Lexington, KY 40546
Online at: www.uky.edu/KPN
Number 1236
WATCH FOR
-Armyworm Population Continues to Increase in
Central KY
CORN
-Southern Corn Rust is Moving North
SOYBEAN
-Japanese Beetles Feeding on Soybean
TOBACCO
-Tobacco Flea Beetles Still a Threat If Not
Managed
WATCH FOR
Armyworm Population Continues to Increase in
Central KY
By Doug Johnson
Capture of armyworm moths in the UK-IPM traps
continues to increase in central KY. Trap captures
have more than doubled since last week, and
continue to follow the trend establish by the 2008
population that resulted in damage. Pasture and hay
are the likely targets of the caterpillars that will
result from this population.
CORN
Southern Corn Rust is Moving North
By Paul Vincelli
Last week’s Kentucky Pest News included an article
about two rust diseases of corn, common rust and
southern rust. As described last week, southern rust
can be a significant problem if it attacks a corn crop
well in advance of maturity, because of its
aggressive nature and the susceptibility of many
hybrids.
June 29, 2010
VEGETABLES
-Squash Bug Eggs Out and Hatching
SHADE TREES & ORNAMENTALS
-Austrian Pine Diplodia Tip Blight
BUGS OF SUMMER
-Hercules Beetles Defy Gravity
PESTS OF HUMANS
-Dipping Is Best Management Alternative for
Many Swimming Pool Insects
DIAGNOSTIC LAB HIGHLIGHTS
INSECT TRAP COUNTS
A little more than a week ago, southern rust was
reported only in Georgia and in southern Alabama
(Figure 1). Since then, records of its occurrence
have been posted for northern Mississippi and
northeastern Arkansas, as well as new counties in
Alabama (Figure 2). I have also received industry
reports that the fungus has been found on corn east
of Memphis, TN, although we are waiting to learn
if that has been confirmed in the laboratory.
The rapid increase in reports of southern rust in just
eight days may be due in part to long-distance
dispersal of the fungus in weather systems.
However, some of these new finds may simply be
documentation of infestations that established
earlier at very, very low levels and had escaped
detection because no one was looking for them
previously. In any case, the disease is likely
spreading and may pose a risk to some Kentucky
corn crops, especially late-planted ones. The
geographic progress of the disease can be
monitored at http://sba.ipmpipe.org/cgi-
bin/sbr/public.cgi?host=Corn&pest=southern_corn_
rust.

Figure 1. Known distribution of southern corn rust in the
continental U.S. as of Sunday, June 20, 2010. Confirmed records
are indicated in red.
Figure 2. Known distribution of southern corn rust in the
continental U.S. as of Monday, June 28, 2010.
SOYBEAN
Japanese Beetle Feeding on Soybean
By Doug Johnson
Japanese beetles are currently feeding across the
state on a variety of plants. Damage to soybean, one
of their target hosts, often prompts questions about
treatment. Fortunately, soybean can tolerate a great
deal of defoliation without a reduction in yield
potential. Yet, damage can be so visually stark (See
photo) as to cause many to question whether or not
a treatment is needed.
Figure 3. Japanese beetle and their damage on
soybean.
Generally speaking, the decision of whether or not
to treat soybean for a Japanese beetle infestation is
based on the defoliation rate, not the number of
beetles present. Nevertheless if the defoliation rate
is great enough to warrant control, rest assured that
there will be many, many beetles present.
Defoliation levels for making a treatment decision
may be found in Table 2. IN the “Insecticide
Recommendations for Soybeans – 1010” which
may be obtained from your county extension office
or on line at:
http://pest.ca.uky.edu/EXT/Recs/welcomerecs.html.
Japanese beetle populations and their resulting
damage tend to be clumped. This can arise for many
reasons but is often associated with field edges,
waterways and other areas that contain permanent
stands of grass. Japanese beetles are “grass loving”
insect in that they lay their eggs in, and the resulting
white grubs develop in, standing grasses. Be sure
that your evaluation of the situation is not
prejudiced by only looking at border areas.
