Lexington, KY 40546

Online at: www.uky.edu/KPN

Number 1352
GRAINS Armyworms Are Sneaky, So Watch Your Corn! FRUIT Spotted Wing Drosophila Update ORNAMENTALS Decline of White Pine GRAINS Armyworms Are Sneaky, So Watch Your Corn! Doug Johnson, Extension Entomologist and Will Stallard, Extension ANR Agent Will Stallard, UK ANR agent in Casey County, KY, came across an odd set of damage on a corn field. It seems that in about a 7-acre area all of the leaves on the corn plants below the ear level were gone, while leaves at and above the ear level suffered only minor damage and were predominately normal (Figure 1). There were no pests present at the time of observation, so what would eat all the leaves up to the ear, but not cause much damage above the ear? After several iterations of photos and some consultation about what might have caused this unusual damage pattern, and why, we have finally come to a conclusion: This damage was likely caused by armyworm. Further, the damage was caused before the leaves above the ear had emerged to any great extent. This means that an entire population of armyworm caterpillars completed their development while feeding on the leaves below the ear; changed into the pupa (non-feeding, resting stage), and then into adult moths as the leaves above the ears were emerging. So, only a few caterpillars in the tail end of the population were around to feed when the leaves above the ears were available, thus the upper leaves were only slightly damaged. Another photo taken later (Figure 2), though somewhat blurry, shows the only direct evidence of the presence of the armyworm, a collection of their excrement or frass at the junction of the leaf blade and stalk.

August 13, 2013

DIAGNOSTIC LAB HIGHLIGHTS INSECT TRAP COUNTS

How much effect this damage will have on yield is difficult to say. No doubt it was a Figure 1. Corn stand with leaves treatable below the ear level eaten. population. But one can say that this field was not being watched for problems. Damage of this magnitude in the making would Figure 2. Armyworm frass at the leaf stalk juncture. have been pretty easy to see and the number of caterpillars that it takes to do this damage would make them easy to find. Truth is, these armyworms are not sneaky, there was simply no one watching. Checking fields for the presence of problems remains an important task. It is sometimes difficult and important; insect populations do not occur

with predictable, or even common frequency. It is discouraging to constantly look for pest problems and not find them, but it is the only real way to avoid situations such as this.

FRUIT Spotted Wing Drosophila Update Ric Bessin, Extension Entomologist We are continuing to receive samples and reports of spotted wing drosophila (SWD) damage to blackberries from central and western Kentucky. The common description is soft, mushy berries that deteriorate very quickly and contain small white larvae. In some commercial plantings the damage is severe with producers reporting nearly a complete loss of the fruit.

any detection is made, sprays for SWD control should begin immediately and reapplied at 5- to 7day intervals. Heavy rainfall may require reapplication of sprays. I would recommend they look at the recommended insecticides for SWD control and have at least one of those materials on hand. Producers should also plant to rotate to a different mode of application with each subsequent application. Timing, coverage, and selection of the correct insecticide are important with any insect pest, and this is the case with SWD. The adults prefer to stay in the darker, denser part of the plant canopy; the same place where getting thorough coverage will require higher pressure and spray volume. A list of available insecticides and their relative efficacy is listed in Entfact 230. Sanitation Homeowners and commercial growers are encouraged to use clean harvest techniques to help slow the population buildup of SWD. Damaged, overripe, and infested fruit should be collected and removed from the field when practical. These fruit can be placed in a clear plastic bag and left in the sun for a couple of days to solarize and kill any potential SWD.

ORNAMENTALS Decline of White Pine Nicole Ward Gauthier, Extension Plant Pathologist Decline is common among white pine in Kentucky. Two distinct diseases with similar names are often confused, but they are distinctly different. Note that white pine decline is an abiotic malady that leads to slow decline, while white pine root decline is a fungal disease that causes sudden plant death. More details follow: White Pine Decline Symptoms White pine decline causes needles to yellow and drop prematurely, causing a noticeable thinning of the canopy (Figure 4). Other symptoms include unusually shorter needles; needle tips may become brown. Bark of individual branches may become shriveled and needles on those branches become wilted or limp (Figure 5).

Figure 3. Spotted wing drosophila adult male and female on grapes.

