Lexington, KY 40546

Online at: www.uky.edu/KPN

Number 1224 April 6, 2010
ALFALFA
-Alfalfa Weevil
SHADE TREES & ORNAMENTALS
CORN -Pear Fire Blight: Maryblyt Predictions Can Aid
-When Do Corn Fungicides Pay? in Disease Management
-Boxwood Leafminers
TOBACCO -Eastern Tent Caterpillars Feeding
-Controlling Pythium Root Rot -Buttercups in Grazed Pasture Fields
in the Float System
-Chemical Options for Managing Diseases TURF
on Tobacco Transplants -Lawn Bees Pose Little Threat

VEGETABLES DIAGNOSTIC LAB HIGHLIGHTS

-Early Season Vegetable Insect Management
INSECT TRAP COUNT
FRUIT CROPS
-Time to Set Traps in Apples
-Pear Fire Blight (see Shade Trees &
Ornamentals)

ALFALFA

Alfalfa Weevil
By Lee Townsend

Degree day accumulations (base 48F) for most of

the state have reached or exceeded 190, the point at
which early tip feeding by the alfalfa weevil can
appear. Temperatures during the winter were low
enough to prevent much egg-laying then winter or
in very early spring. Consequently, most egg laying Figure 1. Initial leaf feeding appearing as pin holes in
tip foliage.
should be going on now with some feeding
beginning to appear by early next week.
CORN
Initial leaf feeding appears as pin holes in tip
foliage. It and newly hatched larvae are easy to
overlook. The rate of leaf consumption increases When Do Corn Fungicides Pay?
By Paul Vincelli
rapidly as larvae continue to grow. Top priority
should be given to checking established alfalfa
Several years ago, when aggressive marketing
fields, especially if noticeable weevil feeding was
efforts began for fungicides on corn, university
seen last year. Control decisions are best made
scientists in much of North America started pooling
using alfalfa height and numbers of larvae per 30
research. We did so in order to have the best
stems.
possible, scientifically valid information for
formulating recommendations.

Our pooled university results in 2009 are
consistent with all previous research: yield
increases from fungicides in corn are not likely to
pay for the cost of the fungicide except where
disease pressure is significant.
Let’s assume the following:
1. Corn price of $3.75/bu
2. Fungicide cost of $28/A (cost of product
plus aerial application).
• Sustained humid, rainy weather
• Presence of threatening disease activity,
determined by scouting.
The more of these are in place, the more likely a
producer is to exceed the breakeven point for a
fungicide application.
TOBACCO

Using these assumptions, the “breakeven” value for Controlling Pythium Root Rot in the Float
a fungicide is: System
$28/A ÷ $3.75/bu = 7.5 bu/A By Kenny Seebold

