“WHAT’S HAPPENING?”

The University of Tennessee Extension Service

Entomology & Plant Pathology - EPP #60

September 23, 2005

NATIONAL PEST MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION ANNUAL MEETING, PEST WORLD 2005, TO BE HELD IN NASHVILLE OCTOBER 15 TO 17

by Karen M Vail

We are fortunate to have one of the best pest management meetings in the WORLD to be held in our state this year. The National Pest Management Association’s (NPMA's) PEST WORLD has sessions on most of the subjects of concern to the pest management professional. More than 53 sessions have been registered with the Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA) for pesticide recertification points. Topics range from ants to wood-destroying organisms. If you’ve wanted more information about bed bugs or the potential of the Formosan subterranean termite to establish in Tennessee, this is the place to be. All pest management professionals should be made aware of this meeting, so if you have a mailing list for this group, please be sure to get the word out to them. Schedules, registration and hotel information can be found at NPMA’s web site, http://www.npmapestworld.org/Events/Pestworld05.asp. For you folks at the Tennessee Entomological Society (TES) Meeting held in Nashville on October 13 and 14, (http://eppserver.ag.utk.edu/tennentsociety/default.html), why not extend your trip for a few days? You won’t regret it!

LATE SEASON LEAF SPOT DISEASE OF WOODY ORNAMENTALS

by Alan Windham

Cercospora leaf spot has been diagnosed on a diverse group of woody ornamentals such as dogwood, crape myrtle, mountain laurel, leucothoe, bottle brush buckeye and rose. In many cases the damage is not permanent to the plant. It’s more of an aesthetic problem as cercospora leaf spot mars the evergreen foliage of some plants, hastens leaf drop of deciduous plants and may lessen the fall color of some plants such as dogwood and crape myrtles. I rarely recommend fungicide sprays this late in the year, as often the damage is already done. However, for leaf spot diseases that historically show up each year, preventive fungicide sprays can be used. Chlorothalonil is often the fungicide of choice for these diseases.

WHEN ARE DISEASE RESISTANT ROSES SUSCEPTIBLE?

by Alan Windham

As you peruse your nursery catalogs this winter, you will probably see roses described as “disease resistant." What exactly does this mean? Generally, this means that the rose has been evaluated for black spot resistance and has come through the trials in good shape. The bad news is that these cultivars may be pretty susceptible to cercospora leaf spot which in some cases can be as damaging or more damaging than black spot. Also, there is no resistance to rose rosette which is pretty prevalent on shrub type roses that are gaining in popularity. An old rosarian told me once that, “I spray my roses twice a week with fungicide; and my disease resistant roses once a week."

DROUGHT STRESS, WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO WOODY ORNAMENTALS?

by Alan Windham

Drought stress is a key predisposing factor for fungal canker diseases for many woody ornamentals such as rhododendron and leyland cypress. This time of year it is not uncommon to see a healthy rhododendron with several wilted shoots. This often indicates Botrysphaeria has infected those shoots and is working its way down, killing side shoots as it goes. Currently, there are many leyland cypresses infected with seiridium canker. Branch dieback and sometimes dieback of the whole plant indicate a fungal canker disease. Infected cypresses often have telltale, resinous cankers on the trunk. The key to preventing fungal canker infection is irrigation during dry periods; the key to limiting damage is pruning out infected shoots before large branches or the trunk is infected.

BACTERIAL LEAF SCORCH OF PIN OAK AND OTHER SHADE TREES

by Alan Windham

Bacterial leaf scorch (BLS) caused by Xylella fastidiosa is pretty common on pin oak and sycamore throughout the state. Pin oaks are scorching pretty severely in the Middle Tennessee area; symptoms are visible on sycamores also. Symptoms start as a marginal scorch of the majority of the leaves. Scorch of the whole leaf may follow as well as severe leaf drop. Trees infected with BLS will decline over a period of years and die. As the disease progresses, the canopy of the tree will shrink each year. There are no cures for this disease. However, some arborists are having some success with slightly infected trees by injecting oxytetracycline or using a growth regulator drench around the base of the tree. Be reminded that neither treatment is a cure and would have to be repeated. In most cases the disease is allowed to run its course and the trees are removed when they are unsightly. On another note, it’s a good ideal to look for obscure scale on pin oak branches when examining a tree in decline.

