kentucky pest news july 24, 2012

7/31/2019 Kentucky Pest News July 24, 2012

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Online at:www.uky.edu/KPN

Number 1312 July 24, 2012

SOYBEAN

-Soybean Thrips on Soybean

-Charcoal Rot Likely to Be Prevalent in Soybeans

-First Report of Kudzu bug in Soybean [inTennessee]

-Spider Mites Beginning to Appear on Soybeans,

Can Corn be Far Behind?

SHADE TREES & ORNAMENTALS-Decline of White Pine

LANDSCAPE-Spider Mite Problems

SOYBEAN

Soybean Thrips on SoybeanBy Doug Johnson

Several people have contacted me concerning the

presence of thrips on soybeans. Thrips are a

common pest of soybeans but rarely do they causeeconomic damage. Actually, given the drought

stress that our production season has endured, I am

surprised that this has not occurred earlier.

Figure 1. Adult soybean thrips (Photo by Marlin E. Rice,

Iowa State University).

Soybean thrips are very small slender insects. You

will need a hand lens to see them. The immatures

HOUSEHOLD PEST

-Dealing with Fleas on Pets

DIAGNOSTIC LAB HIGHLIGHTS

INSECT TRAP COUNTS

are yellow, while adults are black with yellow

bands (Figure1.). These pests are common on

flowers and weeds. They feed by rasping off the

outer layer of the leaves and sucking the juices.

This leaves a silvery appearance to the leaf

surface. Cupping or other similar leaf distortion

is often associated with thrips feeding. Another

dead giveaway to their activity is the presence of

black tar spots on the leaves. This is thrips

excrement and the descriptive name is quite

accurate. You will see lots of tar spots if there are

many thrips around.

Thrips rarely cause economic damage.

Nevertheless, yields may be reduced if plants are

under moisture stress and thrips populations are

high. If over 75% of leaflets are damaged and

there are an average of 8 thrips for every leaflet

sampled, treatment may be advised.

Following is a sampling and decision-making aid.

Examine at least five locations in each field. At

each location examine 10 individual plants. On

each plant examine the fifth trifoliate below the

the uppermost node. If the plants are not

developed to R5, then examine the lowest

trifoliate. Examine each leaflet using a hand lens.

Count and record the number of damaged leaflets

Lexington, KY 40546
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and the number of thrips on each leaflet. An

insecticide application may be useful if:

1.) Plants are under drought stress

2.) 75% of all leaflets examined are damaged,3.) on average each leaflet has 8 or more thrips

present.

All three conditions should be met to consider an

insecticidal application.

Insecticides for control of thrips are not found in

our insecticide recommendations. However, many

of our commonly used insecticides lists thrips

control on their labels. These include but are not

limited to products containing:

Acephate (Orthene & others), beta-cyfluthrin

(Baythroid), bifenthrin (Brigade & others), lambda

cyhalothrin (Warrior & others), carbaryl (Sevin &others), cypermethrin (Mustang & others), and

many others.

Use of Trade name does not constitute a

recommendation. These products are not ranked in

preference or efficacy. The information is supplied

for the readers convenience.

Charcoal Rot Likely to Be Prevalent in

SoybeansBy Don Hershman

Drought conditions across most of Kentucky have

severely set-back both full-season and doublecrop

soybean crops. Scattered rain showers have

brought some - but highly variable - relief to some

fields. Temperatures have also moderated a bit, so

this has helped. Although much of the Kentuckycorn crop will not benefit from the slightly

improved growing conditions due to advanced

growth stage, the soybean crop on some farms

could still yield reasonably well unless dry, hot

weather predominates during the last part of the

season. Assuming the best, one disease is

beginning to show up now which has the potential

to ruin the chances of good yields even in crops

that have seemingly dodged the drought bullet.

This disease is charcoal rot, caused by the soil-

borne fungusMacrophomina phaseolina.

Importance

Charcoal rot is one of the most destructive

diseases of soybean in the U.S. The disease ismost problematic in fields when soil moisture is a

serious limiting factor from mid-season onwards.

