Pictured: Apple maggot fly. Photo by Adobe stock randimal
Apple Maggot Flies
The Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection’s latest field report indicates the first apple maggot flies of the season are emerging.
Apple growers concerned about this pest can set a minimum of three red sphere traps per 10 acres in early-ripening cultivars. And they can set one trap every 200-300 feet in perimeter trees adjacent to wild hosts, according to DATCP.
The traps should be placed at eye-level and be clearly visible on the outside edge of the canopy. Home gardeners may also use the visual traps to monitor apple maggot. The economic threshold for control is one fly per unbaited trap per week or five flies per baited trap per week.
Japanese Beetle
Reports from DATCP’s apple orchard pest monitoring network show Japanese beetle pressure is also increasing in Wisconsin apple orchards and vineyards.
Damage to fruit trees, ornamentals and field crops will intensify this month. If scouting indicates the need for control, targeted spot treatment of individual trees or problem areas is usually an effective alternative to broadcast applications. Most chemical treatments are only effective against Japanese beetle when populations are low and the beetles are first migrating into orchards, vineyards, or other crops.
Dogwood Borer Moths
Dogwood borer moths have been appearing in orchard pheromone traps since early June. The traps do not indicate the need for control. They signal when to start scouting for evidence of larval feeding, such as frass around the graft union of trees.
DATCP cooperators should be aware that the commercially available dogwood borer pheromone lure attracts several native clearwing moth species, therefore accurate identification is important. The correct height for traps is 3-4 feet above the ground. Scouting for this pest is most critical for orchards with new trees planted in the last five years.
In the photos below, the smaller specimens are male dogwood borers while the larger insects are non-targets. Male dogwood borers can be identified by the two yellow bands on the abdomen. Photos courtesy of Laura Tisch, Munchkey Apples.
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