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Recommended Pesticides for Fruit and Nut Insects:

MP144 AR Insecticide Recommendation for Arkansas (2014) (pdf) MP467 Arkansas Small Fruit Management (2014) (pdf)

Midwest Small Fruit and Grape Guide (2014) (pdf) Midwest Tree Fruit Guide (2014) (pdf)

Ask Dr. Donn Johnson for paper copies of Midwest Tree & Small Fruit

Guides – still a few left (Cell: 479-409-4628; email: dtjohnso@uark.edu)

Search for Insecticides Labeled for Use on Pecan (link) Search for Fungicides Labeled for Use on Pecan (link) Search for Herbicides Labeled for Use on Pecan (link)

Upcoming Events:

Oklahoma Pecan Growers Annual Conference June 12-14, 2014 in Tulsa, OK

amanda.early@okstate.edu

TriState ArkLaMiss Pecan Convention from June 19-20, 2014 in Alexandria, LA

Contact Stephen Norman, (318) 729-3173 or pecans@rosaliepecans.com

Blackberry Production Workshop on 12 June 2014 at the University of Arkansas Fruit Station in Clarksville, AR (Katie Hanshaw; phone: 479-754-2406; email: khanshaw@uark.edu) Texas Pecan Growers Annual Conference from July 13-16, 2014 in San Marcos, TX (979) 846-3285 or pecans@tpga.org

Assessing Freeze Damage

(Assembled by Dr. Gary Gao, Ohio State University) Assessing Cold Injuries in Blackberries and Raspberries (NC State):

http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/disaster/freeze/BlackberryRaspberryAssessment.pdf Critical Temperatures in Blackberries (NC State): http://teamrubus.blogspot.com/2012/04/cold-

weather-and-blackberry-and.html Frost Control in Blueberries (MSU):

http://blueberries.msu.edu/uploads/files/Using%20Sprinklers%20to%20Protect%20Blueberries%20from%20Spring%20Freezes.pdf

Critical Temperatures in Blueberries (MSU): http://blueberries.msu.edu/growing_blueberries/spring_critical_temperatures

Arkansas Fruit and Nut News Volume 4, Issue 1, 5 May 2014

In this Issue:

Recommended Pesticides .... 1

Upcoming Events ................. 1

Assessing Damage ................ 1

Pecan .................................... 2

Pecan nut casebearer ........ 2

Fruit Pests

Plum curculio .................... 3

San Jose scale .................... 3

Grape scale ........................ 4

Grape berry moth ............. 4

Spotted wing drosophila ... 4

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Critical Temperatures in Grapes (WSU): http://wine.wsu.edu/research-extension/weather/cold-hardiness/

Critical Temperatures in Fruit Trees (MSU): http://www.hrt.msu.edu/faculty/langg/Fruit_Bud_Hardiness.html

Pecan Pests Dr. Donn T. Johnson and Elena Garcia - Nut Research/Extension

Pecan Nut Casebearer (PNC): The first generation

PNC generally causes the most nut damage. Eggs

mature in 4 to 5 days and larvae feed on nutlets. We

have observed that not every pecan orchard in

Arkansas has this pest so it is recommended to scout

for PNC in your grove.

Scouting: By late April, set out at least two PNC traps

per grove and bait each trap with a pheromone lure.

We have provided PNC pheromone traps to several pecan growers across Arkansas who

are reporting trap catch to the University. All growers monitoring traps for PNC moths

(Fig. 1) can report their weekly PNC moth trap counts and location to Dr. Donn Johnson

(Email: dtjohnso@uark.edu or cell: 479-409-4628). These data will be

entered into an online Pecan Nut Casebearer Risk Map at: http://pecan.ipmpipe.org/map/pnc/index.cfm.

The first trap catch for a location will be called the biofix date. Growers can view twice weekly the PNC Risk Map for

Arkansas to see where/when PNC moths are emerging in Arkansas. This map displays four symbols (Fig. 3). The day the

risk map changes from a green to yellow triangle means that a grower has a 5 day decision-making period to inspect a

310 clusters for PNC eggs. If you find >1% of clusters with eggs (Fig. 2), tie a ribbon on egg-infested clusters and check

every three days to see when hatch occurs which means time to apply insecticide. In Arkansas, PNC larvae emerge and

can be treated with insecticide by late-May.

