Integrated Pest Management July 2000 CHRISTMAS TREES - Sawflies are attacking many of our Virginia pines. They often occur in clusters on one or more trees, especially around the borders of a planting. Damage occurs in the form of defoliation, which is especially critical on marketable aged trees. They are relatively easy to control. Most insecticides used in Christmas tree production will control sawflies when applied at standard rates. Specifically, malathion 57% EC at 1 1/2 pts/100 gallons water (2 teaspoons/gallon) or Orthene 75 S at 1 lb/100 gallons water (3 teaspoons/gallon) will control them. Spray for coverage. Tortoise scales are infesting our Virginia pines. Adult females are large (1/4 inch) mottled brown or gray bumps on the stems. There may be 3 to 4 generations per year. They produce a tremendous amount of honeydew resulting in sooty mold. Generally, only a small portion (less than 10%) of the planting is infested at any given time. Timing and coverage of an insecticide is very important when controlling scales. Coincide your application with the emergence of mobile crawlers. Use label rates of acephate (Orthene), chlorpyrifos (Dursban), malathion. Wet inner branches and main trunk to run off. Repeat application in 10-14 days. DEET - Be careful how you use DEET! Summer is here along with mosquitoes, ticks, biting flies, etc. You may be tempted to bathe yourself and your children in DEET (in many insect repellents) before you go out. DEET is absorbed through the skin. At least 3 children have died as a result. Do not use DEET on children under three. Do not apply DEET to children's hands if they still put their hands in their mouth. Avoid skin contact with DEET if possible; put it on your clothes. When you go back inside to stay, wash DEET off of your skin with soap and water. Wash DEET treated clothes. GARDENS - Late summer and fall gardens will be a haven for insects this year. Chewing insects as cabbageworms, corn earworm or tomato fruitworm, cucumber beetles, leaf miners and armyworms will be present. Also sucking insects as aphids, squash bugs, leaf-footed bugs, stinkbugs and whiteflies will be present. Insecticides needed for control of these pests include malathion, diazinon, thiodan, sevin, dipel or a combination of them. Check gardens at least once a week and apply insecticides as needed. Read labels carefully. HOUSEHOLD - Brown recluse spiders live in nature under rocks, loose bark, tree trunks, and in all types of ground litter. In homes, they tend to locate in corners of rooms, under furniture and other objects, in floor and wall crevices, and in piles of old shoes or clothes. Females usually lay their eggs during May, June and July. Eggs hatch in about 30 days. Thorough, careful inspection and clean up will help to locate and destroy egg sacks. Humans are generally bitten only by accident, especially when a spider becomes trapped in bedding or clothing. Dursban, diazinon or Malathion should control spiders inside or outside the house. A product called Tempo from Bayer Chemical Company is very effective on spiders. Cockroaches are a major problem to Mississippi homeowners today. We have several species which are really troublesome in our homes and other buildings. These include the German, American, Oriental, brown-banded and smoky brown cockroaches. The key to successful cockroach control is the use of preventive measures. Chemical control may be necessary. If so, residual sprays as chlorpyrifos, diazinon, propoxur, resmethrin or synergized pyrethrins may be used. Dust insecticides containing bendicarb or boric acid may also be used. There are also baits containing boric acid, chlorpyrifos and propoxur which are effective. Aerosols may also be used but have less residual activity. These contain chlorpyrifos, diazinon, permethrin, propoxur, resmethrin, synergized pyrethrins and tetramethrin. Refer to individual labels for usage. Pantry pests as flour beetles, moths, cigarette beetles, granary weevils, rice weevils and many more are found at various times in our food pantries. Most are brought into our homes in infested food, either loose or packaged. Many items are susceptible, including spices, hot pepper, ice cream cones, cereals, grits, cake mixes, and many others. Millions of dollars are lost every year in stored foods and other products. The basic fundamentals in controlling stored food pests are exclusion, chemical treatment, regular inspections and cleaning of shelves. Applications of 0.5% diazinon, 2% malathion or 1% baygon to cracks, corners and dried surfaces of shelves will aid in control. Refer to labels for proper use precautions. Other products are cleared for PCO people to use. Fleas are a problem in a number of our homes. Vacuuming the house thoroughly will help remove flea larvae and pupae. Place vacuum bag contents in an airtight plastic bag and discard. A 2% malathion household spray may be used. Pets and pet's bedding should be cleaned and treated with an approved insecticide as part of the control process. It may be necessary to treat the yard with sevin, dursban, diazinon or malathion. Observe all label precautions. ORNAMENTALS - This is the time of year many people are working in the shrubbery. Be on the lookout for certain caterpillars that possess stinging hairs. These include saddleback and puss caterpillars. They are plant feeders and may be controlled with Diazinon, malathion or sevin. Scale insects are attacking many of our ornamentals. Both nymphs and female adults feed on plant juices. Generally, the crawler stage is easier to control than adults. Insecticides as orthene, sevin, chlorpyrifos, diazinon, dimethoate or malathion should control scale crawlers. If adult scales are present, a light weight summer oil may be necessary for control. Read labels carefully. Spider mites are important pests of a number of our ornamentals. Sap removal as mites feed causes a color change in the foliage, usually to yellow or gray. Younger trees may be killed in one season, while older trees may die progressively over several seasons. When checking for mites, sharply tap a limb over a white piece of paper. Mites can be seen as small moving specks. Infested shrubs or trees may be hosed down with water to break up their webbing. This will slow down the infestation to some extent. Diazinon, cygon or malathion may be used for control. A second application should be made 10 days later to control newly hatched mites. PECANS - Pecan weevils are beginning to show up on our pecan trees. Timing of control measures is important. Pecan weevils are 3/8-inch long, brown snout beetles. When scouting for adult weevils, place a sheet on the ground under a tree and "jar" the limbs with a pole. If weevils are present, they should fall onto the sheet. If three or more weevils are found per tree, it would probably pay to spray with sevin. Refer to label for usage and precautions. If possible, spray the entire tree including the trunk and on the ground from the base of the trunk to the dripline of the tree. Thorough coverage is important. If pecans become infested with weevils, the first nuts to fall are often the ones most heavily infested. Pick up and destroy these nuts. STORED GRAINS - Grain bins should be cleaned thoroughly and then treated with protective insecticides to control insects emerging from their hiding places. Malathion (premium grade) used for this purpose in metal bins should remain effective for 4 to 6 weeks at 80o F. In wooden bins, malathion may remain effective for up to 6 months. Methoxychlor may also be used. Reldan is effective 9 to 18 months. Insecticides, formulations, concentrations, and rates of application approved for this and other uses are subject to change. Always follow label directions for current recommendations. SWEET POTATOES - Check your crop for sweet potato weevils. Adults lay their eggs in stems and the grubs work down to the tubers. Once in tubers, breeding is continuous and tubers may become riddled. The adult is a shiny, slender, snout beetle about 1/4 inch long. The head, wing covers, and abdomen are blue-black. The segment behind the head (prothorax) and the legs is bright red. Thiodan will give suppression but not control of this pest. Apply as a foliar spray in 40-50 gallons of water per acre. Several applications may be necessary. There is a 24C label of Imidan 70 WSB registered in Mississippi this year. Use at 1 ý lbs. per acre using 25 gallons of water per acre. Works best with a water pH of around 5.5. Read label. After potatoes are harvested, use Imidan 5 dust at 2-4 ounces per bushel when storing. Cover all surfaces using only one application. Be sure to wash potatoes before using. Legally, potatoes infested with weevils should not be moved from the farm until first cleared with the Division of Plant Industry. There is a quarantine on this pest.   J. Pat Harris Extension Entomologist