May 28, 2010
Hi Fruit Growers,
I haven’t made it to many orchards this week. What I do see is that plum curculio have been active over the past week during this warm/hot weather. Insecticides applied after the rain of May 18 should control plum curculio for the remainder of the plum curculio season. If you didn’t respray with an insecticide after last weeks rain, I think you probably received quite a bit of plum curculio damage. Hopefully no one is in the predicament. If you see fresh scars now, apply an insecticide otherwise the plum curculio will continue to feed for another couple of weeks.

For the next few weeks there is a lull in insect activity, unless your trees have San Jose scale or mites to control. San Jose scale crawlers are due to emerge about June 7th. Insecticides against San Jose scale are only warranted if you have a known infestation. Here is a link to a fact sheet on San Jose scale if you need more information: http://www.nysipm.cornell.edu/factsheets/treefruit/pests/sjs/sjs.asp

European red mites are primarily eggs right now. The eggs should start hatching now to begin the next generation. Soon, in a week or two, the generations will be more mixed together. Eggs, nymphs and adults will all be present at the same time. Right now is not a good time to scout for mites because our spray thresholds are based on how many live mites are on leaves. The spray threshold for June is 2.5 mites per leaf.

The second half of June is the time to be watching out for caterpillars feeding on leaves or fruit. Be on the lookout for obliquebanded leafrollers and Oriental fruit moths.

Does anyone have a large number of apple blotch leafminer? I don’t think I’ve seen any mines so far. The mines from the first generation should be visible now with adults emerging next week. If you are unfamiliar with leafminers see this website: http://www.canr.msu.edu/vanburen/fstlm.htm

This turned out to be a pretty easy scab year – compared to what we have had the last several years, though it’s sure been a stressful spring! I’ve heard of a few orchards that suffered frost injury, but not very many.

Our third and final twilight meeting will be at Pippin Orchard on Pippin Orchard Road in Cranston on June 17 at 5:30. Cost for the meeting is $20 per learning individual and 2 hours of pesticide credits are available.

I have a new cell phone for work!! 256-7438. You can even leave a message on it!