Now take a look at the 2009 results summarized in Pythium root rot is the most common and damaging
Table 1. We can see that, when disease pressure disease that shows up in the float system, and it
was low, none of the fungicides provided an won’t be long before it begins to show up on
average yield bump that exceeded the breakeven tobacco transplants around Kentucky.
value of 7.5 bu/A. It is only when disease pressure
was significant that fungicides tended to at least pay The first symptoms of Pythium root rot tend to be
for themselves. Even then, a per-acre profit margin yellowing and stunting of transplants in a well-
of just a few dollars is very modest, but it only defined area or areas of a float bay. Damping-off,
shows up at all when disease is significant. or seedling death, can occur in severe cases.
During the outbreak, seedlings wilt and root
Table 1. Average yield “bump” in corn (in bu/A) systems decay to some degree. Roots and
from application of a fungicide at VT/R1 to R2 sometimes lower stems of plants affected by
under conditions of low disease pressure (less than Pythium root rot (PRR) take on a darkened, necrotic
5% ear leaf blighting at dent stage) and moderate- appearance; roots may have a slimy appearance.
high disease pressure (over 5% blighting) Infected roots will eventually slough off and some
No. test Disease on ear re-growth may be observed; however, new growth
Fungicide comparisons leaf likely will become infected.
<5% >5%
Headline 6 167 4.0 9.6 Water temperatures greater than 72 °F favor rapid
oz/A development and spread of PRR in float systems.
Quilt 14 oz/A 74 1.2 8.3 Given our recent spell of unusually warm
Stratego 10 65 5.9 4.0 temperatures, some float systems may already be at
oz/A risk! There are several species of Pythium, a
fungus-like organism, that cause root rots on
tobacco seedlings. Pythium species (spp.) require
Bottom line: Use fungicides in corn based on water, abundant in the float system, for
disease risk. Although corn diseases can’t be
reproduction and movement. Initial infections
predicted in advance, factors known to increase risk likely result from germination of resting structures
of gray leaf spot and northern leaf blight are: (oospores) of Pythium spp., and production of
• Susceptible hybrid zoosporangia. Swimming spores (zoospores) are
• Corn after corn liberated from zoosporangia, and find their way to
• No-till tobacco roots. Zoospores encyst after encountering
• Late planting susceptible tissue and enter the root system to
• Field history of disease establish an infection. Many cycles of zoospore
production and infection are possible after initial
infections occur.
The most common ways for Pythium spp. to be
introduced into float systems are contaminated
water, infested soil, or recycled (and contaminated)
Styrofoam trays. Pythium spp. are found widely in
our soils and surface water, so anything that moves
these sources can be a means of contaminating float
beds. Pythium spp. can persist in the tissue of roots
that have penetrated Styrofoam float trays,
providing a source of inoculum when the trays are
used the following season.
Sanitation is an important part in the management
of Pythium root rot in the float system. Never use
pond or surface water to fill float beds, since water
from these sources is likely contaminated with
Pythium and other plant pathogens such as
Phytophthora or Fusarium. Make sure that shoes
