Green Clover Worm Moths

The last few days we have been seeing lots of green clover worm moths. They are dark gray in our area, but other colors are out there too.  Thanks to Stephanie Porter and Kelly Estes for helping with identification.  The one below is not pretty because I smashed him a bit to take the pic.  Purdue University gives advice on scouting and economic thresholds.  I our area, it may be worth a look in your fields judging from the number of moths I am seeing.  As with many insects, the worms are the problem.  The moths just show potential.  Kelly Estes shared an article from 1998 that says in general they are more of a nuisance than problem.

Black Cutworms

The Illinois Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey is predicting a black cutworn outbreak on May 13 based on moths caught in traps.  According to Kelly Estes, Christian County is likely to have a significant outbreak.  Check out her map.

Grapevine beetle

I found the beetle below on my dewberries.  He is about an inch long.  He is a grapevine beetle.  My neighbor has some untended grape vines very close, so I guess he was eating them.  He is about an inch long.  According to most of what I have read, the grapevine beetle seldom does economic damage. 

Pollination Time for Corn

We have been seeing corn tassels peaking out since Wednesday.  Yesterday I went to St. Louis and noticed many more tassels on the way home than I did on the way there.  Moisture conditions should be in good shape for pollination at least for early corn.  One thing standing in the way of a good crop might be Japanese Beetles. University of Illinois entomologist Mike Gray presents new research results concerning silk clipping in this bulletin.  The good news is that infestations so far appear to be light, but we need to scout fields for the first 5 days of silking to assure good pollination. I should add that I expect 3 to 4 weeks to pass before all corn is pollinated, so that is a long scouting window.

Help for Honey Bees

One of the topics at our CCA convention in December was honey bees.  We hear a lot about neonicotinoids as a cause of honey bee decline, but that is only a piece of the puzzle.  Prairie Farmer released an article today about a USDA program to help farmers promote a healthful Honey Bee population.  Bees are a very necessary part of agricultural production.  Check with your local NRCS office to see if you can help protect honey bees. 

Map adopts emergency measures to control Helicoverpa

By Eduardo Paim:  

 

Due to the severe damage caused to crops by the caterpillar Helicoverpa armigera , the Minister of Agriculture , Livestock and Supply , Antonio Andrade , signed text that establishes guidelines for the integrated management for the control of pests . Ordinance No. 1109 , linked to the 8133 decree was published on Thursday , ( 7:11 ) , in the Official Gazette

As of now , the states that have officially declared a state of emergency in relation to plant caterpillar Helicoverpa have a plan prepared by the suppression Organ State or District Agriculture Defense state . The plan should be based on the concepts and practices of Integrated Pest Management , developed by the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation ( Embrapa ) with the participation of representatives from academia , government and manufacturing .

In the opinion of researchers from Embrapa , the growth of Helicoverpa is due to inadequate farming practices , which must follow certain guidelines as fallowing the adoption of shelter areas , destruction of crop residues combined with the controlled use of chemicals , including other practices .

The text signed by Antonio Andrade authorize , on an emergency and temporary import of pesticide products that have the ingredient active substance emamectin benzoate . Properties that use the substance will be accompanied by supervision . " The plan , in addition to establishing the guidelines of a suppression program , authorizing the import of benzoate to be used as an adjuvant in a program of Integrated Management of Prague which aims to control it ." Explained the director of the Department of Plant Pathology , Cósam Coutinho .

History

On 28 October this year , the President of the Republic , Dilma Rousseff signed Decree 8.133 , which authorizes the Minister of Agriculture to establish the control actions needed to face agricultural diseases or pests , when officially declared state of emergency sanitary or phytosanitary , which includes the temporary importation of pesticides not allowed , provided it meets certain technical criteria , including the proven efficiency and not being involved in risks to the environment and public health .

On the last day November 4 , west of Bahia was officially declared a state of emergency in relation to plant pest Helicoverpa armigera . With the announcement , the state government can now define the area of action and adopt management measures through suppression plan

Green Stink Bug

My Dad spotted this Green Stinkbug Nymph on my 4 wheeler today.  They feed on soybean pods.  Chances of economic damage right now are slim.

Green Stink Bug Nymph

Comments on Today's Weather and Crop Report

It is always interesting to get the new weather and crop reports.  They say my area, West Southwest, has 80% of corn planted.  That seems like about the right number to me.  18% reported being short of moisture in the topsoil.  I have not seen that, and I would venture I have bored more holes in the topsoil than any of the reporters.  29% have reported short subsoil moisture.  I am not sure how that can be when tile are running. I was finding Japanese beetle grubs in one field today. 

55% of winter week is headed statewide.  Most in our area is headed.  9% of alfalfa is reported as cut.  I think we are higher than that.  Growth has slowed with below average temperatures, but it still needs to be cut now.  Waiting to cut alfalfa will make for lower quality hay. 

Brown Marmorated Stinkbug

One of our presentations in Michigan was on the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug.  You may recall a blog on the redlined stinkbug last summer.  Well yet another invasive stinkbug may be upon us.  Tracy Lesky made the presentation.  She works for ARS in West Virginia.  Yes it has already been found in Illinois.  Yes it eats corn and soybeans along with a number of fruit and vegetable crops.  Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) seems to have the typical shield shape of most stink bugs, but none of the natural enemies. 

The only really effective controls seem to be the banned or soon to be banned organophosphate insecticides.  BMSB seems to develop a tolerance to other insecticides rather quickly.  It would probably be good advice to say that if you find any stink bugs you should identify species or have someone from Extension Service identify them to make sure you do not have one of the hard to control invasive species.