Defoliators:

Lepidoptera:

• Winter Moth has been active for two to three weeks now depending on the specific geographic region of the state. Overall, North Shore areas tend to be a little ahead of South Shore and Cape Cod. What initially looked like booming populations has now lead to confusion about just how well the newly hatched caterpillars survived their first two weeks. Areas that appeared to have large numbers now suggest that larval mortality may have been high this spring, at least in some areas. This developing story is being closely monitored by Joe Elkinton’s lab, but the results will not be known for another couple of weeks. Bud break and leaf expansion was slow and staggered this spring and may have affected winter moth, which relies heavily on buds being at a specific stage when they first hatch from the egg. If winter moth caterpillars are present, they should now be treated with a product that contains spinosad or with one of the labeled pyrethroid insecticides. Late Breaking News - Reports have come in of high winter moth caterpillar numbers  (especially Norway maple) in the following towns: Jamaica Plain, Brookline, Newton, Wellesley, Natick, Sherborn, and Dover. Other towns where winter moth caterpillars have been observed are: Framingham, Milford, Holliston, and Wayland.
  
• Forest Tent Caterpillar (FTC) is once again in big numbers and very active. The warmer regions are already experiencing defoliation, especially on oaks. The Connecticut River Valley region in MA (e.g., Greenfield) already has experienced complete defoliation of trees that are typically late to have bud break, such as pin oaks. However, fully leafed and blossoming crabapples have also been defoliated. In Greenfield, FTC is now around 1.5 inches in length while just 10 miles from there, in the slightly higher elevations, FTC larvae are only about 0.75 inches in length. Last year, an Entomophaga fungus, similar to the one that attacks gypsy moth, was observed having an effect on FTC, and it is not yet known to what extend it reduced population numbers, if at all. This pest, when occurring in large numbers, can quickly defoliate trees. If necessary, treat the caterpillars with a product that contains spinosad or with one of the labeled pyrethroid insecticides. Oaks, maples, birches, crabapples, and many others are common host plants.
  
• Gypsy Moth is not expected to be in large numbers across the state, but it is not uncommon for small, localized areas to experience gypsy moth in outbreak proportions. This pest has hatched in most of the state and is settled and feeding, but no reports of large populations have yet been received. Monitor for their activity and treat in a similar fashion, if necessary, as for winter moth or FTC.
  
• Eastern Tent Caterpillar has been active for a few weeks and is rapidly gaining in size. Webs on cherries and apples are numerous and quite large in the areas of heavy infestation. Some areas that have experienced outbreaks of this pest in recent years are reporting much lower numbers this year. If this pest is active in your area, it should be obvious by now. Treat the same as the above-mentioned pests, if necessary.
  
• Fall Cankerworm should just be beginning its activity now. Large numbers of FCW similar in appearance to winter moth but has two and a half pairs of prolegs on the abdomen where winter moth only has two pairs. They are sometimes found in mixed populations with winter moth on the same host plant. Treat, if necessary.

Hymenoptera:

• European pine sawfly has the potential to completely defoliate branches and entire plants. Monitor mugo pine, in particular, for clusters of this green caterpillar, which are almost the same color of the needles. The very young caterpillars can be successfully treated with an insecticidal soap spray while caterpillars of all ages can be treated with a product that contains spinosad or with one of the labeled pyrethroid insecticides. This pest has mostly been reported in the eastern regions of the state, including Cape Cod, in past years. Monitor oaks, in particular, for this (currently) tiny looper (inchworm) caterpillar.
  
• Azalea sawfly caterpillar is now active in much of the state. This pale green caterpillar is almost the exact color of the host plant foliage and often hugs the leaf margin while it feeds. Therefore, it is very cryptic, and much damage can be created before it is noticed. Treat established populations with a product that contains spinosad or with one of the registered pyrethroid products that is labeled for this pest.

Coleoptera:

• Lily leaf beetle has been active in the adult stage for several weeks now. Feeding injury, showing up as notches to leaf margins and holes in the foliage, is becoming noticeable. Eggs, on the undersides of leaves, in the form of an irregular tan-colored line about one inch in length have not yet been seen or reported, but they will be appearing within the next couple of weeks. Treat the adults with a registered and labeled pyrethroid. Later on, treat the larvae with a product that contains spinosad. NEEM products do work to deter feeding activity, but they need to be reapplied every 10-14 days for as long as the pest is active, which is much of the growing season. NEEM, therefore, is a good choice in smaller plantings of true lilies.
  
