Vegetable Crop Insect Management – July 1, 2016

Joanne Whalen, Extension IPM Specialist; jwhalen@udel.edu

Cucumbers
Populations of cucumber beetles vary from field to field but higher populations are still present in fields with a history of problems. Fresh market cucumbers are susceptible to bacterial wilt that is vectored by the beetles, so treatments should be applied before beetles feed extensively on cotyledons and the first true leaves. Although pickling cucumbers have a tolerance to wilt, a treatment may still be needed for machine-harvested pickling cucumbers when 5% of plants are infested with beetles and/or plants are showing fresh feeding injury.

Lima Beans
Be sure to scout fields for spider mites as well as plant bugs and stink bugs. As soon as pin pods are present, be sure to watch carefully for plant bug and stinkbug adults and nymphs. The higher rates of labeled products will be needed if stinkbugs are the predominant insect present.

Melons
Continue to scout all melons for aphids, cucumber beetles, and spider mites. When fields are blooming, be sure to consider pollinators when making an insecticide application as well as read all labels for pollinator protection statements and restrictions. We continue to see an increase in spider mite populations in the earliest planted fields. The threshold for mites is 20-30% infested crowns with 1-2 mites per leaf. Acramite, Agri-Mek, Oberon, Portal and Zeal are miticides labeled on melons for mite control. Be sure to read all labels carefully for rates and restrictions since some are restricted to only one application as well as ground application only.

Peppers
As soon as the first flowers can be found, be sure to consider a corn borer treatment. Depending on local corn borer trap catches, sprays should be applied on a 7 to 10-day schedule once pepper fruit is ¼ – ½ inch in diameter. Be sure to check local moth catches in your area by calling the Crop Pest Hotline (302-831-8851) or visit our website at http://agdev.anr.udel.edu/trap/trap.php . At this time, you will also need to consider a treatment for pepper maggot.

Potatoes
Continue to scout fields for Colorado potato beetle, leafhoppers, and aphids. If aphids are detected, controls will be needed for green peach aphids if you find 2 aphids per leaf during bloom and 4 aphids per leaf post bloom. This threshold increases to 10 per leaf at 2 weeks from vine death/kill. If melon aphids are found, the threshold should be reduced by half.

Snap Beans
Continue to sample all seedling stage fields for leafhopper and thrips activity. On processing snap beans, sprays will be needed for corn borer at the bud and pin stages. Depending on trap catches of corn borer and corn earworm, additional sprays may also be needed after the pin spray on processing beans. Since trap catches can change quickly, be sure to check our website for the most recent trap catches and information on how to use this information to make a treatment decision in processing snap beans after bloom. After the pin spray on processing beans, the spray schedule will be determined by a combination of both moth catches and field scouting.

http://agdev.anr.udel.edu/trap/trap.php

http://extension.udel.edu/ag/insect-management/insect-trapping-program/ecb-and-cew-moth-catch-thresholds-for-processing-snap-beans/

Sweet Corn
The first silk sprays will be needed for ear feeders as soon as ear shanks are visible. Be sure to check both blacklight and pheromone trap catches since the spray schedules can quickly change. Trap catches are generally updated on our website (http://agdev.anr.udel.edu/trap/trap.php) and the Crop Pest Hotline (302-831-8851) by Tuesday and Friday mornings. Information on how to use the trap catch information in combination with field scouting can be found at http://extension.udel.edu/ag/insect-management/insect-trapping-program/action-thresholds-for-silk-stage-sweet-corn/. In addition to corn borer and corn earworm, you will also need to start scouting whorl stage corn for fall armyworm larvae. A treatment should be considered for whorl feeders when 12-15% of the plants are infested. Since fall armyworm feeds deep in the whorls, sprays should be directed into the whorls and multiple applications are often needed to achieve control.