Pepper Weevil Advisory

-Joe Ingerson-Mahar

We have now three, widely separated farms in south Jersey that have infestations of pepper weevil. And, at least two additional farms are probably infested. Pepper weevil is not a migratory pest but has to be transported into New Jersey, and as yet we do not know how the weevil gets here.

Pepper weevil adult

Be vigilant with peppers and look for signs of this pest.

The kudzu bug may be headed our way

The kudzu bug is another invasive insect from Asia that has the potential to become a serious crop pest.  It was first found in the Atlanta, GA, area in 2009, and has now spread into six states: Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, Florida, North Carolina, and Virginia.  It is not a stinkbug but is related to them and looks similar to our native stinkbugs but bulkier.  The hind end of the bug is squared off giving it a boxy appearance.

The kudzu bug does feed on kudzu and its feeding appears to have an ill effect on kudzu, making it a beneficial insect.  However, it does feed on other legumes such as wisteria, soybeans and potentially other leguminous crops.  It has been shown to reduce soybean yields as much as 47% in Georgia by sucking plant sap from the leaf veins with its beak.  There is a close association of the bug with kudzu, but it can reproduce on wisteria as well.  The question is how much of a problem will the kudzu bug be without the presence of kudzu.  New Jersey does have a few sites infested with kudzu, but the state has a lot of wisteria.

One thing is certain, the kudzu bug population can spread rapidly.  The adults are strong fliers and are attracted to white objects, including homes and vehicles.  According to a fact sheet from North Carolina the kudzu bug can hitch-hike on vehicles, probably enhancing its ability to move about.  Given its range expansion so far, it is likely that we’ll be finding our first bugs in another year or two.   Like the brown marmorated stinkbug, the kudzu bug also overwinters in homes.

Most likely we will be having more information to share in another year.  For more detailed information on this potential pest go to http://ipm.ncsu.edu/cotton/insectcorner/PDF/Kudzu%20Bug%20Handout_Field%20Crops.Final.pdf

Joe Ingerson-Mahar

This week in the Plant & Pest Advisory:8-15-2012

Plant & Pest Advisory - Vegetable Crops Edition (printable pdf):

• Vegetable Crops IPM Update

Kristian Holmstrom

• Preparing Your Farm Food Safety Plan: Harmonized Audit SOP & SSOP

Meredith Melendez & Wes Kline

• Weekly Weather Summary

Keith Arnesen

Subscription information for the Plant & Pest Advisory 

Tomato pinworm in New Jersey

Tomato pinworm is an unusual pest of tomatoes and eggplant for New Jersey as it is typically found in the southwestern states. It can be transported on transplants but is probably capable of spreading to new locations with weather fronts. Tomato pinworm was found in Somerset and Morris Counties in fields and high tunnels. This week an infestation was found in a field in Cumberland County. This would suggest that we have a state-wide infestation. Undoubtedly these infestations are in part due to the unusually warm winter and spring we experienced. Pinworm cannot overwinter in New Jersey.

The pinworm moth is a small, greyish-white with small dark, insect that lays it eggs singly on the underside of leaves of the tomato. When the eggs hatch the caterpillars begin feeding within the leaves creating a blotch leafmine. This will be a papery appearing section of the leaf where the caterpillar has eaten the tissue between the upper and lower leaf cuticles. As the caterpillars grow they leave the leafmine and invade fruit, attacking the calyx and stem area but also borrowing into the rind anywhere. The tunnels are short and occur almost entirely in the rind. The holes appear similar to tomato fruitworm (corn earworm) damage, but the pinworm holes are much smaller. Mature caterpillars may create a mine under the cuticle of the fruit. The caterpillars will drop to the soil and make loose cocoons to complete their development to the adult stage. There are multiple generations a year.
Pictured is a medium sized pinworm caterpillar, about 1/4 inch long. Mature caterpillars are white or yellow with purple markings and are about 3/8 inch long.

In areas where tomato pinworm is a common threat, mating disruption and biological control methods can be used to help minimize damage. In New Jersey, insecticides are the only reliable means of control. The 2012 Commercial Vegetable Recommendations includes several materials that should provide control. For more information on tomato pinworm go to: http://ipm.ncsu.edu/ag295/html/tomato_pinworm.htm, and, http://www.ent.uga.edu/veg/solanaceous/tompinworm.htm

Joe Ingerson-Mahar

Farm Food Safety: Field Harvest and Field Packing Activities

Part 10 of Preparing Your Farm Food Safety Plan

- Meredith Melendez and Wes Kline

Part 10 of your farm food safety plan addresses field harvest and field packing activities. Your plan should document your actives and your pre-harvest assessment log. Field harvest assessment should be made the day prior to starting to harvest to ensure everything is in place to reduce the chance for product contamination. We covered the specifics of the pre-harvest assessment log in article number 6 of this series. If a field is harvested over several days each morning the assessment is repeated.

June 30 Derecho disaster assistance follow-up

Residents and Businesses Are Encouraged to Report June 30 Storm Damages at www.ReadyAtlantic.org as Atlantic County Seeks to Appeal FEMA Denial for Individual Assistance

Atlantic County residents and businesses that suffered damages to their properties and incurred losses as a result of the June 30 super derecho are strongly encouraged to submit that information to county or municipal emergency management officials who are seeking financial assistance and reimbursement through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Cucurbit Downy Mildew Alert!

Rutgers Cooperative Extension at the New Jersey Experiment Station

Plant & Pest Advisory

Vegetable Alert!

Date: 8/10/2012

Alert Authors: Holmstrom/Mahar/Wyenandt

Pest: Cucurbit downy mildew
Found: Cucurbit downy mildew has been confirmed on pumpkins in Middlesex County. This is the first report on pumpkin this growing season.
Crop(s) at risk: all cucurbit crops in New Jersey.
Potential impact: Significant losses will occur if not controlled properly
What growers should do: Control of Downy mildew begins with regular scouting, recognizing symptoms and weekly protectant fungicide applications. The following are the most effective materials:  Vegetable alert - Cucurbit downy mildew 8-10-2012
Once Downy mildew has been detected in the state or region, basic fungicide maintenance programs for cucurbit crops should be adjusted to include fungicides for downy mildew control.