THE MISUSE OF AUTOMATIC IRRIGATION SYSTEMS KEEP US IN BUSINESS

by Alan Windham

I can’t tell you the number of woody ornamentals that I’ve seen this summer that has been killed by overwatering from automatic irrigation systems. It’s as if people think we live in the desert southwest and they forget that an irrigation system should provide supplemental water to landscape plantings. An irrigation system is not the sole source of water for a landscape plant. A common problem is to see landscape plants planted too deep and irrigated too frequently. You wind up with a sour, anaerobic soil that kills the roots and eventually the plants in the bed. A soil probe is a handy item to carry when trouble shooting these problems. Probe into a bed that’s overwatered and you’re liable to come up with a sulfurous, stinking, slimy soil core that when placed under the nose of the most ardent skeptic, will convince them that they are overwatering. Another puzzle to see, is the daily irrigation of annual flowers such as annual vinca which are some of the most drought tolerant annual bedding plants available. It’s not that I’m against irrigation. During periods of drought as we have experienced this summer, even established woody ornamentals need some supplemental water; just not 3-4 times a week.

BLACK ROOT ROT VS. PANSY, IT’S NO CONTEST

by Alan Windham

I diagnosed by first case of black root rot (Thielaviopsis) on pansies last week from a large wholesale greenhouse. The infected plans were yellow and unthrifty. Infected roots were off-white to tan to black. This is a serious disease for pansy and can cause major headaches for the end user. Last year, when I was shopping at a local garden center for pansies, I found that almost every flat (several hundred) was infested with black root rot. The garden center employees had no clue of the problem, even though the roots on most plants were the color of the growing media and the plants were culls in my mind. Also, last year, I worked with a grounds maintenance company that bought two thousand flats of pansies infected with black root rot. They didn’t bother to assess the health of the plants, specifically the roots before purchase. A healthy pansy in a cell pack should have an abundance of white roots around the root ball. If the roots are discolored, tan, brown or black, the odds are extremely high that they’re infected with black root rot. A key to disease management, is purchasing healthy plants, especially as there is no curative treatment for black rot. A word to the wise: check the roots.

STRAWBERRY ANTHRACNOSE

by Steve Bost

A case of the dreaded strawberry anthracnose has been reported and confirmed. This case, which came from a plug bed in West Tennessee, was Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, rather than the species that we usually see, C. acutatum. Both species can affect any part of the strawberry plant, but on the fruit, C. gloeosporioides is less potent than C. acutatum. Nevertheless, C. gloeosporioides is not good news, and will have to be dealt with, if infected plants are set in the field.

If anthracnose is found, the best course of action is to obtain replacement plants. However, this is seldom possible because plug plants are generally not available in sufficient numbers at such a late date. Otherwise, discard any plants showing symptoms and assume that the remaining plants have the fungus on them, and possibly in them (as latent infections). Use restraint in making fungicide applications until spring. This is because there is not good research evidence to show the benefit of fall applications of fungicides in trying to control anthracnose. Avoid over-use of strobilurin fungicides so that the pathogens do not become resistant to them.

Another case of suspected anthracnose in a strawberry plug bed was found this week, and plants are being shipped to the diagnostic lab for identification. Look for yellow and necrotic leaves, dying of the bud, and dark lesions on petioles. Please send us samples if you suspect anthracnose.

COUNTY PSEP PROCESS

by Gene Burgess

This is a review of the certification / recertification process at the county level.