and tools are cleaned before bringing them into a
transplant facility.
Terramaster 4EC is labeled for use in float systems
and is very effective against PRR when used
correctly. Detailed information on this fungicide
can be found in the product label, or refer to ID-160
(2009 Kentucky-Tennessee Tobacco Production
Guide) or PPFS-AG-T-8 (2010 Fungicide Guide for
Burley and Dark Tobacco). For preventive use,
apply 0.7-1 fl oz of product per 100 gallons of float
water beginning 2-3 weeks after seeding, or when
roots first enter the water. A second treatment of
0.7-1 fl oz per 100 gallons of water can be made 3
weeks after the first, and a final application of 0.8 fl
oz can be made two weeks after the second
treatment (if needed). Do not apply Terramaster
later than 8 weeks after seeding; make sure that the
product is mixed thoroughly in float bays to
minimize the risk of plant injury. “Rescue”
applications of Terramaster (1.4 fl oz/100 gallons of
float water) in systems with active PRR will halt
further development of disease and symptomatic
seedlings will likely recover. However, the higher
rates of Terramaster used in rescue treatments
increase the risk of plant injury AND recuperating
plants may still harbor Pythium and increase their
susceptibility to black shank and Fusarium wilt.
For these reasons, preventive use of Terramaster is
recommended over curative applications of the
product. Before using Terramaster, or any
pesticide, refer to the label for specific instructions
and safety information. Quality tobacco transplants
are one of the most important parts of a successful
growing season. Through careful management it is
possible to achieve excellent control of PRR, good
transplant quality, and a healthy bottom line!
Chemical Options for Managing Diseases on
Tobacco Transplants
By Kenny Seebold
Tobacco producers in Kentucky are faced with
several diseases each year that have the potential to
cause serious losses, and the majority of these can
be managed with an integrated strategy that
includes cultural practices and
fungicides/bactericides. In this article, we’ll focus
on the fungicide tools that can be used to manage
fungal and bacterial diseases on tobacco transplants.
The most commonly encountered fungal diseases in
the float system in KY are, in order of importance,
Pythium root rot, target spot, Rhizoctonia damping-
off, Sclerotinia collar rot, anthracnose, and blue
mold. The latter does not occur each year, but can
be devastating when it appears on tobacco
seedlings. Bacterial diseases are found less
frequently and include black leg (bacterial soft rot)
and angular leaf spot/wildfire. Black leg is by far
the most common of the bacterial diseases seen in
float systems.
The following is a summary of labeled chemical
products that can be used in the float system to
manage diseases in 2010. Detailed information on
these products and their use can be found in ID-160
(2009 Kentucky & Tennessee Tobacco Production
Guide) or in PPFS-AG-T-8, the 2010 Fungicide
Guide for Burley and Dark Tobacco.
Agricultural streptomycin. This material, an
antibiotic, is sold as Agri-Mycin 17 and Firewall.
Apply at rates of 100-200 ppm (1-2 tsp of product
per gallon of finished spray) for control of angular
leaf spot/wildfire and suppression of black leg. Use
the lowest rate for prevention and the higher rate
when disease is first observed. Apply 3-5 gallons
of solution per 1000 sq. ft. of bed as a fine mist to
achieve thorough coverage.