In extremely dry years, such as the present one,yields can be greatly reduced by charcoal rot;

however most producers tend to attribute low

yields in dry years to the lack of soil moisture.

Thus, growers may not realize that charcoal rot

has also taken a significant toll.

Symptoms and Signs

The earliest symptoms of charcoal rot include

smaller-than-normal leaves, leaf rolling, andwilting during the heat of the day. Ultimately,

premature death of affected plants will occur. The

surface tissues of the lower stems of affected

plants usually exhibit a light gray or silvery

discoloration, and stems often have a shredded

appearance (Figure 2). When the epidermis of

lower stems and taproots is removed (by scraping

with the thumbnail), extremely small, jet-black

fungal structures called microsclerotia will be

found embedded in diseased tissue (Figure 3).

Microsclerotia are usually so numerous that they

resemble charcoal dust, hence the name of thedisease. Splitting the taproot of diseased plants

often reveals dark gray to blue-black streaks

within. Symptoms tend to occur first in small

groups of plants, often on ridge slopes/tops wheresoil is thin and along the edges of fields, especially

where soil moisture is short due to competition

with bordering trees or because of soil

compaction. In dry seasons like we have so far

this year, entire fields may show signs and

symptoms of charcoal rot.


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Figure 2. External appearance of lower stem/root with

charcoal rot (photo: P. Bachi).

Figure 3. Tiny, black microsclerotia embedded in a soybean

taproot (photo: P. Bachi).

Disease Development

Macrophominaphaseolina is present in all

agricultural soilsin Kentucky. Infections occur

within weeks of planting, but tend to remain

largely dormant unless high temperatures and low

soil moisture coincide with plants in the

reproductive stages. Occasionally, infected plantswill die in vegetative stages, which is what we are

seeing now (Figure 4). The fungus survives

between seasons as microsclerotia in plant residue

or soil. Microsclerotia are very durable and

cannot be eliminated from a field; however, theirpopulation in soil can be lowered using certain

cultural practices, as described below. This disease

is also worsened in plants weakened by such

conditions as poor soil fertility, excessive seeding

rates, soil compaction, and insect damage.

Figure 4. Death of young plants caused by charcoal rot and

drought conditions (photo: P. Bachi).

Charcoal Rot Management

Because of the widespread distribution ofM.

phaseolina in Kentucky soils, and due to the high

susceptibility of most soybean varieties, excellent

control of charcoal rot is not possible when

growing conditions favor infection and subsequent

disease development. However, some success canbe achieved when conditions are moderately

favorable to the disease.

Crop Rotation

If possible, fields with a history of severe charcoalrot should be rotated out of soybeans for 1 to 3

years. Select non-hosts (such as cereals) or crops

that support relatively reduced levels of

microsclerotia in the soil (such as corn or grain

sorghum). This practice may help diminishcharcoal rot by lowering overall soil populations

of the fungus.

Moisture Management

Limiting stress due to low soil moisture is perhaps

the best way to escape serious problems withcharcoal rot. If irrigation is feasible, water fields

to avoid the onset of moisture stress, especially

during the reproductive stages. Planting soybean

no-till can also help by conserving soil moistureand encouraging slightly lower soil temperatures.


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Encourage Excellent Plant Health

Avoiding excessive seeding rates, maintaining

adequate soil fertility, and managing weeds and

other diseases (especially soybean cyst nematode)

will promote plant health and reduce the impactdue to the disease.

Cultivar Selection and Maturity Group

While most soybean cultivars are highly

susceptible to charcoal rot, some cultivars have

been developed which have somewhat reducedsusceptibility (I hesitate to call them resistant).