Private Applicator Initial Certification:

• Applicator watches the PA initial certification tape plus the latest PA recertification tape with pretest and post-test.

• EPP 318A -- mailed to my office or PSEP office.

• TDA's triplicate form -- one copy of the triplicate form and $10 are mailed to TDA.

Extension office & farmer keeps a copy.

Private Applicator Recertification:

• Applicator watches the latest PA recertification tape with pre-test / post-test

• EPP 318A -- mailed to PSEP office.

• EPP 318B -- mailed to TDA

Commercial Applicator attending Private Applicator tapes for points:

• CA watches a single or any combination of tapes.

• EPP 317 CART A&B and collected fees are mailed to the PSEP office.

• EPP bookkeeper credits the county with ½ the revenue and the PSEP program with ½ the revenue.

• Points apply to all commercial categories.

• The number of points and fees are listed on the form, EPP 317CART A

PSEP (Pesticide Safety Education Program) Address:

The University of Tennessee

PSEP Office

2431 Joe Johnson Dr., Rm 205 PSB

Knoxville, TN 37996-4560

PHONE: 865-974-7138

TDA Address:

Tennessee Department of Agriculture

Certification and Licensing Section

Pesticide section

P.O. Box 40627, Porter Building

Nashville, TN 37204

PHONE: 615-837-5252

FIELD CROP UPDATE

by Russ Patrick

Soybeans:

Still contending with stinkbugs, bean leaf beetles and some loopers in many locations. The soybean scouting program appears to be going well. Keeping up with insects and potential disease problems.

Corn:

Harvest appears to be going well with good yields. There were a number of locations which reported stalks fallen over due to Southwestern Corn borer girdling and winter preparation for the larva.

Pastures:

We are hoping to get the Section 18 for use of Mustang Max in pastures to control armyworms. I have had several reports of armyworms damaging pastures this past week. Will be more to come until we have had a good freeze, this pest will not be killed as a larva. I will let everyone know when the Mustang label is completed.

ASIAN WOOLLY HACKBERRY APHIDS HAVE AN OFF YEAR

by Frank A. Hale

The Asian woolly hackberry aphid is an introduced pest that produces copious amounts of honeydew that drips on anything beneath the tree. Sooty mold then grows on the sugary honeydew, turning the objects beneath black. This pest was first identified as occurring in Tennessee in September 2001. I received reports of white, fluffy insects floating about and hackberry trees turned black. Since then, it has spread across most of the state and was a particular widespread nuisance pest last year.

This year, I have not received a single call about seeing this pest. What a difference a year makes. I have found them in very low numbers on trees that were heavily infested last year in both Nashville and Knoxville. There are probably troublesome infestations somewhere in the state and I am interested to hearing from anyone who can report on them. The obvious question is, what happened to the aphids? I asked Dr. Paris Lambdin about it and he said that aphid populations are known to vary widely due to environmental factors and natural controls. I recently attended a meeting in which a University of California Fresno researcher, Dr. Andrew Lawson, told of his experiences with this pest in his state. In California, the pest population builds in the spring to levels where it is very obvious. The population is then low during the heat of the summer (July and August) where temperatures exceed 100 degrees F on a regular basis. The populations then build in the fall as temperatures moderate.

In Tennessee, the eggs hatch in the spring and the population builds slowly through the spring and summer. It is not until August that we start to notice the heavy honeydew and sooty mold. Populations then seem to peak in September. Interestingly, this past summer was a particularly hot and dry one in Tennessee. I can not say for sure but the hot weather may have been a factor in limiting population growth of this pest in Tennessee in 2005.

What can we expect next year and should people treat trees preventively with imidacloprid as has been previously recommended? In general, predicting insect populations months ahead of time is about as good as predicting the activity of next year’s hurricane season. All we can say is we will probably have some but the severity is unknown. Sampling for overwintered aphid eggs and spring populations would be a first step but much research would need to be done before we could use spring egg and aphid counts to make a prediction of pest levels in late summer. So if you have treated for this pest and have been satisfied with the results, I would probably continue to treat each spring or possibly treat every other year.