Mancozeb. Mancozeb, the active ingredient in
Dithane DF, Manzate ProStick, and Penncozeb
75DF, is the only broad-spectrum material labeled
for use in the float system. Adequate control of
anthracnose and blue mold can be achieved with
mancozeb, along with suppression of Rhizoctonia
damping-off and target spot. The use rate is 0.5 lb
of product 100 gallons of finished spray, or 1 tsp
per gallon. Apply 3-12 gallons of solution per 1000
sq. ft. as a fine mist; increase spray volume as
plants grow to get thorough coverage of leaves and
stems. To avoid injury, begin applications when
plants are dime-sized or bigger and continue on a 5-
7 day schedule until transplanting.
Terramaster 4EC. Excellent control of Pythium
root rot is possible if Terramaster EC is used as part
of a preventive program. Proactive management of
Pythium root rot is the recommended course, since
diseased root systems are ideal targets for other root
pathogens, such as Phytophthora nicotianae (the
black shank pathogen) or Fusarium, after the
tobacco is transplanted. Even if curative treatments
of Terramaster are used, a certain level of disease
remains and increases the risk of loss to soilborne
pathogens after setting.
For preventive use, apply 1 fl oz of Terramaster per
100 gallons of float water 3 weeks after seeding or
when roots first enter the water. Follow up 2-3
weeks later with a second treatment at 1 fl oz/100
gallons of float water. Finish with a third
application of 0.8 fl oz/100 gallons of float water
two weeks after the second application. In systems
with new or adequately sanitized trays, one or two
applications beginning at 3-4 weeks after seeding
should provide good protection against Pythium
root rot. For producers still using the plug-and-
transfer system, make the first application of
Terramaster 1 week after plugging to allow
initiation of root growth and minimal risk of injury.
If disease appears prior to planned treatment with
Terramaster, use the curative rate of 1.4 fl oz/100
gallons of float water, beginning no earlier than 3
weeks after seeding. Make a second application, if
needed, at 1-1.4 fl oz/100 gallons of float water 2-3
weeks after the first treatment.
Phytotoxicity is a concern with Terramaster;
however, the risk of damage caused by the
fungicide is almost always outweighed by the
benefits of its use. The most common type of
injury that we see is root burn, followed by
sloughing off of water roots following treatment.
The degree of root burn increases when higher rates
of the fungicide are used, but in nearly all cases
plants will recover. Some delay of growth is also
common but rarely causes lasting damage to
seedlings. Foliar injury such as bleaching (whiting)
and distortion of leaves is common in cases where
excessive rates of Terramaster have been applied, or
where the product has not been mixed thoroughly in
the float bed (which results in “hot spots” in the
bed). Injury tends to be worse in water with a pH
above 7. We receive occasional reports of
premature flowering associated with Terramaster
use. It is not believed that Terramaster actually
causes premature flowering, but can aggravate the
situation if plants have been grown under
environmental conditions known to cause this
disorder. To minimize the risk of phytotoxicity, do
not exceed recommended rates and take steps to
ensure uniform distribution of Terramaster in float
beds. If necessary, adjust pH levels in the float bed
prior to treatment. Never apply Terramaster “over
the top”; the risk of foliar injury increases
substantially and poor control of Pythium root rot
could result. Do not apply Terramaster any later
than 8 weeks after seeding.
As you can see, the list of materials that can be used
legally in the float system is fairly short and doesn’t
address all of our disease problems. For example,
we don’t have a labeled fungicide option for control
of Sclerotinia collar rot. A number of products not
included in this list show up in greenhouses and
farms around Kentucky each year – it is critical to
avoid unlabeled products or off-label uses. Plant
injury (and loss) and worker safety are of concern,
and ultimately illegal chemical use could make
tobacco unacceptable to buyers. On the positive
side, careful and preventive use of cultural practices
and chemicals will give growers the best possible
control of important tobacco diseases and allow
them to build a strong foundation for the 2010 crop.
 VEGETABLES
Early Season Vegetable Insect Management
By Ric Bessin
Early in the season it is important to get the
seedlings and vegetable transplants off to a good
start. There are a few early season insects that need
to be managed to ensure healthy stands.
Cole crops (Cabbage, Broccoli, Cauliflower)
Striped flea beetles, imported cabbageworm and
diamondback moth larvae are the pests that attack
the spring crop. With flea beetles on seedling
plants, less than 4 to 5 true leaves, use a threshold
of an average of two beetles per plant when
deciding whether or not to spray. A threshold of 15
percent infested plants can be used with worms
until either head-fill or crown formation, then the
threshold drops to 5 percent infested plants. While
the type of mixture of worms it is not important
when deciding if to spray, the types of worms will
determine which insecticides are used.
Sweet Corn
Corn flea beetles and cutworms are the two primary
pests that will attack seedling corn. Use 3 percent
cut plants with cutworms actively feeding as the
guideline for treating cutworms. Flea beetles can