Talk with your seed dealer to see if any of these

cultivars are adapted to the growing conditions on

your farm. In addition, it may be possible to avoidor limit this disease by planting early maturity

group cultivars early. In some years this may

allow the crop to escape the most stressful

growing conditions. According to University ofKentucky grain crops specialists, planting soybeancultivars belonging to maturity group 2 during late

April, for example, provides the best chance of

avoiding drought during the R1 to R7 reproductive

stages. However, it must be noted that early

cropping systems come with the additional risk ofother problems, including an increased risk of

serious foliar, pod and stem diseases. Planting a

late maturity cultivar late may also work in some

years, but the risk of an early freeze makes this

option less desirable than the former one.

Scouting

Once a field is exhibiting significant charcoal rot,

nothing can be done to salvage the situation;

diseased plants will not recover. Nevertheless,

scouting for charcoal rot may help in making

future management decisions that might lower the

charcoal rot risk in subsequent crops. Thus, I am

encouraging growers to walk their soybean fields

now through harvest and look for tell-tale signs of

charcoal rot. This is very easy to do since signs

and symptoms of the disease (microsclerotia and

streaking) are easily visible to the unaided eye.

Note: Foilar fungicides do not control charcoal

rot and will have no effect on maintaining yields in

fields that are substantially damaged by charcoal

rot and drought.

First Report of Kudzu bug in Soybean [in

Tennessee]By Doug Johnson

Figure 5. Adult Kudzu bugs on soybean leaves (Philip

Roberts, Univ. GA, bugwood.org).

Dr. Scott Stewart, Extension Entomologist at the

University of Tennessees research and educationstation in Jackson, TN has posted a blog

concerning the first report of Kudzu bug on

soybeans in Tennessee. I have included the entire

text of his blog immediately below. Also, notice

the link to thewww.kudzubug.orgweb site. I offer

my thanks to Mr. Cam Kenimer, the ANR agent in

Fulton Co. KY, for bringing this to my attention.

First Report of Kudzu in Soybean Author: Scott

Stewart, IPM Extension Specialist

Ive had the first report of a soybean field in

Tennessee being treated for kudzu bug. The field

is located in East Tennessee (Polk County).

The threshold recommendation below is quoted

directly from a website dedicated solely to this

pest (www.kudzubug.org). There is a lot of good

information on this site. My counterparts in the

Southeast have been working with this pest at a

fevered pace for the past three seasons and

generating a lot of good data. I would discourage

any panic spraying. Kudzu bug infestations on

soybean will almost certainly be isolated to a few

fields in a very limited area. I do not expectproblems in the larger soybean growing areas

found in Middle and West Tennessee during 2012.

Threshold: Kudzu bugs can be scouted using a

15-inch diameter sweep net. Kudzu bugpopulations can be extremely high, especially on
http://www.kudzubug.org/http://www.kudzubug.org/http://www.kudzubug.org/http://www.kudzubug.org/http://www.kudzubug.org/http://www.kudzubug.org/


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field edges. We are suggesting a threshold of one

immature kudzu bug per sweep. This suggested

threshold is based on 2011 field trials where a

single properly timed insecticide application

preserved soybean yield. In the majority of trialswe have conducted, nymphs usually appear at

about the R-2 to R-3 growth stage. If adultnumbers are extremely high (multiple adults per

sweep) and soybeans are stressed, treatment

should be considered; this is a judgment call butthe idea is to avoid bug induced stress on soybeans

that are also stressed for some other reason.

Insecticide Selection: There is a limited list of

insecticide that are well tested and specifically list

kudzu bug on the label. Of these, Brigade 2E

(bifenthrin), Hero (a premix including bifenthrin)

and Endigo (a premix) appear to provide the best

control. Some other pyrethroids such as MustangMax, Declare and Karate appear to perform pretty

well in limited testing, although Karate [sic same

active ingredient as Warrior dwj] does not

specifically list kudzu bugs on the label. Sevin,

Orthene and Dimethoate also appear to perform

reasonably well. These products should be used at

or near the full labeled rate.

After looking at the data and talking with my

counterparts, Brigade 2E or one of the other

bifenthrin products at a rate of 6.0-6.4 oz/acre

appears to be an obvious choice. It appears toprovide the best bang for the buck. Not all

insecticides will provide adequate control. The

data Ive seen suggests that Asana XL, Baythroid

XL, Belay, Leverage 360, Lorsban are not good

enough.

