| July 10, 2009 Volume 8 Number 12
1. View from the Field
2. Weather Outlook July 9, 2009
3. Aphid Mummies in Alfalfa and Soybean
4. Soybean Defoliators: Do They Do Damage?
5. Dung Beetles in Manure on Pasture
6. NYS Soybean Rust and Soybean Aphid Update
7. Clipboard Checklist
8. Mark Your Calendars
9. Contact Information
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View from the Field
Ken Wise
NYS IPM
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I am still finding low populations of potato leafhopper at the
SUNY Cobleskill Farm this week. The alfalfa was 20 plus inches tall
and I was getting 10 potato leafhopper per sample (10 sweeps of
the net is equal to one sample). If the temperature starts to climb
most like so will potato leafhopper populations.
Soybean aphid populations have generally been relatively low
(< 40 SBA’s / plant) across much of NY. Some areas of central NY
are reporting hot spots of SBA activity with populations well over
the 250 SBA’s / plant threshold guideline. Producers are encouraged
to monitor soybean fields for this insect pest.
There have been some reports of Japanese beetles in soybeans
in Western NYS. Japanese beetles are leaf feeding insects. This
pest feeds on a wide range of plants. Generally, Japanese beetles
do not cause yield losses in soybeans because the beans can compensate
very well. For more information on soybean defoliators see the article
below.
Keith Waldron and I were in Jefferson and Lewis county conducting
fly management workshops this week. We discussed house flies and
stable flies management in and around the barns. We also talked
about horn and face fly management on pasture. All of these fly
species were present at relatively low numbers at both locations.
The fly populations appear to be remaining low helped, in part,
by recent cool temperatures. Excess moisture and warmer temperature
expected over the next week will likely create conditions favorable
to increasing fly populations on pasture and in the barns. In barns
- clean potential fly breeding habitat areas (undisturbed moist
organic matter, i.e. spilled feed, soiled bedding, etc.). For more
information on barn fly management see issue
June 25, 2009 Volume 8 Issue 10.
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Weather Outlook July 9, 2009
Drew Montreu
NOAA NE Climate Center, Cornell University
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Temperatures during the past week were well below normal, with
almost everywhere in the state 3 to 6 degrees colder than normal.
Precipitation was lightest in the west, with one-half to one inch
falling west of I-81, and generally 1 to 2 inches to the east. The
Mohawk Valley and Albany region got even more, with 2 to 3 or more
inches falling, mostly from heavy thunderstorms Tuesday.
Base 50 Growing Degree Days only accumulated between 75 and 100
for most areas. A few places got over 100, including just southeast
of Lake Ontario, the far northeastern part of the state, and areas
downstate. There were also some pockets that got less than 75 in
the mountains. For the season, most areas are now between 700 and
900. The Hudson Valley is over 900, and further Downstate is over
1000. There have been slightly less than 700 in the Alleghenies,
and as few as 400 to 500 in the Adirondacks. Compares to last year,
the north and Finger Lakes are 7 to 10 calendar days behind, with
Monroe and St. Lawrence Counties and the Tug Hill as much as 2 weeks
behind. Most everywhere else is 3 to 7 days behind. Those areas
more than a week behind correspond to over 150 growing degree days
behind last year. Areas south of I-90 and in the East are generally
up to 75 growing degree days behind normal, but southeast New York
as much as 75 growing degree days above normal. Elsewhere is 75
to 150 growing degree days behind.
Sunny weather will be the rule today and tomorrow as the state
sees a ridge of high pressure build in. On Saturday and Saturday
Night, a cold front will cross the state with thunderstorms. With
highs reaching up into the low 80s, some of those storms could be
strong to severe, especially from I-81 west. Sunday should be mostly
rain free, except for the far eastern parts of the state, where
some showers may linger in the morning. Highs Sunday behind the
front will be in the mid 70s. High pressure should keep showers
out of most areas on Monday, with highs in the mid 70s and lows
in the mid 50s. There will be a chance of showers on Tuesday as
a low moves by to our south. Highs will be in the upper 70s, with
lows in the low to mid 50s. Wednesday could have some showers as
a warm front approaches, but highs should still reach up into the
low 80s, with lows in the upper 50s. For the next 5 days, most areas
can expect no more than half an inch of rain, though exactly how
much falls will depend on how the storms Saturday evolve. For the
next 8 to 14 days, the Climate Prediction Center is calling for
below average temperatures and above average rain, but I tend to
think things may end closer to normal than they were last week.
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Aphid Mummies in Alfalfa and Soybean
Keith Waldron
NYS IPM
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Walking fields is critical to early detection of crop problems.
It's also a way to discover all sorts of interesting examples of
ecology in action. One such example, common in alfalfa this
time of year, is the presence of what might appear to be bronzed
colored aphids "resting" on alfalfa leaves. "Resting aphids?"