transmit the bacterium that causes Stewart’s Wilt,
so wilt resistant cultivars may be needed in years
following mild winters. Fortunately, we did NOT
have a mild winter, so this threat is reduced. If corn
flea beetle is common, use a 50 percent of the
plants with leaf scars and some leaves turning white
as the threshold for spray decisions.
Tomatoes and Peppers
Tobacco and potato flea beetles will attack both
tomato and pepper plants. Usually, the plants will
quickly outgrow moderate damage. Occasionally,
serious damage can occur to plants less than six
inches. Use 4or more beetles per plant and plants
less than 6 inches as the guideline for treatment.
Colorado potato beetle can also do serious damage
to tomato plants less than 8 inches. Use 10 beetles
per 20 plants as the guideline for treatment when
the plants are less than 8 inches.
Eggplant and Potato
As with tomato, flea beetles and Colorado potato
beetle are serious early season pests of potato and
eggplant. Use the same threshold for tomatoes
above. Resistant to insecticides continues to be a
serious problem for Colorado potato beetle.
Because of this, producers should not use
insecticides with the same mode of action for
consecutive generations of this insect. Often local
populations of this insect may be resistant to one
group of insecticides, and in other areas they may
be resistant to others. For this reason, what works
well in one county may not work at all in another.
Squashes, Cucumbers and Melons
Striped and spotted cucumber beetles can attack
cucurbit crops anytime after seedling or
transplanting. Cucumber beetles also transmit the
bacterium that causes bacterial wilt. For this reason,
cucurbuit crops must be treated for cucumber
beetles as soon as they are planted. With bacterial
wilt susceptible crops, cucumber beetles need to be
effectively controlled through the start of flowering.
Keep in mind that cucurbits are insect pollinated, so
measures need to be taken to control the beetles and
avoid hurting pollinators. One method to avoid
injuring pollinators during bloom is to spray in the
early evening after pollinators have quit. The
flowers that are open will be closed the next day
and new blooms free of insecticide on the inner
surface will be open the following day. Squash bug
is now known to persistently transmit the agent that
causes yellow vine. Therefore, we need to
preventively treat for squash bug as we do for
cucumber beetles.
FRUIT CROPS
Time to Set Traps in Apples
By Ric Bessin
As our orchards begin to flower, growers should
have their pheromone traps in place for Oriental
fruit moth and codling moth. Ideally, we would like
to have these traps in place by the pink stage, but
there still is time to hang them. I like to have the
traps set on the second row from the outside of the
orchard, at least half way up in the tree, and on the
southwest corner. Both of these traps will help to
determine the need for and the timing of insecticide
applications. This is the next to last year we will be
able use Guthion in Kentucky and the total use has SHADE TREES & ORNAMENTALS
already been greatly reduced. Most growers have
replaced Guthion with other insecticides, some of Pear Fire Blight: Maryblyt Predictions Can Aid
which (Assail, Calypso, Clutch, Esteem, Intrepid in Disease Management
are applied at 150 DD, 50 to 100 DD for Rimon) By John Hartman
require earlier treatment, that should be applied
according to degree day accumulations. Flowering pears (Pyrus
calleryana), grown in
many landscapes, are in
full bloom in Central
Kentucky and probably
over much of the state.
Pears grown for fruit in
backyards and orchards
in the region are also in
flower now. Fire blight
can be a devastating
Figure 2. Codling moth adult, note coppery wing tips. disease of nursery and
landscape flowering
pears in Kentucky
For codling moth, we use the day the fifth moth is Figure 4. Fire blight has (Figures 4 & 5) and can
captured in the trap is the start of degree day destroyed this young nursery also damage pears (both
counting. Minimum and maximum temperatures are ornamental pear (University of Asian and European) in
Tennessee photo). fruit orchards.
then used to calculate daily degree day values.
Essentially, the average daily temperature minus
50F is the daily degree day value. If the number is
less than zero, then just use zero. When 250 of the
degree day units have been recorded, then an
insecticide (Imidan, Danitol, Delegate, Altacor,
Avaunt, Belt, Warrior, Voliam Flexi, and Voliam
Xpress) is used for codling moth control. Earlier
application timing is used with some products (see
above paragraph). If more than ten moths were
captured within a week, a second spray in used in
the next cover spray. With Oriental fruit moth, we
use 175 DD45 (base 45F) with Imidan, Danitol,
Figure 5. Multiple fire blight strikes in the top of a
Delegate, Altacor, Avaunt, Belt, Warrior, Voliam mature landscape ornamental pear tree.
Flexi, and Voliam Xpress and 100 DD with Assail,
Calypso, Clutch, Esteem, Intrepid and Rimon. Fire blight primary infections occur during bloom
(Figures 6-8). During warm spring weather, the
causal bacteria (Erwinia amylovora) grow on the
surface of flower parts such as the stigma. After
several warm days, high populations of bacteria
become available to be washed by rainfall or even
heavy dew into the nectaries at the base of the
flowers. Once inside the flower, the bacteria
continue to grow, killing the fruit spur (Figure 9)
and spreading into the subtending twigs and
branches. Disease build-up from these infections