To see the original text follow the link

immediately below.

http://news.utcrops.com/2012/07/first-report-of-

kudzu-bugs-in-soybean/

First, let me say that I concur completely with Dr.Stewarts conclusions. In KY we should be even a

bit further removed. Nevertheless, remember that

this pest is not going to fly or walk to KY, but

more likely to move on vehicles or in freight so

its presence near the junction of I-75 and I-24 is

important to us.

Figure 6. Location of Polk Co. TN, where Kudzu bug has

infested soybeans (Wikipedia).

At present, this is certainly the closest Kudzu bug

infestation on soybean to Kentucky. The county

from which this is reported (Polk) is in thesoutheastern portion of TN and is bordered on the

east by North Carolina and on the south by

Georgia. Of particular interest with respect to

eastern / central KY, soybean (also garden beans /

peas) production, this countys western border is

only about 10 miles east of I-75. Additionally,

Polk Co. TN is only one county removed from the

junction of I-75 and I-24. The pest has already

been collected from Kudzu in Marion Co. TN

which is astride I-24. Interstate-24, of course, goes

through the heart of soybean production in western

Kentucky. Because of interstate access, this

infestation should be of as much interest to

Kentucky producers as it is to those in Tennessee.

There is no reason to panic at this point. As Dr.

Stewart indicates for TN, we are quite unlikely to

see any problem with this pest in Kentucky

soybeans in 2012. I think we are much too far

along. The story in 2013 may be a different.

Spider Mites Beginning to Appear on Soybeans,

Can Corn be Far Behind?By Doug Johnson

I warned of this pest some time back (See KPN

No. 1308 June 26, 2012. I Hate Crying Wolf).

In fact, I am mildly surprised that it has taken thislong for field scouts to come across the pest.

Reports of spider mites have alerted us of their

activity and samples sent to the Plant DiagnosticLab have confirmed that it is the two-spotted

spider mite causing the problems. At present the

damage appears to be on a small scale and very
http://news.utcrops.com/2012/07/first-report-of-kudzu-bugs-in-soybean/http://news.utcrops.com/2012/07/first-report-of-kudzu-bugs-in-soybean/http://news.utcrops.com/2012/07/first-report-of-kudzu-bugs-in-soybean/http://news.utcrops.com/2012/07/first-report-of-kudzu-bugs-in-soybean/


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localized in fields. Somewhat surprisingly some of

the infestations were noted in irrigated fields.

Figure 7. Two spotted spider mite on soybean leaf (Frank

Peairs, Colorado State Univ., bugwood.org).

For as long as we have drought stressed plants,and in particular LOW humidity, we are

increasingly likely to be plagued by this pest. Insoybeans, the most important time is during the

reproductive stages of R1 (beginning bloom) - R5

(beginning seed) and it is even more likely in

fields where a synthetic pyrethroid insecticide has

been used. In our current corn productionsituation, it may very well be too late to worry

about mites. In either case, one of the first and

perhaps most important questions is: Am I likely

to be able to make a crop? If you are or are

planning to convert your corn to silage, then payattention to the days to harvest restrictions on

the product you choose to use.

To sample in soybeans, shake plants over a pieceof white paper and look for tiny, black, moving

specks. You will need a hand lens to determine if

the specks are actually mites, but if they are

crawling across the paper you probably know the

answer. In corn, scouting is much more difficultand less is known about making a control decision.

The mites are no harder to find, simply follow the

instructions for soybean but use corn leaves. Onesimply wishes to determine if the infestation is

only on the outer edges or occurs across the field.

You will need to sample several areas of the field.

Mites are notorious for being spotty in their

distribution. They also have a very strong edge

effect which would include waterways, etc., that

may cross the field. If a treatable infestation is

found, it may very well be controlled by a border

application.

