Joanne Whalen, Extension IPM Specialist;jwhalen@udel.edu
Asparagus
Continue to watch for asparagus beetle adults feeding on spears as well as laying egg masses. Feeding by beetles can disfigure spears and the presence of eggs on the spears can make them unmarketable. As a general guideline, a treatment is recommended if 2% of the spears are infested with eggs or if 5% of the plants are infested with adults.
Asparagus beetle eggs on an asparagus spear.
Melons
Continue to scout all melons for aphids, cucumber beetles, and spider mites. The treatment threshold for aphids is 20% infested plants with at least 5 aphids per leaf. Be sure to also watch for beneficials. The threshold for mites is 20-30% infested crowns with 1-2 mites per leaf. We continue to see an increase in cucumber beetle activity. Since beetles can continue to re-infest fields as well as hide under the plastic, multiple applications are often needed.
Peppers
Continue to sample for thrips and corn borer egg masses. The first corn borer moths were caught in light traps during the past week. Before fruit is present, young corn borer larvae can infest stems and petioles. Be sure to also check local moth catches in your area by calling the Crop Pest Hotline (302-831-8851) or visiting our website at: http://agdev.anr.udel.edu/trap/trap.php.
Potatoes
Fields should be scouted for Colorado potato beetle (CPB), corn borers (ECB) and leafhoppers. Adult CPB as well as the first small larvae can now be found in fields not treated at planting. A treatment should be considered for adults when you find 25 beetles per 50 plants and defoliation has reached the 10% level. Once larvae are detected, the threshold is 4 small larvae per plant or 1.5 large larvae per plant. As a general guideline, controls should be applied for leafhoppers if you find ½ to 1 adult per sweep and/or one nymph per every 10 leaves.
Snap Beans
Continue to sample all seedling stage fields for leafhopper and thrips activity. The thrips threshold is 5-6 per leaflet and the leafhopper threshold is 5 per sweep. If both insects are present, the threshold for each should be reduced by 1/3. Once corn borer catches reach 2 per night, fresh market and processing snap beans in the bud to pin stages should be sprayed for corn borer. Sprays will be needed at the bud and pin stages on processing beans. Once pins are present on fresh market snap beans and corn borer trap catches are above 2 per night, a 7-10 day schedule should be maintained for corn borer control. http://agdev.anr.udel.edu/trap/trap.php
Sweet Corn
Continue to sample seedling stage fields for cutworms and flea beetles. You should also sample all whorl stage corn for corn borers. A treatment should be applied if 15% of the plants are infested.