Figure 3. Oriental fruit moth.

leads to shoot infections, the most noticeable part of
this disease, which appears later.
This year, a new version of a computer program
called Maryblyt has become available to help
nursery growers and orchardists make decisions to
manage fire blight disease. This new version of the
program, called Maryblyt 7, utilizes Windows-
based computers and was updated by plant
pathologists Dr. A. R. Biggs (Tree Fruit Research
and Education Center, Kearneysville West Virginia)
and Dr. W. W. Turechek, (USDA-ARS, Florida).
They have indicated that it is free for the
downloading by growers, extension agents and crop
advisors.
chance on April 5 in some parts of Kentucky) fire
blight will be on “red alert” and there would be
infection today. Symptoms would begin to appear
some time later. If it does not rain, there would be
no infection today. Growers using the program
would continue with Maryblyt 7 in the coming
weeks to learn when symptoms are expected to
appear and also use it to manage fire blight of
crabapples and apples as they come into bloom in
the coming days. By knowing when infection is
expected, preventive orchard and nursery
applications of streptomycin can be used in a timely
way.

Go to the following link

http://www.caf.wvu.edu/kearneysville/Marybly
t/index.html to download a copy of the new
Maryblyt 7 program.

This is a good time for growers to get the program

running for the 2010 season. Growers can enter the
data themselves and the program automatically Figure 6. Apple flowers at the pink stage are not yet
provides a chart and graph of fire blight status. susceptible to fire blight infection. The equivalent
Growers only need to provide date, growth stage, just-before-bloom stage in pears would be white bud.
daily maximum and minimum temperatures, and
rainfall (or heavy dew) for their nursery or orchard.
Weather data are entered into the program starting
at green tip (perhaps sometime between March 21-
24 this year) so weather data from recent weeks will
need to be found. For archived temperature and
rainfall data, growers can consult the U.K. Ag
Weather Center, http://wwwagwx.ca.uky.edu/
and choose to use climatology data from National
Weather Stations or Mesonet weather stations
located nearby. Growers wanting weather data Figure 7. Apple flowers during full bloom are
specific to their orchard or nursery can purchase a susceptible to fire blight primary infection.
maximum/minimum thermometer and a rain gauge
at the hardware store.

Trying Maryblyt 7. Entering Lexington

temperature and rainfall data from March 21 to
today (April 5) into the Maryblyt program with a
pear bloom date beginning April 3, reveals some
interesting fire blight infection information. An
alert system that goes from yellow to orange to red
indicates the level of threat of fire blight infection.
Using Lexington data, with fruiting and flowering
pears in bloom, if there is a rain shower today (30% Figure 8. Apple flowers at petal-fall are no longer
susceptible to fire blight infection.
Figure 9. Fire blight-infected ornamental pear
flower spur. Bacteria built up from this infection
can spread internally to the attached branch and
externally to nearby elongating shoots.
Boxwood Leafminers
By Lee Townsend
Boxwood leafminers belong to a group of insects,
mostly flies or caterpillars, that feed and develop
within plant leaves. Depending on the species, they
may produce snake-like, gradually widening tunnels
or larger blotch mines. Mined leaves usually turn
yellow and may drop prematurely but the leaf drop
usually doesn’t have a significant impact on
otherwise healthy plants.
Figure 10. Light area on underside of leaf is
sign of boxwood leafminer activity.
Natural enemies can be effective in managing
infestations. If this insect has been a problem,
application of insecticides such as carbaryl (Sevin),
cyfluthrin (Bayer Multi-Insect Killer Concentrate,
or permethrin (Bonide Borer Miner Killer, and
others) about the time of Weigela bloom should
provide preventive control. Products containing
acephate (Orthene and others) can give some
control if mines are developing.
Figure 11. Lower leaf tissue removed to show
boxwood leafminer larva, a maggot. The insect
pupates and the adult (a small gnat) emerges
in late April to early May.
Eastern Tent Caterpillars Feeding
By Lee Townsend
ETC eggs have been hatching and larval feeding is
underway and will continue over the next 10 days
or so. Tents in the 3” category were present in some
Fayette Co wild cherry trees late last week. Initially,
tents are scattered along limbs. As larvae grow, they
will move back to main trunk branches and fewer
larger nests will be present. Begin to check wild
cherry trees along pastures fence lines for small
tents and look regularly over the next 2 weeks.
Figure 12. Initial ETC tents are at small twig
branches, often near the egg mass.
Buttercups in Grazed Pasture Fields
By J.D. Green
One of the first signs of spring is the yellow flowers
that emerge from buttercup plants. Buttercups
(Ranunculus spp.) tend to thrive in fields with poor
stands of desirable forages. In fact, many fields that
have heavy buttercup populations are fields that
have been heavily grazed by livestock during the
fall through the early spring months.
