Issue no. 12 of the Home, Yard & Garden Newsletter in now available

IN THIS ISSUE:

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White Grubs

Preventative treatment for white grubs is recommended to watered turf in those areas of the state where rainfall has been slight and non-irrigated turf is dry and dormant.

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Sod Webworms

High numbers of sod webworm adults have been noticed around lights and in light traps. There are several species of sod webworms that are damaging to turf, but the adult moths look similar. They have light tan wings that are held tight against the body, giving the body a tube-like appearance.

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Cicada Killer and Velvet Ant

Cicada killers are becoming numerous in turf areas. Adult cicada killers are large wasps, about 2 inches long and black, with yellow band-like marks. Velvet ants are parasites of cicada killer and bumblebee nests.

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Peony Powdery Mildew

A recent peony sample at the University of Illinois Plant Clinic was covered with powdery mildew. The disease can be identified by its white, powdery growth covering the foliage.

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Cherry Leaf Spot

A current problem on edible and ornamental cherries in Illinois is cherry leaf spot, caused by the fungus, Blumeriella jaapii. The pathogen is also known by one of its synonyms, Coccomyces hiemalis.

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Foliar Nematode of Hosta

The foliar nematode is a pathogen in the genus Aphelenchoides. It lives in the plant foliage, not in the roots or soil.

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Highway Invasives: Road Spread Weeds

Roadways and highways are becoming one of the major pathways by which invasive plants spread. Wind and air movement from passing vehicles help disperse seeds. Cutting and mowing, and regular road maintenance activities can aid in the spread of these invasives.

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Brown Marmorated Stink Bug: Know This Invasive!

The Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (Halyomorpha halys) is native to Asia but has been transported to the United States and found in many states in the eastern U.S. Its presence in Illinois is unknown.
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Issue no. 11 of the Home, Yard & Garden Newsletter

Issue no. 11 of the Home, Yard & Garden Newsletter is now available

IN THIS ISSUE:

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Last Weekly Issue

This is the last weekly issue of the Home, Yard, and Garden Pest Newsletter for 2010. We will continue with issues every other week through July, August, and September. We will follow with a final issue in late October.

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White Grubs

Japanese beetles and masked chafers are actively laying eggs at this time in turfgrass. The severity of this infestation is primarily governed by the adult population size and rainfall patterns.

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Diplodia Blight Vs Pine Wilt and Dothistroma Blight

We have seen quite a bit of Diplodia blight on pines lately through the clinic. Many Plant Clinic clients ask for help in distinguishing this disease from pine wilt or Dothistroma blight. All three diseases will cause needles to turn brown.

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Spruce Rhizosphaera Vs. Cytospora

Rhizosphaera needle cast has been a common Plant Clinic sample in the last two weeks. Spruce trees with purple/brown one- and two-year-old needles are suspect. The newest growth will appear green. Affected needles are cast (dropped).

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Bacterial Blight of Ornamentals

Bacterial blight, caused by Pseudomonas syringae, has been common this past spring and early summer. In most plant pathology literature, Pseudomonas syringae is considered a weak pathogen. It requires a wound to enter the plant and does most damage to plants under stress.

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Common Teasel: Highway Invasive

Teasel is a frequent sight along Illinois roadways and in abandoned lots. This plant was introduced in the 1700's from Europe, most likely as an ornamental. Teasel prefers open and sunny habitats, often along roadsides and at disturbed sites. Once established in an area, teasel will crowd out native plants and reduce plant diversity.
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Issue no. 10 of the Home, Yard & Garden Newsletter is now available on the Web.

IN THIS ISSUE:

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Malcolm C. Shurtleff


Malcolm C. Shurtleff, former author of this newsletter and many University of Illinois Extension publications, died on May 29, 2010 in Pearland Texas. He was almost 88 years of age at the time of death.

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Scouting Watch

Japanese beetle, pine spittlebug, and magnolia scale are the subject this week.

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Pythium Root Rot of Garden Plants

Root rot problems are often difficult to diagnose and can be confused with environmental stress. Above-ground root rot symptoms might include stunted growth, smaller than normal leaves, poor foliar color, dieback of stems, or sudden wilt and death of plants. Plants with Pythium root rot will have blackened root tips or soft, dark rot of the outer (cortex layer) of the roots.

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Watch for Oak Wilt


As the season progresses, we see many oaks that look stressed. How do we know the cause of the stress? Some possible causes include Armillaria root rot, root compaction or injury, severe oak anthracnose, bacterial leaf scorch, and oak wilt.

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Pine Wilt


Pine Wilt is the only vascular disease of pines. It is much like Verticillium wilt on deciduous trees except the pathogen is a nematode rather than a fungus. Pinewood nematode is the cause of Pine Wilt. It moves from tree to tree by way of sawyer beetles.

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Transporting Invasive Species--What's hiding in your tree?


The recent storms that have swept across the state have left destruction in their wake--including downed trees and limbs. We've received numerous calls about what can be done with this green waste. Many cities have organized storm pick up or maybe even a green waste recycling center. But are you aware of the dangers associated with invasive species and moving this debris and firewood?

