ent/notes/O&T/shrubs/note07/note07.html.




For more information contact your local Cooperative Extension Center and ask for the Commercial Horticulture Agent.

Pest News for week of July 20th

ORNAMENTALS AND TURF

From: Steve Frank, Extension Entomologist

Japanese Maple Scale in the Nursery and Landscape

Japanese maple scale, Lopholeucaspis japonica, is active now and much of the summer. It is a small, oystershell-shaped, armored scale introduced to the U.S. from Asia. Japanese maple scale is found in several eastern U.S. states, including CT, DE, GA, KY, MD, NC, NJ, PA, RI, TN and VA, as well as Washington D.C. Japanese maple scale has a wide host range that in addition to maples (e.g.,  Japanese maples, red maples, paperbark maples, and sugar maples), includes Amelanchier, Camellia, Carpinus, Cercis, Cladrastis, Cornus, Cotoneaster, Euonymus, Fraxinus, Gledistia, Ilex, Itea, Ligustrum, Magnolia, Malus, Prunus, Pyracantha, Pyrus, Salix, Stewartia, Styrax, Syringa, Tilia, Ulmus, Zelkova and others.
   
Although the lifecycle of this pest has not been fully examined, two generations a year are expected in the mid-southern U.S. First generation crawlers emerge in mid-May, and the second generation in early August. Management efforts are complicated by the extended crawler emergence that results in first and second generational overlap. Thus, the most recent sample we received had every stage - egg to adult - present at the same time.
   
Adult scales and crawlers are very small and most readily observed on bark of dormant deciduous host plants, but can also be found on foliage. The waxy coating on the body of male Japanese maple scales is white and females, eggs, and crawlers are lavender. The most work on this scale has been done by Paula Shrewsbury and Stanton Gill at the University of Maryland. Paula Shrewsbury recently gave webinar as part of the National IPM Webinar Series run by Kelly Ivors and I. Archived presentations can be found at: http://ecoipm.com/ipm-webinar/ipm-webinar-archive/. See more information on Japanese maple scale and other maple pests in our new book: http://ecoipm.com/extension/extension-resources/
   
A link to the University of Maryland fact sheet is: http://ipmnet.umd.edu/nursery/docs/JapaneseMapleScale-UMD2011.pdf.


Ants Increase Pest Abundance

As you know from family picnics, ants are voracious scavengers of sweets. Although this results in many household problems it can also increase outdoor pest problems. Aphids, mealybugs, soft scales and other sap-suckers drink lots of phloem and excrete the excess as honeydew. Ants will often ‘tend’ these insects and gather each drop of honeydew as it is produced. Ants protect the pests from predators so they can preserve this abundant food source. Many researchers have found that pests become much more abundant when tended by ants and fire ants in particular. Thus if you see a trail of ants going up a tree chances are there are scales or some other pest they are tending. Often by blocking the ants with tangle foot or using fire ant bait you can eliminate the pests. As soon as ants do not protect the pests, natural enemies hammer them.





For more information contact your local Cooperative Extension Center and ask for the Commercial Horticulture Agent.

Irrigation Contractor Law Change

Change in Irrigation Contractor's Law

Recently during the Short Legislative Session a bill was passed that may directly affect some of your constituents. Although the bill was initially a stand alone and did not make it to the floor for a vote, a portion of the irrigation contractor's bill was "attached" to an unrelated bill. The bill is SB847, Section 65.8, a and b.

http://www.ncleg.net/gascripts/BillLookUp/BillLookUp.pl?Session=2011&BillID=SB847&submitButton=Go

Irrigation Contractor's License Board Amendment

SECTION 65.8.(a)

G.S. 89G-3 is amended by adding a new subdivision to read:

"(17) Any person who can document 10 years in business as an irrigation contractor as of January 1, 2009, can document competency in the practice of irrigation construction or irrigation contracting, as determined by the North Carolina Irrigation Contractors' Licensing Board, and meets all other requirements and qualifications for licensure may be issued an irrigation contractor's license under Chapter 89G of the General Statutes, without the requirement of examination, provided that the person submits an application for licensure to the Board prior to October 1, 2012."

SECTION 65.8.(b)

The North Carolina Irrigation Contractors' Licensing Board shall notify the North Carolina Cooperative Extension of the provision for licensure of experienced irrigation contractors without the requirement of an examination as provided in G.S. 89G-3(17) as quickly as practicable upon the effective date of this section.