Scouting should start well before R1 (soybean)

and in younger corn. Cooler temperatures and high

humidity allow a natural fungus to control spider

mites. Rainfall will help the plant tolerate theinfestation but will not reduce the mite population.

Application of synthetic pyrethroid insecticides

and fungicides may worsen the infestation because

these insecticides dont work well on mites and the

fungicide may hamper the natural occurring

fungus that kills the mites.

In soybeans, if direct control is required, consider

using an organophosphate insecticide like

chlorpyrifos or dimethoate. If you must use a

pyrethroid, consider bifenthrin. An application is

warranted when most plants are infested withspider mites and leaf speckling and discoloration

are apparent. Treating after R7 is not

recommended

In corn, chlorpyrifos is not labeled for spider

mites; dimethoate may not be applied duringpollen shed. Bifenthrin may be used. See labels for

rates and specific directions.

Information on insecticides is supplied for the

readers convenience. Use of a trade name does not

constitute a recommendation. These products arenot ranked in preference or efficacy. Always read

and follow the label.

SHADE TREES & ORNAMENTALS

Decline of White PineBy Nicole Ward

Decline is common among white pine in

Kentucky. Two distinct diseases with similarnames are often confused, but they are distinctly

different. Note that white pine decline is an

abiotic malady that leads to slow decline, while


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white pine root decline is a fungal disease that

causes sudden plant death. More details follow:

White Pine Decline

Symptoms

White pine decline causes needle s to yellow anddrop prematurely, causing a noticeable thinning of

the canopy (Fig 8). Other symptoms include

unusually shorter needles; needle tips may becomebrown. Bark of individual branches may become

shriveled and needles on those branches become

wilted or limp (Fig 9).

Cause

White pine decline is not caused by a pathogen.

Symptoms are induced by environmental

conditions such as

high soil pH high soil clay content restricted root-growth compacted soil mechanical disturbances that cause root

injury

Disease Management

The best way to manage white pine decline is

through prevention. Select sites with the following

characteristics:

acidic soil (pH of 5.5 and not above 6.5) sandy or loamy rather than clay soils large area for root development loose soil free from soil compaction sufficient soil moisture (regular irrigation

and mulch)

vigorous plants (control insect pests andfertilize trees regularly)

Once decline begins, it may be difficult to reverse.

However, the following practices may be

implemented.

lower soil pH by applying granular sulfuraccording to soil test results

aerate soil by vertical mulching or othermeans

fertilize and water to eliminate stress

White Pine Root Decline

Symptoms

Trees may be infected for several years without

showing symptoms. However, once symptom

development begins, homeowners often notice

delayed bud break and reduced candle elongationin spring. Mature foliage then fades, droops, and

turns brown rapidly (Fig 10-11). Conversely,

nearby trees may appear healthy; mortality appears

quite random with a few trees dying each year.

Resin flow (pitch) is visible at the tree base and isassociated with a dark brown girdling canker

under the bark (Fig 12). The trunk may be

flattened on the affected side.

Cause

White pine root decline, is caused by the fungus,

Leptographium procerum that infects inner bark

and sapwood of roots and lower trunks of whitepine. Although the disease is most serious onwhite pine, the fungus also can infect Scots and

Austrian pines. Losses within an infected planting

range from 20 to 50%.

Trees planted on wet sites are more susceptible to

infection, although other stresses may also cause

trees to become susceptible to the disease. Once

infection occurs, the fungus may be spread from

tree to tree by contaminated insects as they move

from diseased trees to healthy trees nearby.

Galleries of insects such as the pine root collarweevil may be found in cankers and provide a

place for the fungus to sporulate. Weevils and

other bark-infesting insects may serve as vectors

for this disease.

Disease Management

Cultural practices help reduce disease spread by

insect vectors. No fungicide is available for

disease management.

avoid wet sites do not replant eastern white pine among

stumps of recently killed trees remove and destroy infected trees

including stumps,

collect samples for diagnosis by removingtissue from the canker face (bark

removed) and shipping in a plastic bag.

Revision of original by John Hartman.