• European chafer adults should start to appear within the next few weeks, especially in the warmer regions. This large scarab often goes unnoticed due to its nocturnal habits, BUT it sometimes clusters by the hundreds or even thousands on individual plants for mating purposes. While there, they can often create plant injury in the form of ragged notches on the leaf margins. Rhododendrons are common host plants along with many others. If suspected, inspect at night with a flashlight for their presence. Treat with a pyrethroid, if necessary.

Piercing-Sucking Pests :  

• Many spider mite species are now active. Inspect foliage with a hand lens for their presence; also, make note of the ratio of predatory mites to spider mites. Spider mites are often present on plant foliage, and predatory mites usually keep their numbers in check. Treatments for spider mites are usually only necessary if populations of them are high and when numbers of predators are low.
  
• Many aphid species are now very active, such as snowball aphid on many different species of viburnum, aphids on various species of maples (including Japanese maple), and balsam twig aphid. Inspect for clusters of aphids, honeydew, sooty mold, and distorted foliage. Unlike most of the other piercing-sucking pests, aphid feeding usually does not result in yellow stippling injury. Treat large populations, if necessary, with a spray of insecticidal soap, or with a systemic application of a product that contains imidacloprid.
  
• Monitor for honeylocust plantbug. Now that honeylocust is past budbreak in most of the state, begin to inspect for this pale-green nymph on host plant foliage. Vigorously shake stems over a piece of paper and inspect for numbers of this pest. If they are found in large numbers, an application of insecticide may be warranted. This pest is usually at its worst when it feeds while leaves are still expanding from the buds. If we experience cool weather that delays leaf expansion by many days, this pest can create much injury to the point of defoliation. It is one of those pests that are extremely difficult to predict as it pertains to levels of expected injury. We have seen cases where numbers were high, but the foliage quickly got out ahead of the pest’s ability to create much injury. Weather seems to be the determining factor in the level of sustained damage each year. Treat, if necessary, with an insecticidal soap or with a pyrethroid insecticide.
  
• Hemlock Woolly Adelgid - is active, and the white cottony masses are quite obvious right now. Once foliage has fully expanded, treat with a horticultural oil spray at the summer rate. Small populations can be treated with a systemic application of imidacloprid. This pest is actively feeding and will produce one more generation within the next several weeks.

DISEASES -

Now that buds are opening and new needles are developing it is possibly time to protect susceptible, high value spruce trees from Rhizosphaera needle cast. This disease is normally not severe enough to warrant fungicide protection. However, three (and now maybe a fourth) springs in a row of cool, wet weather, as immature needles are growing, resulted in an increase in this disease in landscapes and Christmas tree farms. Check last year’s shoots for evidence of Rhizosphaera needle cast infection to determine if the spruce is particularly susceptible. On susceptible trees considerable numbers of needles from the last several years are missing (cast off). In addition, those still attached often have several stomata on their needles blackened by the Rhizosphaera fruiting structures that are releasing spores at this time of the year. Fungicides act to protect immature needles from becoming infected. Where management is desirable, apply 2-3 treatments at 7-14 day intervals beginning now.

Flowering dogwoods susceptible to dogwood anthracnose are vulnerable to infection during wet seasons. Apply fungicide to protect developing leaves on high value trees, as the buds break open, again when bracts have fallen, and ~4 weeks later. If this is a persistent problem, consider planting one of the many resistant cultivars of flowering dogwood and Kousa dogwood now available.

During wet weather, protect susceptible Douglasfir from Swiss and Rhabdocline needle cast infections when the needles are first emerging from buds until they expand to full size. Determine if the Douglasfir is vulnerable to infection by examining the needles closely for the fruiting structures of Rhabdocline needle cast. They are visible as elongated, red-brown spots and bands on infected needles. Needle discoloration is similar for Swiss needle cast, however spores release occurs through black fruiting structures erupting out of needle stomata.

Apply fungicides to protect emerging apple and crabapple leaves from apple scab as the buds turn pink, again around petal fall, followed by 1-2 additional times at 7-10 day intervals (assuming wet conditions linger). In addition, prune densely branched trees to increase air circulation and sunlight penetration that speeds drying of foliage. There are numerous resistant varieties of apple, crabapple, and mountainash to grow and simplify disease management.