For more information contact your local Cooperative Extension Center and ask for the Commercial Horticulture Agent.

Pest News for July 30th 2012

ORNAMENTALS AND TURF

From: Steve Frank, Extension Entomologist

Oleander Aphids

Anyone who has grown or looked at milkweed has seen oleander aphids. They are orange and usually very abundant. Sometimes oleander aphids become so abundant they reduce plant growth and flowering but most of the time they are not very harmful. Since they are inevitable you might as well enjoy them. The most enjoyable and interesting thing about these aphids is that you can witness all kinds of ecological interactions. Inspecting a colony of these aphids you will see parasitoids and their mummies; predacious maggots of hoverflies that specialize on aphids; predacious maggots of Aphidoletes midges that bite aphid knees, inject paralytic toxins, and eat the aphids. Many other generalist predators such as green lacewing larvae, lady beetles, and minute pirate bugs also hang around. These are great plants to have in public gardens because you can always teach people about these predators and parasitoids.

Emerald Ash Borer Update

Around this time in 2010 I reported that emerald ash borer had been found in Tennessee not far from our border. I figured I would pass along the recent status of this pest in our neighboring states. Please visit the below link to map showing the emerald ash borer which is now in five Virginia counties bordering North Carolina and has spread to many counties in Tennessee:
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant_health/plant_pest_info/emerald_ash_b/downloads/multistateeab.pdf.

It is essential that people are watching for this pest and report unusual boring damage in ash trees. The most complete and current information this pest can be found on the official website:
http://www.emeraldashborer.info/index.cfm.



For more information contact your local Cooperative Extension Center and ask for the Commercial Horticulture Agent.

Pest News for July 23rd

ORNAMENTALS AND TURF

From: Steve Frank, Extension Entomologist

Rose Rosette Disease

I have had several clinic samples of rose rosette disease this year. It is believed to be caused by a virus transmitted by tiny eriophyid mites. The disease causes unusual symptoms on rose bushes including rapid growth, deformed shoots and buds, dense areas of soft spines, witches broom and others. The symptoms are highly variable and depend on rose cultivar and other unknown factors. The important thing to recognize is that unusual growth symptoms may indicate the disease, that there is no cure for the disease and very little effective control for the mites. Infected plants should be discarded and as much roots and other tissue removed from the site as possible. This disease also attacks exotic multiflora roses. Though no one would shed a tear about that multiflora rose, it can be a reservoir on your property, which is another good reason to kill the multiflora rose.


Flea Beetles Abound

Flea beetles of all kinds are active this time of year. I have seen them on many kinds of plants almost in every landscape I look in. Flea beetle damage is very characteristic and looks like tiny shot holes in the foliage. The beetles themselves are generally tiny and shiny black though there are many species. They generally jump when you approach. Though you will not necessarily be able to determine exactly which flea beetle you have since there are so many kinds. Some are fairly host specific or at least are primarily a pest on some hosts even if they feed widely. An ornamental example includes the red headed flea beetle (http://ipm.ncsu.edu/current_ipm/12PestNews/12News8/pestnews.pdf).


June Beetles are Flying

This week we saw the first June beetles in Raleigh. I have not seen many except the poor critter in this picture but others have reported more. They are not much of a threat to plants. The grubs feed on turf but rarely to the extent that damage is seen. The adults will feed on ripening fruit such as grapes but are only out a couple weeks so it is best to just wait.





For more information contact your local Cooperative Extension Center and ask for the Commercial Horticulture Agent.

Speaking of Gardening

The Garden Symposium for Horticultural Professionals and Enthusiasts

Friday, August 24 & Saturday, August 25, 2012

International and regional horticultural experts join us for this perennially successful symposium in 2012. The program includes seven lectures, book signing opportunities and, again this year, a live and silent auction featuring rare and storied plants!

Mike Buffin, this year’s keynote speaker, is Gardens and Parks Adviser for the National Trust, United Kingdom. Buffin provides technical advice for historic gardens and parks in London, Southeast England and Northern Ireland. His garden portfolio includes some of the Trust’s most treasured garden properties including Sissinghurst, Nymans, Sheffield Park, Cliveden and Chartwell, as well as Mount Stewart and Rowallane in Northern Ireland. He trained at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and has worked at the Morris Arboretum in Philadelphia. He was curator at Hillier Gardens in Hampshire for over 10 years. Until 2011, he was the National Trust’s national specialist on plant conservation and worked with an international consortium to pilot a web-based plant database called Plant Collections. Mr. Buffin is Chair of the Plant Conservation Committee of Plant Heritage, the UK’s largest cultivated plant conservation organization. He is a published author and his work includes Winter Flowering Shrubs and The Illustrated Guide to Trees.

