Home, Yard, and Garden Newsletter

IN THIS ISSUE:

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Fall Webworm

http://hyg.ipm.illinois.edu/article.php?id=527

Fall webworm lives as a group of caterpillars that spin a communal silk web. This silk nest typically encloses the end of the branch and associated leaves. The caterpillars remain in the webbing, feeding on these enclosed leaves. When the leaves inside the web are eaten, the silk webbing is expanded to include more leaves.

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Turf Insecticides and Pollinators

http://hyg.ipm.illinois.edu/article.php?id=528

Insecticides, particularly neonicotinoids, have been receiving some heavy hits recently about effects on honey bees and other pollinating insects. Other pollinating insects include bumblebees, sweat bees, ground bees, flower flies, bee flies, butterflies, moths, and various beetles. Last week, I attended the National Turfgrass Entomology Workshop held in South Kingston, Rhode Island where this topic came up.

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Turfgrass Rust

http://hyg.ipm.illinois.edu/article.php?id=529

Turf rust outbreaks are commonly seen in late summer to early fall as moderate temperatures and long evening dew periods occur. Rust diseases are most severe on slow growing turf stressed by drought, summer heat, low-fertility, shade or compaction. From a distance, severely infected turf appears thin and tinted yellow, red, or brown. Closer inspection will reveal individual blades with numerous yellow orange pustules.

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New Plant Diagnostic Sample Submission App

http://hyg.ipm.illinois.edu/article.php?id=530

The Plant Diagnostic Sample Submission App is a joint effort to provide a way to easily submit digital images of plant problems or pests on the go. This App is available for iOS and available for free download in the iTunes store. Farmers, homeowners, greenhouse and nursery growers, agricultural specialists and others now have a new mobile application resource to identify plants, plant diseases, insect pests and other plant problems.

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Modified Growing Degree Days (Base 50°F,  March 1 through August 22)

http://hyg.ipm.illinois.edu/article.php?id=531

Insect development is temperature dependent. We can use degree days to help predict insect emergence and activity.

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Invasive Species Roundup

http://hyg.ipm.illinois.edu/article.php?id=532

Spotted wing drosophila, brown marmorated stink bug, and thousand cankers disease are discussed this week.

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Illinois Department of Agriculture Emerald Ash Borer Newsletter

The Summer 2013 edition of the Illinois Department of Agriculture's EAB Newsletter is now available.

Issue no. 9 of the Home, Yard & Garden Newsletter

Issue no. 9 of the Home, Yard & Garden Newsletter is now available on the Web. Point your browser to:

http://hyg.ipm.illinois.edu

IN THIS ISSUE:

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Japanese Beetle Adult Emergence

http://hyg.ipm.illinois.edu/article.php?id=493

Japanese beetle adults should be emerging in southern Illinois and will be emerging in central Illinois during the last week of June. They will emerge in northern Illinois during the first week of July. Look for them first on golf courses and other well-watered turf and then on smartweed, one of their favorite host plants.

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Pesticide Concerns

http://hyg.ipm.illinois.edu/article.php?id=494

It is important when trying to keep landscapes looking as good as possible to be aware of the consequences of some of your actions. Perhaps the likeliest situation where unintended consequences can result is in insecticide and other pesticide applications.

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Bagworms

http://hyg.ipm.illinois.edu/article.php?id=495

Bagworms will have hatched in southern and central Illinois. They should hatch by the end of the week in northern Illinois. When newly hatched bagworms emerge from their mother’s bag, they climb to the top of shrubs, trees, and any other erect object. They spin out two to three feet of silk which catches in the wind and blows them to new locations. They repeat this process, called ballooning, for about two weeks before settling down to serious feeding.

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Boxelder Bugs

http://hyg.ipm.illinois.edu/article.php?id=496

Boxelder bugs have two generations per year, with the second generation becoming adult at this time. Boxelder bugs feed primarily as nymphs and adults on seeds of box elder, a native maple. They also feed on the seeds of silver maple and other maples, but apparently not very heavily.

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Bacterial Leaf Spot of English Ivy

http://hyg.ipm.illinois.edu/article.php?id=497

English  Ivy (Hedera helix) is a ground cover/clinging  vine with attractive, dark green, and glossy leaves. In the landscape, it is  commonly used in shaded areas, where grass and other plants may be difficult to  become established. Several leaf spots are known to infect English Ivy, but one  of the more common is Bacterial Leaf Spot caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. Hederae.

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Why in the Heck are my Tomato Leaves Curling?

http://hyg.ipm.illinois.edu/article.php?id=498

There can be several causes for tomato leaves to roll or curl.  Some of the main causes for these symptoms to occur are physiological issues, herbicide exposure, viral infection, or less common problems such as nutritional issues, insect infestation, or phytoplasma infection.  When determining the cause of tomato leaf curling/rolling, first take note of any abnormal growing conditions early or during the growing season. Check to see which leaves (old, new, or all) are rolling, determine the direction of the leaf rolling, and whether any other plant parts, including fruit, are showing abnormal symptoms.  Therefore, if symptoms are not determined to be a result of virus or herbicide, the cause could be physiological.  It takes a bit of detective work to determine the problem and don’t forget there could be a combination of issues.

