While you were busy in 2005
Periodic News of Interest to the Horticulture Industry in Maine
Welcome
We are delighted to welcome Kathy Murray. entomologist/IPM guru, into the horticulture unit. Kathy has been with the department for the past six years and transferred to our group this fall. Her work has focused on promoting and implementing Integrated Pest Management (IPM) with vegetable and animal producers, schools and the general public. Kathy is also involved in IPM issues regionally and nationally. We are looking forward to using Kathy's expertise to help further IPM in the ornamental horticulture industry.
Exotic Pest Survey
For the second year we participated in a national survey for Sudden Oak Death (SOD). SOD, caused by the fungal pathogen Phytophthora ramorum, is a serious disease on the west coast that affects a wide range of plants. A total of 34 nurseries in Maine were surveyed this summer and all results were negative. For more information on SOD visit the California Oak Mortality Task Force.
We also continued our surveys for Emerald ash borer and Chrysanthemum white rust. Results from both surveys were negative.
Vegetable Pest Survey
In 2005, we surveyed vegetable crops on 14 farms for five insect pests. Swede midge (a crucifer pest), Leek moth (a European pest of onion, leeks and garlic), two species of wireworms (attacking corn, lettuce, onion, potato, tomato, and other crops), and brown marmorated stink bug (an asian pest of fruits and soybeans). We did not find any of these pests, but Swede midge was found in New York, New Jersey and Ontario, and brown marmorated stink bug is established in Pennsylvania.
Hemlock Woolly Adelgid
Hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA) has now been confirmed in forest stands in Kittery, York, Wells and Eliot (York county). Trainings were held to encourage citizen involvement in surveying for this pest in southern York county. No HWA was detected on landscape plantings this year, the first time since the original find in 1999. Ten businesses imported 818 hemlocks from uninfested counties.
New Pests to Watch
Two new midge pests were found in Maine in 2005. Phlox tip midge on phlox, and verbena midge on Verbena spp. Watch for yellow and distorted new growth and plants that do not flower well. Prune off infested tips or spray with materials labeled for midges and ornamentals.
Hosta virus x (HVX) was found at a Maine garden center late this summer. Look for unusual mottling on hosta leaves. Be aware that HVX is easily spread when handling plants.
Some Observations
An unusual cold and wet spring contributed to high levels of disease problems such as botrytis, mildews and rusts. There have been a number of instances of scale and mealy bug on incoming plants, as well as bag worm on euonymus and juniper. Small, thin shelled Succinea snails are common plant pests and becoming more widespread as they are easily moved on nursery stock. Lily leaf beetle and viburnum leaf beetle populations were high this past year, but Japanese beetle populations were down noticeably in southern Maine.
For more information:
Ann Gibbs, 287-3891
or ann.gibbs@maine.gov