Mr. Buffin will be joined on the program by:

·       Takayuki Kobayashi, Nurseryman, Kobayashi Nursery,Saitama Prefecture, Japan

·       Jenks Farmer, Horticulturist and Nurseryman, Moore Farms Botanical Garden, SC

·       Rita Pelczar, Educator, Author and Owner of Blue Ridge Hops organic farm, Marshall, NC

This program is developed and supported by an advisory committee of WNC’s most passionate gardeners and horticulturists, alongside local green industry businesses, is hosted by The North Carolina Arboretum and may qualify for PLANET, NCBOLA and APLD continuing education credits with board approval.   Approved for the following credits:

NCBOLA (10 credits), PLANET (10), and APLD (10).

For registration form and more information go to:  http://www.ncarboretum.org/education/speaking-of-gardening-symposium/

For more information contact your local Cooperative Extension Center and ask for the Commercial Horticulture Agent.

Safety Videos

Although few of you in the green industry use Migrant labor you may find several of the videos from NC Department of Labor useful.

Consider watching and sharing with your Spanish speaking labor force.


http://www.youtube.com/user/NCDeptofLabor/videos

The following videos  are excellent for all employees during this time of extremely hot temperatures:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VD1pEIPZgg&feature=plcp    (Spanish)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwMmAhx4nwk&feature=related  (English- * not a duplicate of the above)

Regardless of your role on your farm, greenhouse range, or landscape project,  you are susceptible to heat stress, heat stroke, and worse.   Take frequent breaks, drink plenty of fluids but avoid alcohol, and highly carbonated beverages as these can increase dehydration not prevent it.  While it may mean a change in your work day pattern- healthy employees are more productive.   


For more information contact your local Cooperative Extension Center and ask for the Commercial Horticulture Agent.

Pest Alert for week of June 11, 2012
Impatiens downy mildew detected in multiple landscape locations in North Carolina

Downy mildew of impatiens is caused by the ‘fungus-like’ organism Plasmopara obducens. The group of organisms that cause downy mildew diseases are not true fungi- they are more closely related to the well-known plant pathogens Phytophthora and Pythium than they are to true fungi. This is an important distinction to understand because many of the traditional fungicides used to control fungal diseases of plants do not have efficacy against the downy mildews.  All types of propagated Impatiens walleriana, including double impatiens and mini-impatiens, and any I. walleriana interspecific hybrids, such as Fusion® impatiens, are susceptible to downy mildew; however, all New Guinea impatiens (I. hawkeri) and interspecific hybrids such as SunPatiens® are tolerant to downy mildew. No other bedding plants are known hosts of this particular downy mildew, although there are a few other downy mildew species that attack other floriculture plants like coleus and basil.

What does downy mildew look like?
A really good resource about identifying the disease, as well as disease control information, can be found at: http://e-gro.org/pdf/Bulletin_1-8_Impatiens_Downy_Mildew.pdf

In addition, a webinar presented by Dr. Colleen Warfield of Ball Horticultural Inc. can be found at: http://go.ncsu.edu/impatiens_downy_mildew_webinar

Pictures of a few plants with downy mildew from the landscape in North Carolina are pasted below.

 

Downy mildew likes cool, wet/humid environmental conditions. The current conditions we’ve experienced recently across the state of North Carolina are conducive for this disease. The important thing to remember is that downy mildew is spread by wind currents, water splash or by the movement of infected plants. We know that the disease is now in our area and that the spores of the pathogen have the ability to spread long distances in air currents. Be on the look-out for it! So far it has been confirmed in both the western and piedmont areas of North Carolina.

Fungicide treatments are not recommended for plants in the landscape; instead, all infected impatiens should be pulled from the landscape and destroyed. Fungicides are not always 100% effective at eliminating the disease. Allowing infected plants to remain in the landscape may allow the pathogen to overwinter as resting structures (called oospores), which can start a new epidemic later in the year or in following years if impatiens are replanted in the area. New Guinea impatiens, coleus, begonia, or other available bedding plants are safe to reset in the affected area.