Buttercups are short-lived perennials or winter
annuals that produce shiny yellow petals in the
early spring. There are four different species of
buttercups that may be found in Kentucky: bulbous
buttercup (Ranunculus bulbosus), creeping
buttercup (Ranunculus repens), tall buttercup
(Ranunculus acris), and small flower buttercup
(Ranunculus arbortivus), Although these plants
may have somewhat similar flower heads, each of
these buttercup species differs somewhat in their
vegetative leaf characteristics.
Most buttercup plants emerge each year from seed
during the fall or early winter months. Therefore,
pasture management practices that improve and
promote growth of desirable plants during these
months is one of the best methods to help compete
against the emergence and growth of this plant.
Whereas, livestock animals allowed to overgraze
fields during the fall and winter months is one of
the main factors that contribute to buttercup
problems. Mowing fields or clipping plants close to
the ground in the early spring before buttercup
plants can produce flowers may help reduce the
amount of new seed produced, but mowing alone
will not totally eliminate seed production. New
buttercup seed are produced during the time petals
are showy. This is one reason buttercups can
survive year to year and new plants emerge each
year. Therefore, waiting until after flowers appear
can be too late to implement control tactics.
If chemical control options are desired, most
herbicides registered for use on grass pastures that
contain 2,4-D, dicamba+2,4-D (eg. WeedMaster),
aminopyralid+2,4-D (ForeFront), triclopyr (eg.
Crossbow, PastureGard), or metsulfuron (eg.
Cimarron) will effectively control this plant.
However, legumes such as clovers interseeded with
grass pastures can be severely injured or killed by
these herbicide products. For optimum results
apply a herbicide in the early spring (early March or
April) before flowers are observed, when buttercup
plants are still small and actively growing. For best
herbicide activity wait until daytime air
temperatures is greater than 55 F for two to three
consecutive days. Consult the herbicide label for
further information on grazing restrictions or other
possible limitations.
For fields heavily infested with buttercup a variety
of control tactics may be needed. Use a herbicide
to help reduce the population of buttercup plants in
the spring plus use other good pasture management
techniques throughout the summer and fall to help
improve and thicken the stand of desirable forages.
TURF
Lawn Bees Pose Little Threat
By Lee Townsend
Several species of ground bee or burrowing bee can
be found entering and leaving pencil-diameter holes
in the soil during early spring. There may be a
scattering of fine soil around the holes, which are
entrances to their underground nests. These small,
hairy bees generally select sandy or loamy soils
where grass cover is thin. Females of some species
may share entrances but dig separate tunnels, others
develop individual tunnels. Below ground there are
side branches and chambers for brood rearing. Bees
provision the nests with pollen and nectar to feed
their larvae. Over time, large communities can
develop where soil conditions are favorable and
flowers are abundant.
Figure 13. Ground bee
species, note heavy
covering of yellow "hairs"
that collect pollen.
Figure 14. Another ground bee
species (not to same scale as
previous picture).
 INSECT TRAP COUNT
If practical, leave ground bees alone, they are By Patricia Lucas
valuable pollinators and their activity period is
relatively short. Females can sting if handled but
are not aggressive and do not defend their nest area March 12 -26 March 26 –
like honey bees do. Nesting areas can be mowed at April 2
night when the bees are not active. Black cutworm 0 0
However, ground bees can pose a potential problem Armyworm 0 18
if someone is allergic to bee stings, or if children
cannot be kept out of the area where bees are active. Graphs of insect trap counts for the season are available
In these cases, individual entry holes can be treated on the IPM web site at -
with Sevin for some control. http://www.uky.edu/Ag/IPM/ipm.htm.

Alternatives
1. Increase mowing height - that may make
the area less attractive to them.
2. Use a lawn sprinkler to keep soil in the
nesting area moist when bees first become
active. This may encourage them to move
to another site.
3. Over-seeding to establish a thicker turf may
discourage the bees from living in the area.

DIAGNOSTIC LAB HIGHLIGHTS

By Julie Beale and Paul Bachi

The first tobacco transplant samples have begun to

appear in the PDDL—cases of Rhizoctonia
damping off and fertilizer burn have been
diagnosed. Other agronomic samples have included
wheat soilborne mosaic virus on wheat.

On greenhouse ornamentals and vegetable

transplants we have seen Pythium root rot on
calibrachoa and caryopteris; cold injury on petunia;
sunscald on impatiens; and tobacco mosaic virus on
tomato.

On landscape samples we have seen Phytophthora

root rot on hemlock; black root rot on holly;
Pseudonectria canker on boxwood; black knot on
plum; Botyrosphaeria canker on rhododendron;
Coniothyrium canker and rosette disease on rose;
and winter injury on holly, cherrylaurel, Leyland
cypress and rose.