What are you really seeing? One type of biological control of pea
aphids
Pea aphids [Acyrthosiphon pisum (Hemiptera: Aphididae)]
tend to be found in low to modest numbers in NY alfalfa but are
generally not an economic pest. These insects are a food source
by many natural enemies such as lace wing and lady bird beetle larvae.
The bronze colored "resting" aphids one may see on alfalfa leaves
are aphid "mummies" the result of the aphid being parasitized by
a type of tiny wasp. In NY, two types of wasps can be found:
Praon pequodorum and Aphidius ervi both Hymenopterans
in the family Braconidae.
Praon pequodorum is a native aphid parasitoid which includes
the pea aphid in its host range. Aphidius ervi was introduced
to the United States in the late 1950's and early 1960's for biological
control of pea aphid. This species is now widely distributed in
North American alfalfa, often achieving high levels of parasitism.
A. ervi is the more common parasitoid we encounter attacking
pea aphids in NY.
Who's who? Aphidius mummies are smooth. Praon mummies look like
they have webbing around them, with the bronze colored aphid body
sitting on top. See photo.
How did that happen?
When the female wasp finds a suitable host, she bends her abdomen
under her legs and injects an egg in the aphid with her ovipositor.
Aphids may continue feeding and reproducing for several days, until
the egg hatches. When the egg hatches, the wasp larvae start to
eat the aphid from the inside and the larva completes its life cycle
in the aphid body. Effective parasitization is obvious when the
aphid swells and hardens into a leathery, brown colored "mummy".
The parasite completes it's life cycle by emerging as an adult through
a round hole at the rear of the mummy. Mummies can usually be seen
14 - 21 days after the first introduction is made. Development time
is dependent upon the temperature and other environmental factors.
One female wasp lays about 350 eggs in a lifetime. Most of these
eggs are laid in the first five days after introduction.
The life cycle of Apidius ervi described above is excerpted
from "Biological Control of Aphids with Aphidius ervi" by
Cathy Thomas (PA Dept Ag IPM Program). The Vegetable and Small Fruit
Gazette, April 2001, Volume 5, No. 4.
Note: Species of Aphidius and Praon have also been found attacking
soybean aphids in NY - watch for mummies....
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Soybean Defoliators: Do They Do Damage?
Ken Wise
NYS IPM
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Japanese beetle and Mexican bean beetle are the main defoliators
of soybeans in NYS. While they are minor pests, defoliation of soybeans
sends up many red flags by growers. The question normally is how
much leaf defoliation is too much in soybeans? The good thing is
that soybeans can withstand much defoliation without losing yield.
The soybean defoliation threshold is 35 percent of leaf area eaten
or missing from V1 to just before bloom. During blooming through
pod-filling stages, the threshold is 20 percent defoliation. The
following pictures are a guide that depict 10, 20, 30 and 40 percent
defoliation
 
10 percent defoliation
20 percent defoliation
30 percent defoliation
40 percent defoliation
(Source: Purdue University Field Crops Pest Management Manual,
1/92)
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Dung Beetles in Manure on Pasture
Ken Wise
NYS IPM
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Face flies and horn flies, two key fly pests attacking cattle
on pasture, both complete their egg, larval and pupal stages in
cow manure. These two fly pests are, however, frequently not alone
– about 450 arthropod species have been reported to inhabit cow
pats. While conducting pasture fly field meetings in Jefferson and
Lewis county this week we found fly larvae (maggots) as well as
other beneficial arthropods inhabiting the manure pats - a lot of
dung beetles. Why dig through manure to find dung beetles? Dung
beetles are very important insects that help decompose cattle manure
and aide in recycling nutrients in pastures. Dung beetles compete
with other organisms like flies inside the cattle pat for resources
within the manure, thus limiting pasture fly development. Dung beetles
help recycle the manure back into the soil providing nutrients for
the pasture grasses to continue to grow and produce forage. Having
a good population of dung beetles is an indication of a healthy
pasture. There are three types of dung beetles that can occupy
a dung pat:
Rollers (telecoprids)
Geotrupes species, form balls of manure which they push from
the pat to bury as brood balls
Tunnelers (paracoprids)
Onthophagus species are tunnelers that consume the pat and burrow
beneath it to bury brood balls.
Dwellers (endocoprids)
Aphodius species, consume the manure as they tunnel within the
dung pat and oviposit eggs in the manure or surrounding soil.
Most dung beetles found in NY are dwellers.
Keith Waldron showing producer dung beetles in manure on pasture
Some feed-through insecticides can have detrimental effects on
manure inhabiting arthropods. These materials are not always completely
metabolized in the body and are dispelled into the manure pat. To
enhance dung beetle populations try to select fly control methods
and products that help preserve dung beetles in your pastures.
