[Image: Eastern tent caterpillar adult]Ladies and Gentlemen:
Until the recent rains we had little to talk about, but with the heavy rains and the showers, we are beginning to see movement in the insect populations.
1. Love bugs – Until the recent rains we were in a situation where we would see just a few of the love bugs, but with the rains and the heat we can expect to see large populations shortly. We have been seeing for the last week or so a scattered indication of the pest potential. There is little that can be done to manage these insects, and the extent of the problem is affected by the environment. Remember to remind people to clean windows and radiators and the paint on their vehicles to prevent damage or injury. The easiest way to remove them is wet them and to apply liquid soap and rub it on the dry bodies let it sit for several minutes and then using a soft rag rub them off and rinse. They are attracted to heat and exhaust and to light colors that reflect heat, so the lighter-colored vehicles will have them cluster around when they stop.
2. Mole crickets – Many home owners are seeing this soil pest in numbers, and their turf is being destroyed. Since we lost Orthene for use in the management of this pest, we will have to use Talstar, Merit, or Top Choice. If uncontrolled we will see problems with birds, armadillos, raccoons and opossums digging up the yard for the pest.
3. Armyworms – We had some early heavy infestations in sugarcane and some lawns. The rains have slowed them down a bit, but expect to see continuing populations at the season progresses. Watch for the laying of eggs on plot flags and on the overhangs of houses painted white or yellow. Many people mistake this for mold or fungus development. Use the pyrethroids or Bt’s to manage this population. Spinosad can also be used. Remember Orthene cannot be used for the management of turf pests.
4. White grubs – Homeowners are already seeing populations of June bugs at lights at night. This is a good indication of a heavy population this season. The adults are foliage feeders and will defoliate young fruit and nut trees. Treating damaged trees with Sevin will help to stop this injury. The white grubs are in the soil and can be managed with Sevin, Merit or Mach 2. To check for grubs, fold back a square foot of turf and count the grubs. If you count more than 3 per square foot, treatment is needed.
5. Chafers – We are also seeing several chafers feeding in flowers. Roses are extremely susceptible to damage as well as daylilies and other blossoms. The immature forms are also white grubs and can be managed as above.
6. Eastern and forest tent caterpillars – Many of the caterpillars we have been seeing are winding down. Some have been eliminated by the rains and other have pupated. The adults will be emerging in the next few days and will be around the lights. They are buff-colored moths about half to three-quarters of an inch in width. They will mate and lay their eggs for next year. One means of reducing some of the population is to check the small branches of your trees and pick them off. They will be seen shortly after the adults be[Image: Forest tent caterpillar adult]gin to appear but are much more visible in the fall when many of the leaves have fallen from the trees. Little can be done to manage the adult population. ( Figures 1 and 2)
7. White flies – check your gardenias, hibiscus, vegetables and other ornamentals as they are back and in force. The initial sign of white flies is the sticky honeydew that is excreted by the immatures. This sugary material helps to grow the black sooty mold and make the plants look terrible. Bees and wasps flying around a plant are a good indication of an infestation that is excreting honeydew, as they use it as a food source. Ants will also tend the insects that produce it, as they use it as a food source as well. Remember, if you control the white flies, the sooty mold will dry up and peal off. The best controls for whiteflies are Merit, Orthene or Talstar. Treating populations early is the best way to manage the infestation and reduce pesticide use. (Figure 3)
8. pH – Remember to check your water pH before you treat. High pH will reduce the effectiveness of your treatment and require you to spray more. Use a digital pH pen to check each time you treat, and if needed, use a buffer to lower the pH. The state average is 8.3, and it should be between 5.5 and 6.5 for optimum effect.
9. Mites – Spider mites were causing some heavy pressure on plants until the rains. Much of the populations have been washed off by heavy rainfall, but check your plants and make sure the populations do not increase to cause additional problems. Ultra fine oil will help to manage this population if caught early, otherwise it will require multiple applications or use in combination with a miticide.
10. Leaf miners – Many back yard citrus trees are [Image: Whitefly nymphs]showing the signs of the citrus leaf miner. Remember, every time you have a flush of growth, you can expect the citrus leaf miner to be present. The best control for this pest is Spinosad, which is organic. It’s also good for leaf miners in vegetables and other ornamentals.
11. Fire ants – Now that the rains have come, expect to see an increase in the mounds in the yards. The rains have stimulated the flights of the reproductives, and the soft, moist soil is ideal for them to build mounds in. This is the time for whole neighborhoods to get into the program and do fire ant management on a community-wide basis. It’s cheaper and lasts a lot longer when everyone does it at the same time. Remember, we have the fire ant program we can present to any community or subdivision board or association interested in implementing this program.
Until next month,
Dale