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Saltcedar: Watch Out for This Weed!


Saltcedar (Tamarix ramosissima) is an invasive weed that poses a large threat to native ecosystems and local water tables. This plant is a native of Asia and Europe and was originally brought over in the early 1800's to be used as an ornamental and later for erosion control and wind breaks.

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Aquatic Invasives: Brazilian Elodea and Hydrilla


There are two invasive species threatening America's waterways- Brazilian elodea (Egeria densa) and hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata). Hydrilla is a persistent problem throughout North America while Brazilian elodea only survives in the north.
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Issue no. 8 of the Home, Yard & Garden Newsletter is now available

IN THIS ISSUE:

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Cottony Maple Scale

Cottony maple scale, Pulvinaria innumerabilis, is very common this year in northeastern Illinois. This insect occurs in the northern half of Illinois, as far south as Danville and Lincoln. Cottony maple scale occurs most commonly on silver maple, but is also common on other maples including box elder. It is also common on black walnut, honey locust, linden, black locust, red mulberry, and white ash.

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Twicestabbed Lady Beetle


The adult twicestabbed lady beetle is one-eighth inch in diameter and black with two red spots on the back. It overwinters under loose bark as an adult beetle, emerging in the spring to feed on the overwintered cottony maple scales through the spring.

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Cottony Maple Scale Management

Control of cottony maple scale can be achieved in several ways. Letting nature take its course and allowing the twicestabbed lady beetles to provide control is one option. Another is to apply a crawler spray after the cottony maple scale crawlers hatch about mid-July. Acephate (Orthene), acetamiprid (TriStar), bifenthrin (Talstar, Onyx), cyfluthrin (Tempo), insecticidal soap, malathion, and summer spray oil are all effective crawler sprays.

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Scouting Watch

Bagworms, earwigs, and grass sawfly are the subject for this week's scouting watch.

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Friend or Foe: Giant Hogweed and Its Look-alikes

Giant Hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum) is a member of the carrot or parsnip family (Apiaceae). While many members of this family are native to Illinois, Giant hogweed is an invasive species that was brought from Asia in the 1900's. This plant was most likely brought as an ornamental because of its showy white flowers and impressive size. However, it is very aggressive and noxious.

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Hemlock Wooly Adelgid: Know This Tree Killer!

The Hemlock Wooly Adelgid (Adelges tsugae) is an invasive species that was brought from Japan to the Western United States in the 1920's. The insect has since moved east and can now be found in Georgia, the Carolinas, through the Appalachian Mountains and in parts of the New England area. The Hemlock Wooly Adelgid is of particular concern because, unlike the Hemlocks in its native range in Japan, American hemlock species have no defenses against it.

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Additional notes on NPDES General Permit Comment Period

In last week's issue, notice was given of a NPDES General Permit Comment Period. It seems that this EPA announcement (and the whole concept of requiring NPDES permits) has spurred considerably more questions than answers. We in the Pesticide Safety Education Program are currently unclear about the exact scope of this matter and we encourage all pesticide applicators to participate in these sessions, ask questions, and submit comments.
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Illinois Pest News: Home, Yard & Garden

Issue no. 1 of the Home, Yard & Garden Newsletter is now available on the Web. Point your browser to:



IN THIS ISSUE:

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First Issue for 2010


This is the first issue of the Home, Yard, and Garden Pest Newsletter for 2010. In each issue, we provide information about plant diseases and insect pests that are occurring or about to occur throughout the state.

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Commercial Handbook Available

The 2010 Illinois Commercial Landscape and Turfgrass Pest Management Handbook is available. This publication provides management recommendations for diseases, weeds, and insect pests associated with trees, shrubs, turf, and flowers for professionals including arborists, turf care professionals, landscapers, golf course personnel, nurserymen, and garden center operators.

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Pin Oak Gall Larvae

We have received reports of large numbers of larvae being found under pin oak trees in the Springfield area. Based on somewhat sketchy information, these appear to be the mature larvae of a gall midge in the genus Contarinia.

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Emerald Ash Borer

The Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) has added Ford and Iroquois counties to its emerald ash borer (EAB) quarantine. The expansion became necessary after the discovery of the destructive beetle outside the boundaries of the former quarantine in March.

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Scouting Watch

Eastern tent caterpillar and European pine sawfly are profiled.

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Plant Clinic Season Opener May 3rd

The University of Illinois Plant Clinic will open its doors for the 2010 season beginning at 8am on Monday, May 3rd. A few of the staff members are different this year, but hours, fees, and services remain the same as the 2009 season.

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Sudden Oak Death Update

Sudden oak death is a disease that kills oaks. It is present in California, Oregon, and Washington. The cause is a fungal-like pathogen, Phytophthora ramorum.

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Boxwood Problems Remain

Calls about boxwood problems started for me about two years ago. I continue to receive calls concerning boxwoods, and the problem is the same.
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