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NYS Soybean Rust and Soybean Aphid Update
Gary Bergstrom
Cornell University
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Sentinel plots in NYS are being established in Cayuga, Jefferson,
Seneca, Washington and Wayne counties. Scouting in these plots should
begin in the next few weeks. Another report of soybean rust on soybean
in a sentinel plot was made on June 22nd in Acadia Parish in Louisiana.
In 2009, soybean rust has been reported in the U.S. in Alabama,
Florida, Georgia, Louisiana and Texas.Updated July 9, 2009
NY State Soybean Rust Hotline: 607-255-7850
NYS Soybean Rust Website
USDA Soybean
Rust Website
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Clipboard Checklist
Keith Waldron
NYS IPM
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General:
* Emergency contact information ("911", local hospital, Chem. Spill
emergency contact, other?) posted in central posting area
* Maintain crop records by field, including variety, planting date,
pesticides used, nutrient inputs including manure, etc.
* Watch for any patches of herbicide resistant weeds, weed escapes
* Storage areas cleaned and ready to accept hay, wheat harvest
Corn:
* Monitor fields for plant vigor, growth stage, mid season pest
issues (European corn borer, foliar diseases)
* Gaps in row? Check for seed corn maggot, wireworm, cutworm, armyworm,
seedling blights, birds, seed placement issues
* Check no-till fields/fields with high residue or weeds for slug
damage
* Monitor for weeds, note presence of "who", "how many" and "where"
* Adjust post emergence weed control action
Small Grains:
* Monitor winter grains for crop stage (heading, grain fill), insect
problems (cereal leaf beetle, armyworm) and foliar / head diseases
* Evaluate crop for plant vigor, lodging, maturity / time till harvest
* Grain bins ready to accept upcoming harvest?
Alfalfa & Hay:
* Monitor alfalfa seedings for weeds, insects & diseases.
* Check regrowth of established alfalfa stands for potato leafhopper,
weed and disease problems.
* Storage areas cleaned and ready to accept incoming harvest
Soybeans:
* Evaluate stand growth and development - weed assessment, soybean
aphid, volunteer glyphosphate resistant corn
Dairy Livestock Barn Fly Management:
* Sanitation, sanitation, sanitation - clean animal resting areas,
feed troughs, minimize source of moist organic matter i.e. fly breeding
areas in barn and in adjacent animal loafing yard
* Check waterers, drainage, roof gutters for leaks and potential
overspill
* Continue fly monitoring: install "3X5" index card fly speck monitoring
cards through out barn
* Install/refresh/replenish as needed: fly tapes, insecticide baits,
natural enemies (parasitoids
Storage:
* Check storage areas (bunk silos, etc.) for readiness to accept
upcoming wheat harvest
* Clean in and outside of storage bins and grain handling equipment
* Keep areas around storage bins and silos clean and mowed
* Check areas around storage bins and silos for vertebrate tunneling
* Check temperature of recently baled hay in hay mow
Equipment:
* Note any repairs needed for recently used equipment: tractors,
tillage implements, planters, sprayers, etc. as they are cleaned
and serviced.
* Service hay harvesting equipment as needed.
* Calibrate manure spreaders - maintain records on amount spread
per field
PESTICIDE EMERGENCY NUMBERS
Emergency responder information on pesticide spills and accidents
CHEMTREC: 800-424-9300
For pesticide information: National Pesticide Information Center:
800-858-7378
To Report Oil and Hazardous Material Spills in New York State: NYS
Department of Environmental Conservation Spill Response:_800-457-7362
(in NYS)_518-457-7362 (outside NYS)
Poison Control Centers: Poison Control Centers nationwide: 800-222-1222.
If you are unable to reach a Poison Control Center or obtain the
information your doctor needs, the office of the NYS Pesticide Coordinator
at Cornell University, 607-255-1866, may be able to assist you in
obtaining such information.
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Mark Your Calendars
Keith Waldron
NYS IPM
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July 15, 2009 -- Weed Science Field Day, Thompson Research Farm,
Freeville, NY (morning program)
July 15, 2009 -- NYSABA Summer, BBQ, Musgrave Farm, Aurora, NY 12:00
noon
July 15, 2009 -- Weed Science Field Day, Musgrave Farm, Aurora,
NY (afternoon program)
July 23, 2009 -- Aurora Farm Field Day, Musgrave Farm, 1256 Poplar
Ridge Rd, Aurora, NY
Aug. 10-14, 2009 -- Soil Health Training Workshop, Ithaca, NY
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Contact Information
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Ken Wise:
Eastern NYS IPM Area Educator: Field Crops
and Livestock
Phone:
(518)
434-1690
Fax:
(518)
426-3316
Email:
klw24@cornell.edu
Keith Waldron: NYS Livestock and Field
Crops IPM Coordinator
Phone: (315) 787 - 2432
Fax:
(315)
787-2360
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