METHYL BROMIDE - FUMIGANT USES EXTENDED

by Gene Burgess

"Methyl Bromide - Fumigant Uses - EPA extends to October 12, 2005 the deadline for the submission of public comments on its July 13, 2005 Federal Register Notice announcing the availability of the Agency's human health and environmental fate and effects risk assessments and related documents for the fumigant - EPA notes that " ... Methyl bromide is a broad-spectrum fumigant chemical that can be used as an acaricide, antimicrobial, fungicide, herbicide, insecticide, nematicide, and vertebrate control agent. The most prevalent use pattern is as a soil fumigant; however, it is also used as a structural fumigant and for post harvest treatment of commodities ..." - Publicly available documents are to be posted in EPA docket identification (ID) number OPP-2005-0123 at http://docket.epa.gov/edkpub/index.jsp - EPA OPPTS OPP Contact: Susan Bartow, Special Review and Reregistration Division at 703 603 0065; fax: 703 308 8041; e-mail: Bartow.Susan@EPA.gov - EPA September 9 Federal Register: http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/05-18009.htm

1,3-Dichloropropene (trade name, Telone), a Fumigant Pesticide - EPA Extends to October 12, 2005 the deadline for the submission of public comments on human health risk assessment and related documents - Publicly available documents are to be posted in EPA docket identification (ID) number OPP-2005-0124 at http://www.epa.gov/edocket/ - EPA OPPTS OPP Contact: Diane Sherman, Special Review and Reregistration Division at 703 308 0128; fax: 703 308 8041; e-mail: Sherman.Diane@EPA.gov - EPA September 12 Federal Register: http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/05-18074.htm

Dazomet, a Fumigant Pesticide - EPA extends to October 12, 2005, the deadline for the receipt of public comments on human health risk assessment and related documents - EPA OPPTS OPP Contact: Dirk Helder, Special Review and Reregistration Division at 703 305 4610; fax: 703 308 8041; e-mail: Helder.Dirk@EPA.gov - EPA September 12 Federal Register: http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/05-18075.htm

Metam Sodium, a Fumigant Pesticide - EPA extends to October 12, 2005, the deadline for the receipt of public comments on human health risk assessment and related documents - EPA OPPTS OPP Contact: Dirk Helder, Special Review and Reregistration Division at 703 305 4610; fax: 703 308 8041; e-mail: Helder.Dirk@EPA.gov - EPA September 12 Federal Register: http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/05-18076.htm

CANCELLATION OF CHLORPYRIFOS USES

by Gene Burgess

Please see EPAs announcement to cancel chlorpyrifos products labeled for pre-construction termite use.

****************************

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

WASHINGTON D.C., 20460

OFFICE OF

PREVENTION, PESTICIDES AND TOXIC SUBSTANCES

NOTICE TO DISTRIBUTORS, RETAILERS, AND PCOs REGARDING

CHLORPYRIFOS PRODUCTS

LABELED FOR PRE-CONSTRUCTION TERMITE USE

August 30, 2005

As of December 31, 2005, chlorpyrifos products may no longer be distributed, sold, or used for pre-construction termite control. This restriction is the result of a June, 2000, agreement between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the manufacturers of chlorpyrifos to phase-out most residential uses of these products. This notice provides important information for sellers and users of chlorpyrifos products labeled for pre-construction termite use to make informed decisions about managing their existing inventory of chlorpyrifos products and what they may need to do with stocks of these products remaining after December 31, 2005.

EPA’s goal in issuing this notice is to identify companies or individuals that anticipate having remaining stocks of these products after December 31, 2005, and to work with them and their State pesticide regulatory officials sooner rather than later to develop strategies for lawfully depleting those stocks. This notice is intended to give an overview of potential options and contact information. Specific solutions may vary by location, amount of stock remaining, and current labeling.

