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Ornamentals and Turf |
While the cats are away, the mites will play. Yes, the tent caterpillars are going away, but the cool-season mites such as southern red mites, spruce spider mites, and even boxwood mites are becoming active. You have not seen any damage or had any complaints yet, because the damage will not be noticed for two months. By then it will be too late to treat for these pests. If you had damage last year, begin to check the shrubs now for activity. A good hand lens may be needed.
Horticultural oils are a good choice for treatment. Horticultural oils may take off some of the blue luster from blue junipers, however. The BugDoc from Ohio State University states that strong spray from a water hose works well to knock down populations of spruce spider mites on evergreens. Commercial operators may use horticultural oils, Floramite, Talstar, or any of several other miticides mentioned in the North Carolina Agricultural Chemicals Manual.
Dobsonflies enjoy the benefit of this wet spring weather and are beginning to emerge. These pose no threat to anyone, but are often a curiosity at the back porch light. The males have oversized heads and mandibles, making them look awkward and ferocious. The aquatic centipede-like larvae live in streams and are called hellgrammites. They can deliver a noticeable nip if handled. We may see the adults through early summer.
Boxwood leafminers can be a leafmajor problem for some boxwoods. As the tiny fly larva feeds between the leaf surfaces, discolored spots will appear on the upper leaf surface. The tiny flies are soon to emerge as the tender foliage of the boxwood expands. The female mosquito-sized midge will lay an egg in the underside of the leaf. An application of Orthene in the coming weeks will minimize the effect of this insect. Merit (imidacloprid) is also very effective but expensive, so it might be used more for high value or specimen shrubs.
Orchard Mason Bees emerged in Raleigh four weeks ago and nesting activity has almost ceased. Activity seemed low this year due to the cold, wet weather we have experienced during the middle of the nesting season. There may still be some good pollination and flight activity left in the western portion of North Carolina. Orchard Mason Beekeepers may consider moving nesting blocks or tubes to protected shelters to reduce parasitism.
Boxwood psyllids are small, leafhopper-like insects that overwinter as nymphs in the buds of boxwoods. In the spring, the nymphs feed in new growth causing it to become cupped and distorted. The cupped leaves form a shelter in which the nymphs feed and secrete their fluffy white wax. Adults emerge in May and June. Eggs are laid in early summer and hatch in late summer, but the new psyllid nymphs stay buried in the buds until the following spring. The best time to treat for boxwood psyllids nymphs is in April. Adults can be treated in May and June. Ornamentals and Turf Insect Note No. 53, the Boxwood Pest Control Calendar, provides information on the best time to treat for the various pests of boxwood and which pesticides are available to treat the pests.
Crane flies resemble mosquitos on steroids. However, crane flies are harmless to humans. The maggots of crane flies are sometimes called leatherjackets because of their tough skin. Leatherjackets are sometimes found in wet lawns or plant beds where they apparently feed on the roots or base of seedlings. The larvae of some species are aquatic. As adults, they may not feed at all. Populations may decline when the soil dries. A few adults may show up throughout the summer. Usually no control measures are recommended in home or turf for these short-lived flies.
A caveat is not something rich people spread on stone ground wheat crackers. It is a warning. We did not include all of the instructions for controlling these pests or all of the biology of the pests. If you want more information you can go to the web links provided, and (here's the warning) check the labeling of all pesticide recommendations for the proper application rates and precautions!
This is the time of year that fire ants really become active. Mating flights take place in the spring and this leads to the creation of new mounds and an increase in the overall infestation. This is also a good time of year to implement your fire ant management program. The spring is a time when fire ant workers are aggressively foraging for food and this often helps improve the effectiveness of baits. Remember that baits are effective when the ants do the work by picking up the bait and taking it back to the colony. Spring is a great time to initiate a control program using any of the wide variety of baits available. Refer to the Texas A&M University fire ant web site for additional insight into management strategies for fire ants in any setting.
As turfgrass insects become active this spring, it is a good time to renew your knowledge of pest biology. Many of the newer control products will be most effective when applied to a specific stage of the insect pest. Now is the time to learn about pest biology and the optimal time to treat; not after you are suffering from serious problems with pest damage.
Keep checking the TurfFiles web site for the latest updates of turfgrass information.
Employment and program opportunities are offered to all people regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability. North Carolina State University, North Carolina A&T State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and local governments cooperating.
Last modified on April 28, 2003 by Stephen J. Toth, Jr.