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Quackgrass - Also Known as Devils-grass and Some Other Not So Nice Names

http://hyg.ipm.illinois.edu/article.php?id=499

This morning I saw the tallest,  thickest stand of quackgrass I think  I’ve ever seen growing in a perennial landscape bed.  Certainly, the cool temperatures with timely  rains we’ve had this growing season have been very conducive to growth of this  cool season, perennial, grassy weed.  It  can grow up to 4 feet and from what I saw, it was just about there.  In fact, a quick prayer for the gardener  might be in order.  Has he or she simply  given up on this weed?  This weed may be  choking out the perennials but let’s hope it hasn’t choked out the gardener.

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Modified Growing Degree Days (Base 50°F,  March 1 through June 14)

http://hyg.ipm.illinois.edu/article.php?id=500

Insect development is  temperature dependent. We can use http://www.entomology.umn.edu/cues/Web/049DegreeDays.pdf">degree days

to help predict insect emergence and activity.   Home, Yard, and Garden readers can use the links below with the degree  day accumulations above to determine what insect pests could be active in their  area.

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New Issue of the University of Illinois Home, Yard, and Garden Newsletter

Issue no. 7 of the Home, Yard & Garden Newsletter is now available on the Web. Point your browser to:

http://hyg.ipm.illinois.edu

IN THIS ISSUE:

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Planthoppers

http://hyg.ipm.illinois.edu/article.php?id=480

We have been receiving reports of planthoppers and woolly aphids, particularly on ash, in various areas of the state. Both of these insects are covered with and leave behind white, fluffy tufts of waxy strands that get stuck on leaves and stems by the honeydew that these insects excrete. They are unlikely to cause enough damage to warrant control, but can be controlled by the insecticides in the following woolly aphid article.

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Woolly Aphids

http://hyg.ipm.illinois.edu/article.php?id=481

Adult woolly aphids appear as flying lint, tiny drifting angels, or white fuzzies, close to ¼ inch in diameter, which seem to float through the air. If you try to catch one, you soon realize that it is capable of powered flight. These aphids are green to blue and covered with white waxy strands that stand out from the body.

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Common Cedar Rust Disease of Illinois

http://hyg.ipm.illinois.edu/article.php?id=482

There are three common rust diseases found in the landscape that use cedar as an alternate host: cedar-apple rust, cedar-hawthorn rust, and cedar-quince rust.

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"Keeping Up" with the U of I Plant Clinic

http://hyg.ipm.illinois.edu/article.php?id=483

A great way to keep up with the U of I Plant Clinic is to use social media. Access using either Facebook or Twitter for important updates and news, and the latest research on plant problem management.

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Common Purslane -- Blessing or Bane?

http://hyg.ipm.illinois.edu/article.php?id=484

Common purslane is an interesting plant.  Some will curse its appearance in their garden and others will embrace it.  Again, we are reminded that a weed is only a weed if it is unwanted where it is growing.  The primary redeeming quality to purslane is that it is edible. 

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Modified Growing Degree Days (Base 50°F,  March 1 through June 6)

http://hyg.ipm.illinois.edu/article.php?id=485

Insect development is temperature dependent. We can use degree days to help predict insect emergence and activity.

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Invasive Species Spotlight: Viburnum Leaf Beetle

http://hyg.ipm.illinois.edu/article.php?id=486

Viburnum is one of America's most popular shrubs because of its beautiful flowers and wildlife attracting berries. However, this pretty plant is being threatened by the invasive Viburnum Leaf Beetle, a native of Europe that has been moved to North America on infected viburnums. It is now established in several states in the northeast and has now been found in several Midwestern states.

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May 3 Issue of Morton Arboretum Plant Health Care Report

This issue contains information on:

Elm bark beetle update
Galls
Larch casebearer
Hemlock rust mites
Cedar rust diseases
Dothistroma needle blight
Black knot
Crabgrass control
Timing spraying
Lichens

National Plant Diagnostic Network April Newsletter Now Available

The April issue of NPDN News is now available at www.npdn.org/newsletter

April Highlights:

·         Capsicum chlorosis virus, a new tospovirus in the USA

·         Invasives species awareness month

·         Regulations on the importation of plants for planting

·         Our most valuable resource

·         Sentinel Plant Network workshop in Birmingham

·         In Regional News: EAB found in NH

Final 2012 Issue of Home, Yard, & Garden

IN THIS ISSUE:

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Last Issue for 2012

This is the last issue of the Home, Yard, and Garden Pest Newsletter for 2012. There is an index to this year's articles and topics in this issue. We plan on publishing the first issue of 2013 in mid-April.

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Neonicotinoid Concerns

Recent research studies have shown a connection between several neonicotinoid insecticides and bees. These highly systemic insecticides have been increasingly shown to translocate into the flower pollen of various plants where they are picked up by pollinating insects including honey bees and bumble bees.

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New Uninvited Fall House Guests: Brown Marmorated StinkBugs

Like many invasive species, the brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) has a long list of host plants, including many woody ornamental trees as well as several agricultural crops including fruit trees, grapes, tomatoes, corn, soybeans and others. Also, like many other invasive insects, it is easily moved from location to location by humans (hitchhiking on vehicles, movement of shipping materials, and movement of plants).

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Surveying for Illinois Invasive Species with the CAPSProgram

While a central geographic location and a superior transportation system afford Illinois a competitive advantage over many other states in commodity movement, these same factors make Illinois extremely vulnerable to accidentally or purposely introduced exotic pests.

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A Review of the 2012 Season at the University of IllinoisPlant Clinic

The University of Illinois is now open year-round, but we are starting to reflect upon the 2012 growing season.  Our Plant Clinic sample load has nearly tripled in the last several years.

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Index 2012

An index of articles sorted by topic is provided.

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