Insect Pest - Caterpillars

Mid-Summer Insect Scouting Priorities in Row Crops

Growers across the state should begin scouting for cross-striped cabbageworms (CSCW). Unlike the more common brassica caterpillar pests which lay their eggs individually, CSCW females lay eggs in clusters of 3 to 25. As a result, a single plant can quickly become infested with numerous hungry caterpillars, resulting in faster, more severe damage. In recent years, we’ve seen CSCW activity ramp up earlier in the season, and this year is no exception. Egg masses and mid-stage caterpillars have already been found in Eastern Shore counties.

IPM Threshold Guide for Agronomic Field Crops

IPM Threshold Guide for Vegetable Crops

Insect Pest Management in Peppers

Insect Pests of Tomato

Although sorghum faces relatively few pests compared to our other grain crops, it is not a “plant and forget” crop. Sorghum is often grown on marginal ground, in areas with greater deer pressure, dryland fields, and as a rotational component for managing weed and disease pressure. Sorghum is generally a minor component of a farming operation, and as such is easy to overlook during the season, especially now as other pests are requiring more attention and corn is nearing harvest. However, there are two significant insect pests that need to be scouted for to avoid potential losses and both are active right now on Delmarva. 

Potato production in Maryland continues to grow and has more than doubled in the last 5 years, while in surrounding states it has declined. About 50% of the potatoes harvested in Maryland are for the fresh market while the other half goes for processing. Because of its value growers frequently apply pesticides too often in order to protect their investment. This often leads to the development of insect resistance, environmental contamination, worker and food safety concerns and poor management of pests.

I have gotten several emails and calls from growers in different areas of the state reporting they are seeing the beginnings of squash vine borer problems in their pumpkins or squash crops. IF you rotated at least 1/2 mile from your squash/pumpkin fields of last year you should be OK, however, I know some growers either cannot rotate or they cannot rotate very far from last year’s crop.

A few hot spots where corn earworm (also known as tomato fruitworm, soybean podworm, and sorghum headworm) activity is starting to rise have been identified in central Maryland. The relatively mild 2020-2021 winter allowed adult moths to overwinter in Maryland, and some parts of the state experienced a higher than normal first flight in early June.