What products are involved?

Agency records indicate that there are currently eight active registered products containing chlorpyrifos that have labeling for the pre-construction termiticide use. However, any product, including any sub-registrations, containing chlorpyrifos with labeling for the pre-construction termiticide use is affected.

EPA Reg. No. Product Name Manufacturer

19713-518 Drexel Chlorpyrifos Termiticide Drexel Chemical Co.

33658-11 Navigator 4TC Gharda USA, Inc.

48273-14 Pestban TC Marman USA, Inc.

51036-122 Chlorpyrifos Termite Concentrate Micro Flo Company

55431-1 Termiticide T/C Arizona Chemical Group Inc.

62719-47 Dursban TC Dow AgroSciences LLC

66222-17 Pyrinex Makhteshim-Agan

67760-10 Cyren TC Cheminova Inc.

What is the EPA=s authority to enforce stop-sale and stop-use?

Cancellation orders for deletion of the pre-construction termite use have been published in the Federal Register. See the Federal Register website at: http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/. Once there you can search by category and date.

65 FR 76233-76240, published December 6, 2000

66 FR 7753-7759, published January 25, 2001

66 FR 47481-47485, published September 12, 2001

67 FR 3698-3700, published January 25, 2002

The existing stocks provisions of these Notices provide that the distribution, sale or use of any product bearing instructions for pre-construction termiticide use will not be lawful under FIFRA after December 31, 2005, unless prior to that date, EPA has issued a written determination that such use may continue consistent with the requirements of FIFRA. EPA has made no such determination and expects that the December 31, 2005 stop-use date will remain in force for any product containing chlorpyrifos that is labeled for pre-construction termiticide use.

Does the stop-sale and stop-use apply to the entire product or just the pre-construction use?

The stop sale and stop use restrictions apply only if the product labeling bears the pre-construction termite use. After December 31, 2005, these products can continue to be used lawfully for other labeled uses, provided they are relabeled, stickered or bear supplemental labeling either deleting or expressly prohibiting the pre-construction termite use.

How can relabeling or stickering be accomplished?

Manufacturers have agreed to work with States and EPA to provide stickers or supplemental labeling in situations where this may be needed. Stickers must be on the product at the point of sale; however, it is acceptable to attach the stickers to product earlier in the channels of trade.

The sticker should state the following: “It is unlawful to use this product for pre-construction termiticide treatments after December 31, 2005.” The sticker cannot obscure or block other labeling.

A sticker may be attached to a box that holds multiple containers of product if a label, that complies with Section 2(q)(2) of FIFRA, appears prominently on the box. If this label language does not appear prominently on the box, stickering will be required on the individual containers within the box.

If the product is sold or distributed in individual containers, the individual containers must be relabeled or stickered.

If an entire pallet is sold to an end user, stickers do not need to be attached to each box or container. However, a sufficient supply of stickers must be handed to the end user so that boxes or containers can be stickered after the boxes are taken off the pallet.

The June 2000 Memorandum of Agreement provides that any relabeling of products may be accomplished under the supervision of a registrant by persons other than the registrant, and may be conducted at facilities that are not registered establishments, provided that the registrant complies with reporting requirements.

In order to take advantage of this option, EPA has instructed the registrants that they shall submit to EPA, a report that identifies all individuals or entities to whom the registrant provided replacement labels or stickers, the locations at which relabeling occurred, the registration numbers of the relabeled products and the number of units relabeled at each location. The reports should be filed with the Chief, Agricultural Branch, Office of Compliance (2225A), Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency by April 1, 2006.

What uses of the above listed chlorpyrifos containing products remain lawful after December 31, 2005?

Uses vary by the specific products identified in Table 1, but generally include one or more of the following uses:

Underground utility cable and conduit (Non-residential)

Utility poles and Fence Posts (Non-residential)

Treatment of Wood Products (Applications must be made in manufacturing, industrial, or right-of-way settings only.)