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Figure 8. White pine decline, an abiotic malady, is caused by

environmental conditions. Symptoms include thinning

needles and reduced plant vigor.

Figure 9. Wrinkled bark is common on trees suffering from

white pine decline. Needles above damaged bark become

wilted and drop.

Figure 10. White pine root decline, a fungal disease, causes

rapid wilting of white pine.

Figure 11. Rapid wilting is often followed by rapid browning

(needles intact) when trees are suffering from white pine

root decline.


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Figure 12. Pitch is often associated with trunk cankers.

LANDSCAPE

Spider Mite ProblemsBy Lee Townsend and Mike Potter

The two spotted spider mite is the most common

and destructive mite on deciduous ornamentals. It

has an extremely wide host range and will feed on

many varieties of trees, shrubs, flowers, weeds,

fruits, greenhouse and garden crops. Immature

stages and adults are yellow to green with two

dark spots on either side of the body. Eggs are

spherical and translucent. Strands of webbing are

spun by the mites on the undersides of infested

leaves and between branches.

Twospotted spider mites overwinter as adult

females in the soil or under the bark of host plants.

They become active during the spring and may

feed and reproduce throughout the summer and

into fall provided conditions remain favorable for

plant growth. It is considered a warm season mite

which thrives under hot, dry summer conditions.

Damaging populations seldom during wet, cool

weather.

Timely inspection of susceptible landscape plants,

especially during periods favoring mite outbreaks,

is key to preventing serious damage. Pay particular

attention to plants having a history of mite

problems. Spider mites often reinfest the same

plants year after year.

Inspect stippled and distorted leaves to determine

if mites are present. Similar symptoms can be

caused by pests other than mites, including thrips,

leafhoppers and lace bugs. Many spider mitesprefer to feed on the lower leaf surface, so

examine the undersides of leaves first. A 10X

20X hand lens is essential for clearly seeing the

mites. Also visible on the leaf surface may be pale

colored cast skins shed by developing mites,

and the spherical, often translucent eggs.

An efficient way to sample vegetation for mites is

to hold a sheet of white paper or foam board under

a branch and tap the foliage sharply. If mites are

present, they will be dislodged and appear as slow

moving, dark specks on the paper.

Spider mites are one of the more difficult groups

of landscape pests to control. Infestations are

easiest to control when detected early, before the

mite populations have reached very high levels.

Spraying plants with a strong stream of water from

a garden hose or faucet can dislodge many mites

from leaf surfaces. The approach is generally more

effective on smaller plants (e.g., houseplants), with

nondense foliage and low mite populations.

Water sprays should be directed upward against

the lower leaf surfaces, and the technique will

need to be repeated on regular intervals. Lowpopulations of spider mites may be held in check

by naturally occurring predatory mites which feed

on both eggs and active stages.

Elimination of moderate to heavy infestations of

spider mites usually requires the use of specific


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pesticides known as miticides. Some, but not all,

insecticides will also control mites. Always read

and follow the directions accompanying the

product you are using. Some products may harm

or discolor certain types of landscape plants.

Good spray coverage is essential when treatingfor mites. Thoroughly wet the foliage and try to

contact as many mites as possible, pay particular

attention to leaf undersides where most mites areliving. In most cases, two or more applications at 5

10 day intervals will be needed for satisfactory

control. Spider mite eggs that have not yet hatched

are unaffected by most miticides; the same may be

true of larvae and nymphs that are molting. During

molting, spider mites remain inactive beneath the

former skin, which serves as a barrier againstinsecticides. The quiescent mites also do not feed,

rendering products that kill by ingestiontemporarily ineffective. Consequently, if only one

application is made, some of the mites maysurvive and the infestation will persist.