For more information contact your local Cooperative Extension Center and ask for the Commercial Horticulture Agent.

Pest News for Week of July 2nd

ORNAMENTALS AND TURF

From: Steve Frank, Extension Entomologist

Notching on Redbuds by Bees

Leaf cutter bees in the family Megachilidae are actively notching out small pieces of leaves from redbuds and other trees. They also attract attention for tunneling into soft rotten wood and hollow or soft, pithy plants stems like roses. They make their nests in these hollow tubes and line them with leaf fragments. Leaf cutter bees are of much more of a benefit than a pest. Try to convince clients of this but also most insecticides are either not labeled for bees or ineffective since the bees do not eat the leaves. Many people are more concerned about the bees tunneling in their roses which can be prevented by sealing the ends of branches after pruning. Overall these are an important native pollinator that should be protected and even encouraged.

More pictures: http://ecoipm.com/
Information sheet: http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/insect/05576.html/


Catalpa Defoliation

I had a report this week that a catalpa tree on campus was completely defoliated by sphinx moth caterpillars. Caterpillars in general can make short work of trees when they really get going. Look for chewing damage and frass on leaves. If you find a few big caterpillars you could pick them off. It is probably late at least in Raleigh to implement much control since it sounds like they are about done. These big beautiful caterpillars become big beautiful moths. The adult ‘hawk moths’ hover around flowers feeding on nectar and are often mistaken for humming birds.


From: Lee Butler, Extension Assistant, Plant Pathologist

Summer Solstice Welcomes Brown Patch

June is in full swing and so is brown patch in tall fescue lawns and landscapes. Brown patch, caused by the fungus Rhizoctonia solani, is the most common disease in tall fescue during late spring and throughout the summer months in North Carolina. Brown patch infections can start as early as April in some years with full blown outbreaks occurring by late May and early June in most years. As the name implies, symptoms are brown to tan areas of turf that are roughly circular patches that range from a few inches to several feet in diameter.

The two most common mistakes managers of tall fescue make are fertilizing too late or too much in late spring and over watering. Tall fescue should not be fertilized after the first of May, unless you are using ultra low rates (< 0.25 pound N/M) with iron for a color effect. The recommended amount of nitrogen on tall fescue per year is 3 to 4 pounds per 1,000 square feet. Most people will apply a pound or two in the fall and a pound or two in the spring. When in doubt, submit a soil test to ensure you're feeding your lawn the right nutrients at the correct amounts.

Watering should be done only as needed to prevent drought stress. When you do apply irrigation, do it deep and infrequent instead of watering every day. It is a common mistake for homeowners to set their irrigation system on a schedule and forget about it. Remember, fungi love water and if you over water, you're giving the advantage to the fungi, not the turfgrass. The ideal time to water your lawn is in the early morning hours before sunrise. Irrigating during late afternoon or early evening is the worst thing you can do because this extends the leaf wetness period, however brown patch will love you for it!

Need help knowing when and how much to water your lawn? Try out our online water management tool at the following link: http://turf-ims.ncsu.edu/.

For more information about brown patch, including control recommendations, please visit the following link: http://www.turffiles.ncsu.edu/Diseases/Brown_Patch.aspx.

Be sure to check out other posts from NC State Turf Pathology (http://ncstateturfpathology.blogspot.com/).





For more information contact your local Cooperative Extension Center and ask for the Commercial Horticulture Agent.

Pest News for Week of June 25th

ORNAMENTALS AND TURF
From: Steve Frank, Extension Entomologist

Twospotted Spider Mites Abound!

Things are heating up and the twospotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae, thrives in hot dry weather. I have found many spider mites in the landscape on roses and many other plants. It is important to scout for twospotted spider mites now because they reproduce most rapidly in hot dry weather. Under these conditions they can mature from egg to reproducing adult in 5 days! Nursery crops are especially susceptible because they may be exposed to more sun than landscape plants and receive more pesticides. Twospotted spider mites feed on over 100 plant species sucking the fluid out of leaf cells. This ‘stippling’ damage can rapidly cause entire plants to take on a bronzed appearance. Look on the underside of leaves on susceptible hosts or beat foliage on a white piece of paper to scout for spider mites. If you notice mites or damage a range of control options are available the best of which are several new miticides that provide long residuals and efficacy against all mite life stages. Broad spectrum insecticide will make mite populations worse by killing natural enemies. For more information and product suggestions visit the newly revised insect note at
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/ent/notes/O&T/flowers/note25/note25.html.