Japanese beetle is relatively easy to control. The
above publication contains a listing of insecticides
labeled for use against this pest on soybean. The
really important economic decision is whether or
not you NEED to control the pest.
TOBACCO
Tobacco Flea Beetles Still a Threat If Not
Managed
By Lee Townsend
Most transplant insecticide applications for tobacco
provide excellent control of tobacco flea beetles for
the first 3
to 4
weeks
that the
crop is in
the field.
After
several
years of
using
Figure 4. Severe tobacco flea beetle damage. these
treatments,
it is easy to forget what can happen if preventive
control is not used and the crop is not checked for
damage for some time. Tobacco flea beetles hit this
crop severely in several areas of a field causing
substantial damage before the infestation was
detected.
Watch for budworm and tobacco hornworm
infestations, especially in the earliest set fields.
These are the ones generally selected by female
moths for egg laying. Both species spend the winter
deep in the ground as pupae so they are not affected
by the severity of winter weather and survival often
is good. There are many options for worm control
on tobacco but infestations need to be caught early
for best results.
Check randomly-selected plants scattered over the
field. Budworms will be in the tops of plant,
chewing small round holes in leaves and leaving
coarse pepper-like droppings. An average of 5 live
worms per 50 plants is enough to justify control.
Avoid treating when high temperatures cause upper
leaves to curl to protect plant buds, and the feeding
budworms. The same 5 live worms per 50 plants is
used for determining the need for hornworm
treatments. These caterpillars will be found in the
upper third of the plant.
VEGETABLES
Squash Bug Eggs Out and Hatching
By Lee Townsend
The squash bug can attack all of the cucurbit crops
but shows a preference for squashes and pumpkins.
This insect can be very difficult to control when
populations are allowed to build.
Squash bugs damage plants by removing sap and
causing leaves to wilt and collapse. Young plants
and infested
leaves on older
plants may be
killed. More
importantly,
they are the
vector of a
newly
recognized
disease of
Figure 5. Squash bug egg mass and
cucurbit crops,
newly hatched bugs.
Yellow Vine
Decline. Melons, watermelon, and pumpkins are
susceptible to this disease. The bacteria that causes
this disease is injected into the plant while squash
bug feeds with piercing-sucking mouthparts. The
disease results in yellowing, wilting and death of
the plant. Early infection by the bacteria that causes
the disease can result in severe yield loss, so it is
very important to prevent squash bugs from feeding
on young plants early in the season. See more
information at
www.ca.uky.edu/entomology/entfacts/ef314.asp.
 Later in the year as the fungus progresses from the
shoot tip back towards the branch, older needles
SHADE TREES & ORNAMENTALS will become straw
colored and die.
Austrian Pine Diplodia Tip Blight Over the years,
By John Hartman disease progression
can lead to branch
Austrian pines (Pinus nigra) are often planted in dieback and
Kentucky landscapes because of their dense, green eventually death of
foliage and symmetrical shape. When healthy, a many limbs on the
grouping of these trees can form an attractive year- tree (Figure 8).
round screen. Diplodia tip blight symptoms have These symptoms
become apparent during recent weeks on many typically start in
landscape Austrian pines. This disease, caused by lower branches of
the fungus Diplodia pinea, is also known as pine tip the tree and
blight or Sphaeropsis tip blight, and is especially progress toward
devastating here in Kentucky on Austrian and Scots higher branches
pines. Over the past nearly two decades, we have year after year
been surveying and studying the damage this until the tree dies
disease has done to the Austrian pines on campus. Figure 8. Austrian pine severely or is so damaged it
affected by Diplodia tip blight needs to be
Symptoms. Tip blight symptoms first appear on disease. removed. On
individual needles in the newly elongating candles landscape Austrian
(shoots) in pines in Kentucky, first disease symptoms generally
late April to begin to appear after trees reach cone-bearing age,
early May typically 12-13 years old.