To prevent insect attack of wood products such as fence posts, utility poles, railroad ties, landscape timbers, logs, pallets, wooden containers, poles, posts, and processed wood products.

Pest Control on Outside Surfaces and Around Buildings (Industrial plant sites only)

To control ants, bees, carpenter ants, clover mites, cockroaches, crickets, earwigs, hornets, millipedes, scorpions, spiders, wasps, and yellow jackets.

Apply to outside surfaces of buildings including porches, window frames, eaves, patios, garages, refuse dumps, and other areas where pests may congregate or may have been observed.

Chlorpyrifos containing products may be used in industrial plant sites such as outdoor perimeter treatments of commercial facilities, office buildings, and other non-residential buildings.

Chlorpyrifos containing products may not be used in or around schools, motels, hotels, grocery stores, hospitals, restaurants, dining areas, athletic fields, parks, and any other settings not discussed above.

Which uses are included on each label?

Table 1 Uses on Each Label.

Use Site Product Number	Underground utility cable and conduits	Utility poles and fence posts	Control of wood infesting insects	Pest Control on Outside Surfaces and Around Buildings
Drexel Chlorpyrifos Termiticide (Drexel Chemical Co.)	---	Yes	---	---
Navigator 4TC (Gharda USA, Inc.)	---	Yes	Yes	Yes
PestbanTC (Marman USA, Inc.)	Yes	Yes	---	Yes
Chlorpyrifos Termite Concentrate (Micro Flo Company)	---	---	Yes	Yes
Termiticide T/C (Arizona Chemical Group)	---	---	Yes	Yes
Dursban TC (Dow AgroSciences LLC)	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Pyrinex (Makhteshim-Agan)	---	Yes	---	---
Cyren TC (Cheminova Inc.)	Yes	Yes	Yes	---

What should retailers and distributors do now?

Retailers and distributors should inventory their stocks on hand of these products and determine if they can reasonably expect to sell stocks in sufficient time that products can be used by December 31, 2005. If retailers or distributors believe that they will not be able to sell stocks on hand, they should contact their State pesticide regulatory official or the EPA contact listed below to investigate relabeling, redistribution, or disposal options.

Chlorpyrifos products that do not contain instructions for pre-construction termite control (e.g., products labeled only for agricultural uses) are not affected by the stop sales or the stop-use date.

What should PCOs do now?

PCOs should not purchase any more chlorpyrifos products labeled for the pre-construction use than they can reasonably expect to use by the end of this year (2005). If pest control operators or companies have stocks currently in their possession that they believe will not be exhausted prior to December 31, 2005, they should contact the distributor from whom they purchased the product, their State pesticide regulatory official or the EPA contact listed below to investigate relabeling or disposal options.

All stakeholders are reminded to comply with label and all other applicable requirements in disposing of any chlorpyrifos products. It is illegal to dump chlorpyrifos or most other pesticides into sinks, toilets, storm drains, or any body of water.

What are my disposal options?

Retailers, distributors and PCOs will be responsible for safe storage and disposal of any chlorpyrifos products that cannot be used by December 31, 2005 unless they can be legally relabeled or redistributed. Disposal costs could be significant.

Contact your State pesticide disposal program to determine if a waste or pesticide collection program, such as a Clean Sweep program, is available to you.

If no collection program is available, ask your Solid or hazardous waste agency about your disposal options.

To identify your State pesticide disposal coordinator, see

http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/regulating/disposal_contacts.htm

To identify your State solid or hazardous waste agency, see,

http://www.epa.gov/epa.gov/epaoswer/osw/stateweb.htm

Who to contact:

Questions related to this notice should be directed to Tom Myers, Team Leader, Special Review and Reregistration Division, (703) 308-8589, e-mail: myers.tom@epa.gov.