Integrated Pest Management October 2000 Asian Longhorned Beetle - This beetle was accidentally imported from China, and it has the potential for enormous damage to a wide range of broadleaf trees. In one province of China, more than 50,000,000 trees had to be cut down. In Chicago, more than 1,000 trees were destroyed in 1998. Maple trees, which make up about 30% of urban trees in the eastern U.S., are a favorite host. The only alternative at this point is to cut down infested trees. Our best strategy is to limit the spread of this potentially devastating pest. The adult beetle is a big, showy insect; we are most likely to see it first in nurseries. You can see a picture and read details at www.aphis.usda.gov/oa/alb/alb.html or simply search for Asian longhorned beetle on the Internet. (IPM Practitioner, 7-00) BEETLE FLIGHT - Lady beetles usually overwinter in large numbers and may be a nuisance around many houses this fall and winter. They may be controlled with label rates of diazinon, malathion or aerosol pyrethrin sprays. They are very beneficial during crop growing season. BIOTECHNOLOGY - USDA scientists are exploring the advantages of genetically engineering an egg protein into corn. The protein, avidin, restricts the availability of biotin; biotin is a vitamin that is essential for insect development. Avidin corn was toxic to a wide range of stored-product pests including maize weevil, flour beetles, Indian meal moth, grain beetle, and Mediterranean flour moth. Avidin is already a common part of the human diet because it occurs naturally in eggs. However, a thorough risk assessment will be required before the corn is released to the market. Environmental risks are expected to be very low because only insects feeding on the corn would be exposed, and avidin is biodegradable. Scientists are also modifying their techniques to make sure that avidin is not expressed in corn pollen. (Agricultural Research, 8-00) BLACKBERRIES - Raspberry crown borers continue to be a problem in a number of our blackberry fields. If whole plants are declining in vigor or have dying canes with berries hanging from them, dig them up and check their crown and roots for borers. One borer per crown may kill the plant. Treat after harvest using diazinon or guthion. August through October would be an ideal time for treatment. Use either insecticide as a soil drench to the crown area and to the lower canes. Refer to labels for usage's and precautions. Blackberry canes are showing gall-like swellings resulting from tunneling out by the red-necked cane borer. Affected canes are weakened and may not produce fruit. There is only one generation per year; however, adults are active over much of the summer. It is difficult to control this pest because once the larvae are established inside the canes, insecticides cannot reach them. Pruning and destruction of damaged canes is the best control measure. CHRISTMAS TREES - Tree farmers should be reminded to rid their Christmas trees of aphids (plant lice) several weeks before harvest. Aphids may discolor needles and cause some to drop prematurely. Bark aphids can be exceptionally bad. When these are not controlled and left on the tree, many housewives think they are "ticks." They generally occur in late fall and survive cool temperatures. Thorough coverage throughout the canopy is necessary for control using orthene, diazinon or malathion. CHLORPYRIFOS - State pesticide regulators were outraged over the EPA handling of chlorpyrifos. Chlorpyrifos was recently cancelled for all uses around the home, including termite applications. At the recent meeting of the Association of American Pesticide Control Officials (AAPCO), state regulators pointed out to EPA that they are co-regulators of pesticides, not simply customers or stakeholders. Most states have signed a cooperative agreement with EPA that makes the state officials the primary pesticide regulator in their state. AAPCO (and many others) were upset primarily because EPA excluded them from the decision-making process when many chloryprifos uses were cancelled. (Pesticide & Environmental News, 8-10-00) LYME DISEASE - Scientists with USDA have identified possible biocontrol agents for Deer ticks (vector of Lyme disease). Some types of nematodes and fungi kill deer ticks. Researchers are investigating the timing, application rate, etc. necessary to achieve a level of useful control. Everyone is understandably nervous about Lyme disease because we have a lot of ticks. However, we have very few reported cases of Lyme disease. You should still be concerned about ticks; they also transmit other diseases. Protect yourself and your children when you go into tick-infested areas. Check carefully for ticks when you return home. Ticks generally have to be attached for some time to transmit diseases. Help your children check themselves; pay attention to their hair. If you find an attached tick, do not panic. The person should see a doctor if they develop a rash around the bite area or become ill. Inform your doctor about the tick bite. ORNAMENTALS - Soldier beetle larvae may invade households at this time of year. The larvae are about 1" long and are black with a velvet-textured abdomen and a brown head. Larvae may be found in basements or garages. They may be swept up and discarded. They will not infest a house nor will they attack food or other items. Severe populations of tent caterpillars are infesting several of our trees. Cold weather should take care of the problem within the next couple of months. However, those who wish to control them may use spray applications of diazinon, malathion or sevin. Get good coverage of insecticides on the plants for best results. Small worms are easier to kill than large worms. PESTICIDE STORAGE -Pesticides must be kept in an area that is inaccessible to children, adults who are unfamiliar with pesticides, and animals. All pesticides should be stored under lock and key. They should not be stored with or near feed, seed, clothing, or other articles. Storage areas should be well-lighted ventilated places where temperatures will not go below freezing. Facilities should be fire-resistant, and have an exhaust fan. Warning signs should be placed on all entrances with doors locked. Keep products stored in their original containers and mark the month and year of purchase on all packages to determine age of products. Keep an up-to-date inventory of pesticide products available. Be extra careful with granular insecticides around livestock to prevent contamination of feed products. RYEGRASS - Mole crickets continue to attack newly planted ryegrass. Sevin XLR, 50 WP or 80 WP at 1 ý lbs. AI/acre should control them if applied, preferably with 25-50 gallons of water/acre. Works best when applied just before a good rain late in the afternoon. Treat the infested area and about a 100-foot buffer zone. Orthene 75 WP is not cleared at a rate high enough to control mole crickets. The maximum rate cleared for pasture and rangeland is1/6 lb. (0.125 lb. AI) per acre. It is illegal to use more than is recommended. Overuse of a product may cause residue problems and possible toxicity to cattle. Adhere to labels. TOMATOES (Greenhouse) - Cabbage loopers and armyworms may attack tomatoes, completely stripping them of leaves. Applications of Thiodan or B.t. or a combination of both should control them in greenhouses. VEGETABLES - Several of the more serious insect pests such as European corn borer, squash vine borer, squash bug, diamondback moth, tomato hornworm, cabbage looper, and imported cabbageworm are able to continue development on crop residues regardless if the plants are still producing vegetables. Other pests such as flea beetles can find food and shelter from weeds as well as crop residues throughout the winter. The two-spotted spider mites continue to feed on weeds after the crops have withered. Raised plastic beds also provide shelter for pests by giving them a protected place to spend the winter. Destruction of crop residues shortly after harvest is recommended to discourage these pests from completing their fall development. Many insects need to attain a certain size or stage in order to survive the winter. Removal of crop residues may also reduce pest survival by exposing some of them to the winter elements. These weeds and crop residues will insulate these pests from frosts and freezes. Destruction of cucumber and melon residues not only reduces food and shelter for cucumber beetles, but also reduces the acquisition of the bacterial wilt disease organism by the overwintering beetle generation. It is the bacteria that causes bacterial wilt that is stored in the gut of cucumber beetles this winter that will start the disease cycle next year. A thorough fall cleanup should help to discourage some of the pests that may cause problems next year. Commercially, fields can be disked to destroy crop residues. Home gardeners can compost or till these residues into the soil. It is important to keep in mind this should not be just a fall practice to destroy crop residues. As soon as a crop has been harvested for the last time, clean up should begin, even if it is early summer for spring crops.   J. Pat Harris Extension Entomologist