Insect Pest - Invasive

Soybeans: Continue scouting for corn earworm, stink bugs, and soybean looper in double-crop fields. Defoliation thresholds at R5 are 15% and between 20 and 30% at R6. Corn earworm pheromone trapping information for Maryland can be found at https://extension.umd.edu/resource/corn-earworm-pheromone-trapping. NC State Extension has a good CEW threshold calculator can be used to help decide if it is worth treating: https://www.ces.ncsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/CEW-calculator-v0.006.html. Stink bug thresholds are 5 bugs per 15 sweeps until the soybeans reach the R7 stage, after which treatment for stink bugs is not necessary. 

A few blueberry and cherry growers in central Maryland have reported fruit damage to their crop from Spotted Wing Drosophila (SWD) this week. If you grow any small fruit such as blueberries, cherries, blackberries, raspberries it would be best if you check these crops for the presence of SWD.

Podisus maculiventris, better known as the spined soldier bug (Figure 1), is a close relative of the invasive brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB, Figure 2). However, the spined soldier bug is not only deemed nonthreatening to crops, gardens, and ornamentals, but is beneficial to their health. It is important to identify which type of stink bugs you are dealing with before you move forward with pest management.

Growers and an alert county agent, Ben Beale, have found what most likely will be an infestation of spotted wing drosophila (SWD) in cherries in southern Maryland (St. Mary’s County). I say "most likely" because I have the cherries and the maggots but it is very difficult to identify SWD from other fruit or vinegar fly maggots.

The invasive spotted-wing drosophila (SWD) is the key insect pest of soft-skinned fruit across the United States. With the recent wet weather, we have been experiencing higher than normal spotted wing drosophila (SWD) pressure.

Fruit and Vegetable News, Volume 12, Issue 4 (July 15, 2021)

Spotted-wing drosophila (SWD, Drosophila suzukii) is a small fly that lays its eggs into ripening and ripe soft-skinned fruit, causing direct damage and wounds that other pests and pathogens can use. Although they prefer fully colored ripe fruit, they are capable of infesting fruit that is just starting to turn color and will do so when populations are high.

Timely Viticulture is an electronic newsletter designed to remind grape producers of seasonal vineyard needs and considerations throughout the year.

Dr. Kelly Hamby reported the presence of Spotted-wing drosophila (SWD) in Central and Western Maryland. Effective strategies to manage SWD include setting up traps, conducting visual inspections, maintaining a 7-day spray interval, using various insecticide modes of action, and considering temperatures during and after spray application. For organic production, Entrust® is recommended. Other measures to reduce SWD populations and protect fruit quality include removing cull fruit, shortening harvest intervals, using mesh netting, and cooling fruit.

Read the "Woodland Wildlife Spotlight" and "Invasives in Your Woodland," a new invasive insect you should know called Spotted Lanternfly, and the Brain Tickler challenge.