Where Have All the Japanese Beetles Gone?

It is late June and so far I have not seen any Japanese beetles. I have a couple reports from around North Carolina and even reports that they are emerging in Maryland. So I guess they are trickling out but populations seem to have gotten lower and lower in the past several years. For three years in a row we have had severe droughts during the time Japanese beetles are ovipositing. They need moist soil so their eggs do not dehydrate and so tiny young larvae can borrow into the soil. Droughts have restricted successful reproduction to only well irrigated areas.

So keep an eye out and remember a few key things. Japanese beetle traps do not offer any protection to landscape plants and may actually attract more beetles on to your property so hang them in your neighbor’s yard. Likewise, treating a lawn for Japanese beetles grubs will not reduce defoliation of plants on that property since beetles fly in from great distances. Long-term protection for landscape and nursery plants can be achieved a neonicotinoid insecticide such as imidacloprid (e.g., Merit, Marathon II) or acetamiprid (Tri-Star). A new product with extremely low vertebrate toxicity but good efficacy for a number of pests including Japanese beetles is Acelepryn (chlorantraniliprole). For more information on the biology and management of adult Japanese beetles in nurseries and landscapes consult the insect note at http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/ent/notes/O&T/flowers/note147/note147.html.

Please note-  Japanese beetles have been flying around for 2-3 weeks here in WNC, so applications of insecticides to control the grubs should be applied in early July on most high quality turf.  


Ugly Nest Caterpillars

Ugly nest caterpillars, Archips cerasivorana, are small green caterpillars that build webbed nests in cherry trees and a range of other plants. They are not particularly damaging to trees but attract a lot of negative attention with their ugly nests. The best option for these guys is to just prune out the nest. Even if you spray them you will still have to prune out the nest so it doesn’t look ugly so it is best to save a step.




For more information contact your local Cooperative Extension Center and ask for the Commercial Horticulture Agent.

Pest News for Week of June 18th

ORNAMENTALS AND TURF

From: Steve Frank, Extension Entomologist

Time to Target Bagworms

Bagworms have hatched and are still quite small. They can be difficult to find although they have constructed tiny bags that can be seen on leaves and needles of infested plants. It is easier to look for the large bags left from last year’s bagworm adults. These will be empty but are a good indication that small bagworms are likely roaming a plant. This is because female bagworms are flightless and overwinter and lay eggs in their bags on trees and shrubs. Thus baby bagworms hatch and grow up on the same plant as their mother was on the previous year.

Early in the year the before eggs hatch bags can be hand-picked from bushes with light infestations. Now caterpillars are still small and have not yet eaten much of your plant. Damage increases dramatically as caterpillars grow and they will easily defoliate branches. Small caterpillars are also much easier to kill than large ones. This is because they have less body mass to dilute toxins and their protective bags are not as thick. Therefore less toxic chemicals such as Bt formulations can be very effective when targeting small caterpillars. Other chemical options that are considered compatible with natural enemies are Acelepryn, TriStar, and spinosad. More information can be found at http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/ent/notes/O&T/trees/ort081e/ort081e.htm.
   

From: Adam Dale, Department of Entomology, and Steve Frank, Extension Entomologist

Maple Spider Mites Active on Nursery and Street Trees

Maple spider mites (Oligonychus aceris) are common and damaging pests of maple trees throughout the Eastern United States. These spider mites overwinter on the trunk and branches of maple trees and migrate to the underside of leaves in the spring. Once there, they use their mouthparts to tear into leaf tissue and feed on cell sap, causing fine flecking or browning of the leaf. Maple spider mites have multiple generations per year which enables them to become quite abundant during a single season. These pests are a more serious problem in nurseries due to the close proximity of potted trees and applications of broad spectrum insecticides like permethrin. Studies have shown that over-application of permethrin can wipe out natural enemies and result in secondary maple spider mite outbreaks. However, they are still an issue on landscape trees around Raleigh. The first red maple that I sampled from in Cameron Village had a severe abundance of maple spider mites and the effects were obvious. The use of a hand lens or stereo microscope is necessary for correct identification of these mites but damage is a good indicator of infestation. They are dark brown or red with hairs along their backs and have eight legs while some immature forms exhibit green coloration and have six legs. Red eggs of these mites can be found on tree limbs and yellow or clear eggs can be found on leaf surfaces. Treatment for these pests includes foliar applications of acaricides. It has been observed that maple spider mites are more successful on trees in warmer temperatures. We are currently researching the effects that elevated temperatures have on maple spider mite biology and their natural enemies to uncover the mechanisms that are behind this. For more information on general spider mite management, please visit http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/ent/notes/O&T/flowers/note25/note25.html.