(Figure 6).
Other During recent decades, tip blight has caused heavy
needles in losses to Austrian pines on the University of
the candle Kentucky campus and in landscapes throughout the
are killed region. The fungus is especially aggressive when
Figure 6. Diplodia tip blight showing early
very pines are growing under stressful conditions. The
browning symptoms on individual needles quickly and periodic summer droughts that are a part of
in a candle. by late May Kentucky climatology undoubtedly contribute to
the diseased periodic upsurges in disease incidence and severity.
shoot tips are noticeably necrotic and stunted Research done by Jen Flowers, a former graduate
(Figure 7). Needles in dead shoot tips take on a student here, clearly showed that even healthy-
straw brown color and droplets of resin can appearing shoots and branches harbor latent
sometimes be seen exuding from these dead infections of the Diplodia fungus. These latent
needles. infections appear to be held in check by tree
Eventually defenses which might be broken down when the
the stunted tree is subjected to stressful growing conditions.
candle will
become Diplodia tip blight disease is very difficult to
necrotic manage.
and brittle • Consider using native pines such as white
from resin pine or Virginia pine in the landscape. Be
exudation aware that in some parts of Kentucky white
Figure 7. Three Austrian pine shoot tips and turn a pines have other kinds of problems such as
turned brown due to Diplodia tip blight. gray color.
 white pine decline and white pine root
decline.
• Provide landscape pines with adequate
water, especially during periods of drought.
Mulch trees to reduce soil water loss.
• Prune out infected shoots and branches and
remove old pine cones which may be
sources of inoculum. Avoid pruning trees
while they are wet.
• Fungicides: In our experience, injections of
pines with systemic fungicides has had little
effect on tip blight and spraying pines with
fungicides may only slow the disease down
slightly. Spraying is often ineffective
because obtaining thorough coverage of the
tree is difficult.
BUGS OF SUMMER
Hercules Beetles Defy Gravity
By Lee Townsend
The first Hercules
beetle of the year
arrived today.
This impressive
creature is 2" to
2-1/2" long with
a greenish-gray to
black body.
Figure 9. Female Hercules beetle. Males have a
large distinctive
horn on the head;
females do not. The adults are attracted to lights
during mid- to late summer and will eat overripe
fruit.
Hercules beetle larvae are white grubs that feed on
decaying plant material, especially logs, stumps,
dead leaves, and rotten fruit. They may spend two
years in this stage. The grubs are a food source for
skunks, raccoons, and other mammals.
PESTS OF HUMANS
Dipping Is Best Management Alternative for
Many Swimming Pool Insects
By Lee Townsend
Swimming pools attract a variety of insects. The
occasional clumsy pool invaders are the easiest to
handle – the few that fall in can be removed with a
cleaning net or cup.
Some are more numerous and persistent. Honey
bees come to collect water for use in their colonies.
A few aquatic insects, mostly bugs and beetles,
come because water is their natural environment; to
them, a swimming pool is just another pond. Thrips
come as a result of disturbances – cutting hay fields
or wheat. Finally, there are those that just
accidentally fall into the water and cannot escape.
Honey bees (and wasps) need lots of water to
maintain optimum temperature and humidity; a
nearby swimming pool may be the most convenient
supply, causing alarm to pool owners and users.
Worker bees that find a good water source will
recruit colony mates to join them. Over time,
hundreds of bees may appear. Some will fall into
the water and drown but others will keep coming.
They are preoccupied with this task and generally
are not a threat. Dealing with bee visits to small
kiddy pools can be as simple as moving the pool to
a different spot in the yard every few days. Bees
follow directions very strictly and if the pool is not
where it should be, they will not find it easily. You
can stay ahead of them with the moves.
Figure 10. Backswimmer - an
aquatic predator that hangs
upside down from the water
surface. The long back legs
work like oars to propel it
through the water.