It is difficult to determine based on field symptoms alone whether or not junipers with browning foliage have the disease juniper blight or suffered damage from another agent. Environmental stresses such as soil compaction, snow and ice damage, deicing salt exposure, and physical bruises often result in browning of foliage that looks like a juniper blight disease. During dry weather remove and destroy dead foliage to improve the plant’s appearance as well as reduce juniper blight inoculum if that should be present. If it clear there is juniper blight caused by Phomopsis juniperovora, begin fungicide control as new growth emerges, and repeat applications if wetness persists. If the problem persists, gradually replace problem junipers with disease-resistant shrubs better adapted to the site.

Maximize the effectiveness fungicide treatments in the management of black spot on rose by initiating them now as buds swell and repeat applications per label directions into the fall. Provide good air circulation and irrigate early in the day to minimize the period of plant wetness to further suppress the disease. If the problem persists, gradually replace susceptible varieties of roses with those resistant to black spot to reduce buildup of inoculum and the need for fungicide treatment.

Gymnosporangium rust fruiting structures are noticeable on eastern red cedar (really a juniper) and Rocky mountain juniper, as well as the occasional Chinese, common, creeping, and savin juniper. Specifically, cedar-apple rust galls are visible on eastern red cedar as eruptions of orange, gelatinous masses protruding from pea- to golf ball-sized galls. These fruiting structures release spores that infect the leaves of alternate hosts such as apple and crabapple at this time of the year during cool, rainy periods. Likewise, fruiting structures of quince rust are visible as red-orange “cracks” in the bark of infected branches on several of these junipers. Leaves and fruit of amelanchier, crabapple, and hawthorn are common alternate host of quince rust. Because the damage to tree health is so minor, chemical interventions are seldom worthwhile except with specimen or nursery plants. Now is the time to begin fungicide applications to protect leaves, green shoots, and fruit of the susceptible, high value alternate rosaceous hosts from Gymnosporangium rust infections. Treat susceptible rosaceous host plants 2-3 times at labeled intervals.

Ramorum blight , also known as sudden oak death (SOD) and ramorum dieback. Since 1995, oaks and tanoaks have been dying in the coastal counties of California. Since then, surveys found other plants infected or associated with this disease caused by the water mold Phytophthora ramorum . Researchers in the U. S. first isolated the pathogen in Mill Valley ( Marin County) on tanoak, but since that time additional surveys confirmed the pathogen on various native hosts in fourteen coastal California counties and in Curry County, Oregon. Through ongoing surveys of nurseries, USDA-APHIS-PPQ continues to define the extent of the pathogen’s distribution in the U. S. and limit its artificial spread beyond infected areas through quarantine and a public education program.

Status of Phytophthora ramorum in 2007:

Forest Detection Survey - There was no report this week.

Federal Regulation, State Inspection, Nursery Survey, and Other Finds - There was no report this week.

Reported by Dan Gillman, Plant Pathologist, UMass Extension Plant Diagnostic Lab, Amherst

WEEDS -

DISEASES -

No report this week.

WEEDS -

Forsythia has completed its flowering period. Therefore, preemergence herbicide applications should be finished by now. Any remaining preemergence applications should be made with dithiopyr products and, preferably, those that are a sprayable formulation. See last week's message for explanation.

Still more calls and emails on star-of-Bethlehem infestations. First, let me state that paraquat is not a viable control strategy for us in the north who are managing cool-season turfs despite what information many are finding on the Internet’s web. Some control strategies include: 1) ignore them and wait until they go away as we get warmer days, 2) diligently dig up clumps and reseed, or 3) apply an herbicide product that contains the active ingredient carfentrazone.

Wild garlic is noticeable now. Ignore it and it will go away, or treat it with a broadleaf turf herbicide. Control is increased if weed is stepped on or rolled before application. Granular broadleaf herbicide formulations should not be used.

Dandelion and violet can now be treated with postemergence broadleaf herbicide products.

Reported by Randall Prostak, Weed Specialist, UMass Extension Landscape, Nursery and Urban Forestry Program, Amherst.

IMPORTANT INFORMATIONAL RESOURCES

UMass Turf Research Field Day is Wednesday, June 20, 2007 at the Joseph Troll Turf Research Center in South Deerfield, MA. For complete information, visit http://www.umassturf.org/education/annual_events/field_day.html or e-mail fieldday@umassturf.org with questions.

The MNLA/MFGA Summer Meeting and Trade Show is Wednesday, July 18, 2007 at the Tower Hill Botanic Garden in Boylston, MA. Visit http://www.mnla.com for complete information.

For a complete listing of upcoming events, see our Conferences and Workshops page.

Don't forget to visit the UMass Extension Online Weed Herbarium!