Debris-carrying Green Lacewing Larvae are Active and Everywhere!

Green lacewing larvae are common predators of several soft-bodied pest arthropods across the United States. Their prey includes but is not limited to: scale insects, spider mites, aphids, thrips, and eggs of pest insects. They are useful in biological control because of their generalist and voracious feeding habits. Lacewing larvae are often compared to alligators due to their elongate, slender body shape and are typically yellow and brown in color with six legs. These larvae have large pincer mouthparts that they use to penetrate bodies of prey, paralyze them, and literally suck out their insides. They use these mouthparts to devour several hundred prey per week. Lacewings are known to be cannibalistic if they cannot find any other food source. This is one reason that they deposit their eggs individually on long hairs that suspend them above the leaf surface out of reach. These eggs are common and can be easily found on leaf surfaces.

Some but not all green lacewing larvae develop a camouflage cover which hides them from predation by other insects.  These are called debris-carrying lacewing larvae because they pick up plant tissue debris and other insect debris and attach it to their back. This camouflage makes them difficult to recognize by natural enemies and the inexperienced human eye. Often times they will appear to be a cluster of tree lichen until you notice small legs underneath or it start to move. They can currently be found on most plants just by scanning leaf surfaces. I have seen several recently without looking for them. These insects remain larvae for two to four weeks at which point they develop into winged green lacewing adults. Adult lacewings are not predators and primarily feed on plant nectar. The adults are commonly attracted to lights at night and can often be found around your home.


From: Kelly Ivors, Extension Plant Pathologist

Impatiens Downy Mildew Detected in Multiple Landscape Locations in North Carolina

Downy mildew of impatiens is caused by the ‘fungus-like’ organism Plasmopara obducens. The group of organisms that cause downy mildew diseases are not true fungi - they are more closely related to the well-known plant pathogens Phytophthora and Pythium than they are to true fungi. This is an important distinction to understand because many of the traditional fungicides used to control fungal diseases of plants do not have efficacy against the downy mildews. All types of propagated Impatiens walleriana, including double impatiens and mini-impatiens, and any I. walleriana interspecific hybrids, such as Fusion® impatiens, are susceptible to downy mildew; however, all New Guinea impatiens (I. hawkeri) and interspecific hybrids such as SunPatiens® are tolerant to downy mildew. No other bedding plants are known hosts of this particular downy mildew, although there are a few other downy mildew species that attack other floriculture plants like coleus and basil.

What does downy mildew look like?

A really good resource about identifying the disease, as well as disease control information, can be found at http://e-gro.org/pdf/Bulletin_1-8_Impatiens_Downy_Mildew.pdf.

In addition, a webinar presented by Dr. Colleen Warfield of Ball Horticultural Inc. can be found at http://go.ncsu.edu/impatiens_downy_mildew_webinar.

Downy mildew likes cool, wet/humid environmental conditions. The current conditions we’ve experienced recently across the state of North Carolina are conducive for this disease. The important thing to remember is that downy mildew is spread by wind currents, water splash or by the movement of infected plants. We know that the disease is now in our area and that the spores of the pathogen have the ability to spread long distances in air currents. Be on the look-out for it! So far it has been confirmed in both the western and Piedmont areas of North Carolina.

Fungicide treatments are not recommended for plants in the landscape; instead, all infected impatiens should be pulled from the landscape and destroyed. Fungicides are not always 100% effective at eliminating the disease. Allowing infected plants to remain in the landscape may allow the pathogen to overwinter as resting structures (called oospores), which can start a new epidemic later in the year or in following years if impatiens are replanted in the area. New Guinea impatiens, coleus, begonia, or other available bedding plants are safe to reset in the affected area.