Homeowner options include horticultural oils, and

insecticidal/miticidal soaps. Products such as Bon-

Neem Insecticidal Soap, Green Light OMRIListed Insect/Disease Control, Bayer Natria Insect,

Disease, and Mite Control (with sulfur) and Ortho

Elementals Garden Insect Killer with pyrethrins

and canola oil can be used for mite control on

ornamentals and vegetables. Bayer 3-in-1 Insect,Disease, and Mite Control is an option for trees,

shrubs, and flowers. Spectracide Triazicide Insect

Killer Once & Done is labeled for spider mite

control on a range of ornamental trees, shrubs, and

flowers.

HOUSEHOLD PEST

Dealing with Fleas on PetsBy Lee Townsend and Mike Potter

Managing flea infestations and dealing with

apparent control failures can be frustrating. It

often results in a request for a recommendation for

something else to spray because the product

being used is not working. Dr. Michael Dryden

(Kansas State Univ.), who has worked extensively

with flea management, defines a true controlfailure as the persistence of an infestation (house

or pet) for more than 60 to 90 days despite thetimely application of a flea product on the pet (i.e.,

every 30 days for a monthly product).

Figure 13. Cat flea: the most common external parasite on

cats and dogs.

Are expectations too high?I have treated but still

find fleas on my pet. Some topically applied

products do not kill fleas immediately but theywill die within about 24-hours. Regularly finding

small numbers of fleas on pets that are on a

treatment program often means that fleas are

continuing to emerge from breeding sites.

Attention should be focused on identifying andcleaning/treating these areas. Fleas also can be

picked up from other sources but more often thannot, the source is at home or very close to it.

These questions help to identify some problem

areas:

Are product recommendations being followed?

To be effective, preventive flea control products

must be re-applied at the interval specified on the

label. Skipping a treatment or being just a few

days late can make a difference. A female flea

begins to lay eggs within 1 to 2 days of getting on

a host and soon may lay up to 40 eggs per day.These eggs fall off the host and into the bedding or

where pets rest. This keeps chronic infestations

going.

Is the product being applied correctly and at the

proper dose?

Spot-on products often need to be applied directly

to the skin. That means parting the hair so the


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applicator tip contacts the skin, not applied just to

the hair.

Be sure you have an accurate weight for the pet.

Ready-to-use doses usually are packaged for

different weight ranges.Doses may be small so be sure to dispense all of it

onto the pet. Failure to use all of the material maymake a big difference in control.

Check the label for restrictions on age of pet or

species. Some insecticides are labeled for use onlyon dogs or cats while others may be used on both.

Be thorough; treat all pets, even if they dont seem

to have fleas.

Have off-petsources been identified and treated?

If adult flea control efforts on the pets have been

by-the-book, then make sure adequate steps are

taken to address breeding sites. The number of

adult fleas on a pet represents a very smallproportion of the total flea population in an

infestation. Most life stages are off the pet in

bedding or regular sleeping areas. Washing

bedding in hot soapy water and vacuuming carpets

and upholstered furniture where pets lay are

important steps in a total flea control program.

Figure 14. Flea larva: a white legless worm with a dark head

that usually lives in pet bedding or carpeting in home

infestations. They feed on dried blood and debris.

Many different products are available for home

treatment. The most effective formulations contain

both an adulticide (e.g., permethrin) effective

against the biting adult stage, and an insect growthregulator (IGR) necessary to provide long-term

suppression of the eggs, larvae and pupae. Oftenthese products can be identified by the word Plus

in the brand name.

Aerosol formulations are easier to apply than

liquids. Moreover, aerosol products which can be

dispensed by hand and directed under and behind

beds, furniture, etc. It is essential that the

application be thorough and include all likely

areas of flea development. Carpets, throw rugs,

under and behind beds and furniture, and beneath

cushions on which pets sleep should all be treated.

Pay particular attention to areas where pets spend

time or sleep, as these will be the areas where

most flea eggs, larvae and pupae will be

concentrated. For example, if the family cat sleepswithin a closet, or hides under the bed, these areas

must be treated or the problem will continue.

Hardwood and tile floors generally do not require

treatment, but should be thoroughly vacuumed.

