VegNet Regional Pest Trends for the Week of July 17th, 2017 For a review on how to interpret VegNet tables, click here.
THIS WEEK: Valley-wide armyworm concern, loopers back up
Cutworm/Armyworms in Grass Seed
As fields are harvested and received at cleaners, folks are noticing an unusually high number of caterpillars in the loads. This has caused widespread concern, an OSU Extension has released a pest alert. Visit http://wp.me/p8vBJ4-5t for more info.
Black Cutworm
The extreme peak of adults 40 days ago means that cutworms will be very large now, and can cause considerable damage. If corn is at lay-by (between V10 and V12), a rescue treatment may be possible. Options include many foliar sprays, granular ethoprop, and carbaryl baits. Consult the PNW insect management handbook for more info.
Corn Earworm
Overlapping generations of corn earworm mean that larval pressure is high right now (graph below). CEW feeds on a variety of vegetable hosts. In corn, fresh silk is the preferred egg-laying site, and if controls are needed, they must be applied before larvae move into developing ears.
Just for fun: MOTH WEEK!
Yes, there is such a thing, and it starts tomorrow! We promoted it at last week's farmer's market and the community response was wonderful. Please visit http://bit.ly/mothweek to learn more about how you can participate!
VegNet is an insect pest monitoring program funded by the Oregon Processed Vegetable Commission and managed by the Oregon State University Department of Horticulture. To add your name to this newsletter, please click the ‘subscribe’ button on the homepage. For a review on how to interpret VegNet tables, click here.