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Recommendations for the use of chemicals are included in this publication as a convenience to the reader. The use of brand names and any mention or listing of commercial products or services in this publication does not imply endorsement by North Carolina State University, North Carolina A&T State University or North Carolina Cooperative Extension nor discrimination against similar products or services not mentioned. Individuals who use chemicals are responsible for ensuring that the intended use complies with current regulations and conforms to the product label. Be sure to obtain current information about usage regulations and examine a current product label before applying any chemical. For assistance, contact an agent of North Carolina Cooperative Extension.



For more information contact your local Cooperative Extension Center and ask for the Commercial Horticulture Agent.

Pest News for Week of June 4th

ORNAMENTALS AND TURF

From: Steve Frank, Extension Entomologist

Red Headed Flea Beetles in the Nursery

Flea beetles have been an increasing problem in nurseries and landscape in the past couple years. We do not know the reasons why but clinic reports have increased as well as phone calls and other reports from growers. The red-headed flea beetle has been the main culprit attacking roses, hydrangeas, and other nursery crops. The adults are small (2 to 4 mm) and black or iridescent and feed on leaves. Larvae feed on plant roots and are small and cream-colored. Their most notable feature is how hard they are to catch when you want to submit a sample to the North Carolina State University Plant Disease and Insect Clinic. As their name implies they are very good jumpers. Feeding by these beetles produces shot holes in leaves though heavy infestations can skeletonize leaves.

Flea beetles are active now as adults and larvae. They are more likely to cause aesthetic or economic damage in nurseries where many plants are grown in close quarters. In that case, treatment is needed. Available chemicals include spinosad (Conserve), imidacloprid (Merit, Marathon), thiamethoxam (Flagship) and acephate (Orthene).




For more information contact your local Cooperative Extension Center and ask for the Commercial Horticulture Agent.

Pest News for Week of May 28

ORNAMENTALS AND TURF

From: Steve Frank, Extension Entomologist

New App for Landscape and Nursery Pests

The Southern Nursery IPM Working Group (SNIPM), of which several faculty at North Carolina State University are members, has just released and exciting new App available for iPhones and Android phones. The App predicts the emergence of arthropod, disease, and weed pests based on degree day estimates, provides diagnosis help, and even pesticide recommendations. This is a very comprehensive tool that should prove valuable to industry and extension personnel. A complete description can be found on the website  http://www.ipmproapp.com/.

  

Crape Myrtle Aphids

Crape myrtle aphids are one of the most common pests of crape myrtle but rarely require treatment. Small populations are present in Raleigh and have been building over the past couple weeks. Feeding by these aphids results in leaf yellowing and distortion, leaf drop, and honeydew deposits which of course lead to sooty mold. Crape myrtle aphids are generally kept in check by natural enemies. When scouting for them I often find almost as many lacewing eggs, lady bug larvae, and other predators as aphids. Interestingly, there are no known parasitoids of this exotic aphid. A variety of chemicals are available should these aphids reach unacceptable levels in nurseries or landscapes. Some of the same chemicals recommended for aphids such as imidacloprid can be applied as a drench to protect against Japanese beetles later in the year. For more information on this pest including control options, visit http://ecoipm.com/ and Ornamentals and Turf Insect Note ENT/ort-31 at http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/ent/notes/O&T/shrubs/note31/note31.html.

Indian Wax Scale Eggs Hatching

Indian wax scale, Ceroplastes ceriferus, is a common scale on landscape plants. In particular we find it on hollies, cherry laurel, spirea, boxwood, and barberry. Indian wax scale is a soft scale that, as the name suggests, looks like white, gray, or pinkish wax on the branches of infested plants. Indian wax scale secretes a lot of honey dew as do most soft scales. This can create sooty mold and reduce the aesthetic appeal of landscape plants. Heavy infestations will reduce plant vitality. Indian wax scale has one generation per year. They overwinter as mostly as adults but we have found younger stages in the fall and spring that apparently overwintered. In spring crawlers emerge and crawl around to find a new feeding site. Crawlers are the best stage to target for control of any scale and for wax scale the time is now. Crawlers are emerging from eggs under the heavy wax covers on campus right now. At this stage crawlers can be killed very easily as they are small and unprotected. Thus horticultural oil is a very viable option. Systemic products such as neonicotinoids make the plant toxic so crawlers and later stages will be killed as they feed. More information can be found at http://ecoipm.com/ or  http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/ent/notes/O&T/shrubs/note156/note156.html.

For more information contact your local Cooperative Extension Center and ask for the Commercial Horticulture Agent.