Outdoor flea treatment should focus on areas

where pets rest, sleep, and run, such as doghouseand kennel areas, under decks, along fences and

next to the foundation. It is seldom necessary to

treat the entire yard or open areas exposed to full

sun.

Expect to see some fleas for 2 weeks or longerfollowing treatment. Provided all infested areas

were treated initially, these "survivors" are

probably newly emerged adults which have not yetcontacted the insecticide. Instead of retreating the

premises immediately, continue to vacuum.

Vacuuming stimulates pupae to hatch, bringing the

newly emerged adults into contact with the

insecticide sooner.

Flea traps, such as those utilizing a light and glue

board to attract and capture adult fleas, can be

helpful but will not eliminate a flea infestationunless used in combination with other methods. Ifadult fleas continue to be seen beyond 2-4 weeks,

retreatment of the premises (and pet) may be

necessary.

Adult fleas are the noticeable part of an infestation

but represent only a small proportion of the total

flea population in an infestation. About 95% of the

total flea load is off of the pet. Until this is

addressed, flea problems will continue to be

chronic and changing products targeted at killing

the adults will not give satisfactory results.


12/12

Table 1. Proportional distribution of flea life

stages in a typical infestation.

Flea life stage

(duration)

% in that

stage

Where they occur

Adult (lives

about 3 weeks)

5 On pet

Pupa (1 to 2

weeks

but can be

much longer)

10

Larva (up to 2

weeks)

35

Pet bedding/

sleeping area,

carpet, upholstered

furniture,

occasionally inyard dog house,

resting areas, etc.

Egg (3 to 4days)

50

Referencehttp://www.cliniciansbrief.com/column/educational-

publications/getting-grip-flea-control?w9V8EYtpx7

DIAGNOSTIC LAB HIGHLIGHTS

By Julie Beale and Paul Bachi

Agronomic samples during the past week included

charcoal rot and sudden death syndrome on

soybean; black shank, Pythium root/stem rot,

Fusarium wilt, frenching, ozone injury and boron

deficiency on tobacco.

On fruit and vegetable samples, we have

diagnosed Phytophthora root rot on blueberry;

spur blight on blackberry; cane blight on

raspberry; black rot and Phomopsis stem rot on

grape; angular leaf spot on bean; black rot on

cabbage; belly rot on cucumber; Pythium and

Rhizoctonia root rots on pepper; charcoal rot and

Pythium leak on potato; bacterial wilt on pumpkin;

blossom end rot, russet mite injury, southern

blight, Fusarium wilt and tomato spotted wilt virus

on tomato.

On ornamentals and turf, we have seen nutritional

problems from high pH on calibrachoa and

petunia; Cryptodiaporthe dieback on chestnut; tar

spot on tuliptree; drought stress symptoms onmany woody landscape plants; loose smut on

bermudagrass; take-all on bentgrass; anthracnose

on ryegreass; and summer patch on bluegrass.

INSECT TRAP COUTNS

July 12 - 19

Graphs of insect trap counts for the 2012 season are availableon the IPM web site at -http://www.uky.edu/Ag/IPM/ipm.htm.View trap counts for Fulton County, Kentucky at -

http://ces.ca.uky.edu/fulton/InsectTraps

Note: Trade names are used to simplify the information

presented in this newsletter. No endorsement by the

Cooperative Extension Service is intended, nor is

criticism implied of similar products that are not

named.

Location Princeton,

KY

Lexington,

KY

Black cutworm 3 0

Armyworm 73 0

Corn earworm 34 23

European corn

borer

0 0

Southwestern

corn borer

114 0

Fall armyworm 1 0
http://www.cliniciansbrief.com/column/educational-publications/getting-grip-flea-control?w9V8EYtpx7http://www.cliniciansbrief.com/column/educational-publications/getting-grip-flea-control?w9V8EYtpx7http://www.cliniciansbrief.com/column/educational-publications/getting-grip-flea-control?w9V8EYtpx7http://www.cliniciansbrief.com/column/educational-publications/getting-grip-flea-control?w9V8EYtpx7

kentucky pest news july 24, 2012

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