“WHAT’S HAPPENING?”

The University of Tennessee Extension Service

Entomology & Plant Pathology - EPP #60

August 5, 2005

AGE LIMIT ON PRIVATE APPLICATORS

by Gene Burgess

The question has been asked. Is there an age limit for Private Applicators? A proposal has been sent to the state legislators that requires a person to be at least age 16 to become certified as a Private Applicator and at least age 18 to become certified as a Commercial Applicator. But, this legislation has not passed. Therefore, at the present time, there is no legal age limit for a Private or Commercial Applicator. As a guideline, we have not encouraged anyone under age 16 to become certified as a Private or Commercial.

TOBACCO IPM REPORT

by Gene Burgess

Carter County:

In the Platinum plot little worm damage was observed. Red-root pigweed is beginning to become a small problem. This field was sprayed with Actigard and Orthene on July 20.

In the Orthene plot little worm damage was observed. Red-root pigweed is beginning to become a problem. This field was sprayed with Actigard and Orthene on July 20.

Field 2, in which the plants were treated with Admire before setting, looks good. No foliar insecticides have been applied. No insect problems existed. Target spot was observed on the bottom leaves.

Jefferson County:

Significant budworm damage was reported, especially in the check plot. Brown spot was also reported. Flea beetles, which were prevalent earlier, are now under control.

Continue to watch for budworms and hornworms. Hornworms may continue to be a problem up to harvest in some fields. Treat when 10% of the plants are infested.

MODE OF ACTION LABELING

by Frank A. Hale

The Provado 1.6 Flowable Insecticide label was updated this year. This imidacloprid insecticide by Bayer CropScience now has the mode of action group, 4A at the top of the first page of the label. Mode of action groupings aid pesticide applicators in their resistance management programs. It is suggested for resistance management that the same insecticide or miticide should not be applied to more than one generation of the pest. It is important to have some idea of the generation time of the pest that you are attempting to control. For example, the two spotted spider mite generation time can be as short as 8 days in hot weather while many caterpillar pests have a generation time of a month or more. Concerning the example of two spotted spider mites, an applicator could apply the first application at day zero (lets say Monday), a second application five days later (Saturday) and then any further applications would be with a miticide with a different mode of action. As a general rule when the label permits, make 2 or 3 applications of an insecticide or miticide in sequence, then rotate to products with different modes of action. The mode of action group number on the label just makes it easier for the applicator to choose pesticides with resistance management in mind. Olympic Horticultural Products has an updated (Volume VI) Chemical Class Chart for ornamental crop production which contains the mode of action groups for insecticides/miticides, fungicides, herbicides and plant growth regulators. Their technical service number is 1-800-356-4647 and website is www.olympichort.com

SOYBEAN RUST MEETING IN NASHVILLE

by Beth Long (notification from APS)

Registration is now open for the upcoming National Soybean Rust Symposium, November 15-16, 2005, to be held in Nashville, Tennessee. This meeting is sponsored by the American Phytopathological (Plant Pathology) Society.

Register early for the first symposium of its kind in the United States. Join key leaders to hear the latest results, share your perspectives, and develop action plans for soybean rust in 2006. Program content, registration form, and hotel information are now available online at http://www.apsnet.org/online/sbr You can save $20 if you register for the meeting by September 30, 2005.

ROPE, SNAKE, WORM OR FLY LARVAE?

by Karen Vail

Through the years I have received inquiries regarding a moving mass of maggots or larval masses moving like a slug on the concrete or a trail of slimy something climbing a wall. Our latest inquiry occurred the last week in July. The mass looks like a rope, snake or large worm, but upon closer inspection, the individuals look like insect larvae. Closer inspection yet reveals a “rope” of fungus gnat larvae.

Fungus gnat larvae have threadlike, 1/4-inch white bodies with a dark head capsule and typically feed on fungi and decaying organic matter. When larvae are present in “ropes,” these “ropes” may be several feet long and can be seen crawling up walls or along driveways where and when rain or moisture has been abundant. The adults are about 1/8-inch long, dark, and slightly resemble a very small mosquito.

Usually we suggest eliminating the food source to control flies. In a case like this, where the maggots are feeding on decaying vegetation or fungus on roots, and are found in moist, shady areas such as leaf litter, the probability of removing all food sources in a yard would be quite slim. By mechanically destroying the maggot “rope” and reducing the amount of decaying vegetation in the yard, you may reduce the size of future infestation, but it is unlikely that you will prevent them. Drier weather should reduce the chance of future occurrences.

More information on fungus gnats can be found in the UT Extension fact sheet, SP341C Fungus Gnats by Frank Hale at www.utextension.utk.edu.

We hope to have an image of the fungus gnat rope viewable from http://eppftpserver.ag.utk.edu/profiles/disease/mmmush.htm

PROVADO LABEL UPDATE

by Frank A. Hale

Additional crops have been added to the Provado label. While potato has been and is still on the label, a whole group of root, tuberous and corm vegetables have been added. A few examples in this group include Jerusalem artichoke, garden beet, cassava, ginseng, horseradish, parsnip, radish, sweet potato, turnip (tops or greens may be utilized for food or feed), and yam. Other additional crops on the label include globe artichoke, bushberry (blueberry, currant, elderberry, gooseberry, huckleberry, Juneberry, lignonberry, and salal), stone fruit (apricot, cherry, nectarine, peach, plum, plumcot, and prune), tropical fruit (a long list in addition to mango that has been on the label), and poplar/cottonwood grown for pulp or timber. Note that Japanese beetle adults are listed on the label for bushberry with a 3 day pre-harvest interval (PHI), for stone fruit (apricot, nectarine, peach) with a 0 day PHI, and for stone fruit (cherries, plums, plumcot, prune) with a 7 day PHI.

FIELD CROP UPDATE

by Russ Patrick

Southwestern Corn borer:

Moth catches, run in cooperation with Kevin Kopp of AgriGold, have been up the month of July but have not been as high as in July 2004. His readings in August may tell how many will go into overwintering quarters.

Stored Grain:

Corn: It will not be long before harvest begins. With corn the main thing you need to do is clean out the bin before adding this year's grain. Spray Tempo on the walls and floorings of the empty bins before filling. Keeping the grain aerated and dry will also help prevent insect damage from occurring. Do this all year if you expect to reduce or rid your bins of insect pests. Even during cool days let the fans run to keep the grain dry and cool.

Disclaimer Statement

Pesticides recommended in this publication were registered for the prescribed uses when printed. Pesticide regulations

are continuously reviewed. Should registration or a recommended pesticide be canceled, it would

no longer be recommended by the University of Tennessee.

Use of trade or brand names in this publication is for clarity and information; it does not imply approval of the

product to the exclusion of others that may be of similar, suitable composition, nor does it guarantee or

warrant the standard of the product.

Precautionary Statement

To protect people and the environment, pesticides should be used safely. This is everyone’s responsibility,

especially the user. Read and follow label directions carefully before you mix, apply store or dispose of a pesticide. According to laws regulating pesticides, they must be used only as directed by the label.

Persons who do not obey the law will be subject to penalties.

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