Figure 11. Giant water bug - the toe
biter- can give a painful bite with
its short, stout sucking mouthpart.
Aquatic insects, such as backswimmer bugs and toe
biters, may arrive in large numbers as they fly from
ponds in which they developed to colonize other
bodies of standing water. In some cases, they may
be abundant enough to clog filtering systems.
Usually, this mass movement lasts only a few days.
Backswimmers are predators; they can give a
painful bite with their piercing-sucking mouthparts.
There should be no question as to what the toe biter
can do. The pain from these bites is similar to a bee
sting but there is no toxin.
Thrips can make a dramatic appearance. These tiny
elongate yellow insects were described on one
insect ID form as follows: "These little biting things
covered an aboveground pool and deck. They were
so thick that you could wipe them off with your
hand. They have painful bites, children could not
play in the pool for them."
Thrips show up at pools probably drawn to water or
driven there from nearby recently-cut hay fields. On
normal days thrips use their abrasive mouthparts to
rasp at plant tissue, especially flowers. However,
they will scrape skin, perhaps as they attempt to
pick up small amounts of moisture. An occasional
thrips scrape probably is tolerable but lots of them
do not add to the swimming experience. A strong
jet of water may be used to plaster them to decks
and other surfaces where they have accumulated.
Finding and managing the source of an insect
problem usually is the most effective management
practice but this is rarely possible or practical with
swimming pool invaders. There is no safe or
effective means of treating pool water to keep
intentional or accidental invaders away. Covering
the pool when it is not in use may be the best and
only way to exclude chronic problems with
unwanted creatures. Fortunately, this may be
needed for only a few days at a time.
DIAGNOSTIC LAB HIGHLIGHTS
By Julie Beale and Paul Bachi
Recent agronomic samples in the PDDL have
included low soil pH problems and nutritional
disorders including nitrogen, magnesium and zinc
deficiencies on corn; potassium deficiency on
soybean; black shank, Rhizoctonia stem rot,
temporary phosphorus deficiency, transplant shock,
target spot, tomato spotted wilt virus and alfalfa
mosaic virus on tobacco.
On fruit and vegetable samples, we have diagnosed
anthracnose on grape; cane blight on blackberry;
Phytophthora crown rot on strawberry; brown rot
on plum; fire blight and cedar-apple rust on apple;
scab and Oriental fruit moth injury on peach;
anthracnose, southern blight and Rhizoctonia
root/stem rot on bean; stinkbug injury on sweet
corn; sour skin, pink root (Phoma) and purple
blotch (Alternaria) on onion; Pythium fruit rot,
bacterial spot and southern blight on pepper;
bacterial wilt on squash and muskmelon; early
blight on potato; bacterial spot/speck, early blight,
southern blight, Pythium fruit rot, Fusarium wilt,
walnut wilt, Septoria leaf spot and blossom end rot
on tomato.
On ornamentals and turf, we have seen rust on
hollyhock; Pythium root rot and Rhizoctonia
root/stem rot on petunia; leaf streak on daylily;
black root rot on holly; Botrytis blight on rose;
bacterial leaf spot on ornamental cherry;
Phloeosopra leaf spot on mulberry; Rhizosphaera
needlecast and Stigmina needle blight on spruce;
Verticillium wilt on catalpa and tuliptree; Diplodia
tip blight and Dothistroma needle blight on pine;
black layer and take-all patch on bentgrass;
Pythium blight on perennial ryegrass; and brown
patch on fescue.
INSECT TRAP COUNTS
June 18-25
Location Princeton, Lexington,
KY KY
Black cutworm 34 16
Armyworm 2 821
Corn earworm 22 29
European corn 3 3
borer
Southwestern 0 0
corn borer
Fall armyworm 42 0
Graphs of insect trap counts for the 2010 season are available on the
IPM web site at -http://www.uky.edu/Ag/IPM/ipm.htm.
View trap counts for Fulton County, Kentucky at -
http://ces.ca.uky.edu/fulton/InsectTraps