Control: During the yellow Decision Window (Fig. 3), one well-timed insecticide treatment at first larval hatch achieves

maximum control. Be sure to use an insecticide that conserves natural enemies, e.g., Intrepid, Bt compounds like

Deliver (note Bt may have a shorter residual). In constrast, Pyrethroid and Carbaryl insecticides are not recommended

at this time of year because each kills natural enemies that keep densities of aphids, mites and leafminers below

economically damaging levels.

Figure 2. Pecan nut casebearer egg on nutlet (Photo: A. Knutson)

Figure 1. Pecan nut casebearer moth in trap (Photo: W. Ree)

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Figure 3. Pecan nut casebearer risk map showing green triangles (captured moths so Decision Window imminent), yellow triangles (Decision Window Active = scout for eggs and apply insecticide when larvae hatch) and red dot (past recommended spray period).

Fruit Pests

Dr. Donn T. Johnson - Fruit Research/Extension

Apple and Peach

San Jose Scale (SJS): Did you see San Jose scale spots on your fruit last year? Those infested trees can have even more scale injury this season if not managed. From silver tip to 1/2" green was the best time to apply 1% oil spray. Be aware of the potential phytotoxicity of using oil within 14 days of using Captan. After petal fall, you can apply an insecticide like Esteem (insect growth regulator prevents molting in immature scale) or Movento (systemic that requires a penetrating non-ionic surfactant). Additional information on SJS is available in March 24, 2014 Scaffolds Fruit Journal on pages 2-3 (link).

Plum curculio (PC): Adult PC first began emerging after 2nd April (biofix date) in Fayetteville with large numbers captured in baited pyramid traps from 7 to 11 April. We were in bloom of apples in Fayetteville last week. Peaches are susceptible to egg laying after shuck split and apples after petal fall.

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Grape

Grape Scale. This pest has been more prevalent in recent years. While pruning, be checking for presence of grape scale. Signs of this pest include scale under loose bark or on canes and weaker vines (Fig. 4). A fact sheet on grape scale is available online (pdf). Flag each scale-infested vine and record its location on a vineyard map to target future vine removal or spot sprays. Scouting: On April 1, begin accumulating degree-days (DD) by hand or use the online DD calculator (select: grape scale, your county, set biofix as April 1). Once you accumulate 400 DD, twice weekly check under scale covers for presence of yellow crawlers or wrap a double sticky Scotch tape around scale-infested canes and check for crawlers on tape (usually begins by 500 DD). Control: This pest is controlled by a 2% oil spray by bud break. Keep infested vines sprayed every 10 days with insecticide while crawlers are present in May (see MP144 AR Insecticide Recommendations or Midwest Small Fruit and Grape Spray Guides –also online at: http://comp.uark.edu/~dtjohnso/Management_and_Spray_Guides.html

Grape berry moth (GBM). Moths are flying now but egg laying will not occur until after bloom. Scouting. Once berries are pea-size (1/4” diameter), begin weekly inspections of 100 clusters (10 clusters/each of 10 vines) along perimeter next to woodlot (overwintering site of pupae). Count how many clusters out of 100 had one or more GBM damaged berries. If you see 1% of clusters with GBM damage then apply insecticide to the vineyard. You could get by with a perimeter spray since first generation GBM damage is usually restricted to perimeter vines.