Some producers have been unsatisfied with the level of control after using sprays for SWD. There can be several factors that can contribute to this. First, the sprays targeting SWD are to control the adults; the eggs and larvae already in the fruit are not controlled. So after spraying it may take a week to 10 days for the larvae already infesting the fruit to cycle through. Additionally, many producers may have been caught by surprise and were late to begin their protective sprays and, as a result, had very high populations of SWD adults when they began spraying. Producers of fall raspberries are at high risk of SWD infestation; they should plan on using trap for detection of SWD adults (See Entfact 229). If

Disease Management The best way to manage white pine decline is through prevention. Select sites with the following characteristics: Acidic soil (pH of 5.5 and not above 6.5) Sandy or loamy rather than clay soils Large area for root development Loose soil free from soil compaction Sufficient soil moisture (regular irrigation and mulch) Vigorous plants (control insect pests and fertilize trees regularly) Once decline begins, it may be difficult to reverse. However, the following practices may be implemented: Lower soil pH by applying granular sulfur according to soil test results Aerate soil by vertical mulching or other means Fertilize and water to eliminate stress
Figure 4. White pine decline, an abiotic malady, is caused by environmental conditions. Symptoms include thinning needles and reduced plant vigor.

White Pine Root Decline Symptoms Trees may be infected for several years without showing symptoms. However, once symptom development begins, homeowners often notice delayed bud break and reduced candle elongation in spring. Mature foliage then fades, droops, and turns brown rapidly (Figures 6 and 7). Conversely, nearby trees may appear healthy; mortality appears quite random with a few trees dying each year. Resin flow (pitch) is visible at the tree base and is associated with a dark brown girdling canker under the bark (Figure 8). The trunk may be flattened on the affected side.

Figure 5. Wrinkled bark is common on trees suffering from white pine decline. Needles above damaged bark become wilted and drop.

Cause White pine decline is not caused by a pathogen. Symptoms are induced by environmental conditions such as: High soil pH High soil clay content Restricted root-growth Compacted soil Mechanical disturbances that cause root injury

Figure 6. White pine root decline, a fungal disease, causes rapid wilting of white pine.

Cause White pine root decline is caused by the fungus, Leptographium procerum that infects inner bark and sapwood of roots and lower trunks of white pine. Although the disease is most serious on white pine, the fungus also can infect Scots and Austrian pines. Losses within an infected planting may range from 20% to 50%.

Figure 8. Pitch is often associated with trunk cankers caused by white pine root decline

Figure 7. Rapid wilting is often followed by rapid browning (needles intact) when trees are suffering from white pine root decline.

Trees planted on wet sites are more susceptible to infection, although other stresses may also cause trees to become susceptible to the disease. Once infection occurs, the fungus may be spread from tree to tree by contaminated insects as they move from diseased trees to healthy trees nearby. Galleries of insects such as the pine root collar weevil may be found in cankers and provide a place for the fungus to sporulate. Weevils and other bark-infesting insects may serve as vectors for this disease.

Disease Management Cultural practices help reduce disease spread by insect vectors. No fungicide is available for disease management. Avoid wet sites Do not replant eastern white pine among stumps of recently killed trees Remove and destroy infected trees including stumps, Collect samples for diagnosis by removing tissue from the canker face (bark removed) and shipping in a plastic bag.

DIAGNOSTIC LAB HIGHLIGHTS Julie Beale and Brenda Kennedy, Plant Disease Diagnosticians Agronomic samples diagnosed in the Plant Disease Diagnostic Lab in the past week have included summer black stem & leaf spot on alfalfa; common rust on corn; stem canker on soybean; frogeye leaf spot, bacterial hollow stalk, potyvirus complex, manganese toxicity, and frenching on tobacco. On fruit and vegetable samples, we have diagnosed Phomopsis cane and leaf spot on grape; cane blight on blackberry; Phytophthora root rot on blueberry; brown rot on peach; downy mildew on melon and pumpkin; Fusarium dry rot and bacterial soft rot on potato; Septoria leaf spot, Phoma leaf spot; and tomato spotted wilt virus on tomato. On ornamentals and turf, we have seen Pythium root rot and web blight on chrysanthemum; Rhizoctonia root rot on begonia; powdery mildew on dogwood; rosette on rose; Dutch elm disease on elm; Guignardia leaf blotch on horsechestnut; Pythium root dysfunction, take-all, and dollar spot on bentgrass; and summer patch on bluegrass.

2013 INSECT TRAP COUNTS

August 2 August 9
Location Black cutworm Armyworm European corn borer Corn earworm Southwestern corn borer Fall armyworm Princeton, KY 0 0 1 18 16 0 Lexington, KY 13 4 1 11 0 0

Graphs of insect trap counts for the 2013 season are available on the IPM Web site at http://www.uky.edu/Ag/IPM/ipm.htm.

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