Blackberries/Raspberry, Blueberry and Strawberry

Spotted wing drosophila (SWD) is a new invasive pest of ripening, soft-skinned fruits (caneberries, blueberries, cherries, strawberries). Identify fly: Male SWD flies have a black spot on the tip of each wing and two sets of black combs on the front legs. The female SWD fly has no spot on wings and a saw-like egg laying organ (ovipositor) (Fig. 6). Predicting Egg Laying: The SWD flies should be appearing in berry plantings and will be ready to lay eggs in ripening berry fruits sometime from mid-May through October according to the online degree day model (Fig. 7). You should be getting ready to put out baited traps (described below) to monitor for SWD flies as berries begin to ripen. There was a recent SWD Development/Degree day Model developed and Webinar on this model that is available online: http://uspest.org/swd/swd_models_coop_et_al_pt1.swf

Figure 4. Grape scale on cane

Figure 6. Adult (A) male and (B) female spotted wing drosophila with amber ovipositor releasing white egg

A B

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Figure 7. Prediction of spotted wing drosophila egg laying as of May 3 2014 showing the potential for SWD flies to start laying egg in parts of Arkansas (online: http://uspest.org/swd/daily_ddmaps/SWD_50us.png)

Scouting: When you predict it to be 3 weeks before your berries begin to ripen, place at least 4 SWD baited traps at fruit level in berry field

The best trap is a 1 qt red Solo cup or a 1 qt clear deli cup both with lid. Cover each trap with 1” strips of red and black duct tape to attract SWD flies (Fig. 8 A). Drill or burn 20 holes each 3/16” in diameter on side on black tape. Keep holes above fermenting and drowning baits (described below).

The best bait is a combination of 2 baits: Fermenting flour mixture: 8 fl oz water +

1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar + 5 Tbsp whole wheat flour + 1 Tbsp sugar + 1 package yeast

Pour 2 oz in small cup inside trap (Fig. 8 B)

REPLACE WEEKLY

Fly drowning mixture(s): mix 20 fl oz red wine + 16 fl oz apple

cider vinegar + 3 drops unscented dish soap so flies drown in mixture

REPLACE WEEKLY Or

mix 20 fl oz Concord grape juice + 5 fl oz ethanol + 16 fl oz apple cider vinegar + 3

drops unscented dish soap so flies drown in mixture

REPLACE WEEKLY

Figure 8. (A) Complete spotted wing drosophila baited trap in a strawberry row and (B) 3 oz fermentation cup inside larger 1 qt trap (Photo: D. Johnson)

A B

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Weekly, strain out flies by pouring fly drowning solution from trap through a kitchen strainer or a piece of cloth over a funnel or wide moth jar, then identify flies as SWD (Fig. 6). Weekly, replace fermentation bait in small cup and drowning mixture in 1 qt trap

Discard old bait and drowning mixture in garbage and not in berry field.

If you are unsure how to identify SWD adult flies, then give fly specimens to your County Extension Agent who will send them in a vial in 70% alcohol to:

Ms. Barbara Lewis, AGRI 319 Department of Entomology Univ. of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701

Control: If SWD flies are captured in the trap and fruit is ripening, begin weekly insecticide spray through harvest. If it rains shortly after an application, then reapply insecticide as soon as possible. Use insecticides with different IRAC # (mode of action for a specific class of insecticide) to delay SWD developing resistance to any one class of insecticide.

SWD Insecticide Efficacy Chart (Nov. 2013) online at: http://comp.uark.edu/~dtjohnso/SWD_Insecticide_Efficacy_Nov_13.pdf

Here are several updated or new links to information about management of SWD.

o Daily updated southern U.S. Map of SWD Emergence in 2014 (link)

o eFly Eastern U.S. SWD Information (link)

o Webinar on Organic Management SWD - 11 February 2014 (link)

o SWD Chart of Reported Insecticide Efficacy (Nov. 2013) (pdf)

o Picture handout of SWD fly identification, trap, management (pdf)

o SWD Fact Sheet (pdf)

Much of the information obtained for this newsletter was gathered by the authors at the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville. All chemical information is given with the understanding that no endorsement of named products is intended nor is criticism implied of similar products that are not mentioned. Before purchasing or using any pesticide, always read and carefully follow the directions on the container label. Compiled by: Donn T. Johnson, University of Arkansas, Department of Entomology, E-mail: dtjohnso@uark.edu and M. Elena Garcia, UACES- Department of Horticulture, E-mail: megarcia@uark.edu Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Arkansas Division of Agriculture, University of Arkansas, Agriculture, Director, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Fayetteville. The Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service offers its programs to all eligible persons regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, disability, marital or veteran status, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.