Pink Pest Management Reminders
Mike Basedow, CCE-ENYCHP and Andres Antolinez Delgado, HVRL
In blocks with a history of OFM infestation, 1 or 2 traps checked at least weekly will help indicate the timing and relative size of the first generation population this year. What should be the response when the numbers start building? In a normal year, the average temperature ranges tend to result in very little egg hatch during pink and bloom, as this usually holds off until petal fall. For growers wishing to save A-list products like Altacor or Delegate until after petal fall, a B.t. product would be an option from pink through bloom. Regardless, don’t neglect the value of using (and frequently checking) pheromone traps to set the clock on both OFM and codling moth development in specific blocks. The biofix for first flight was set in the Hudson Valley on April 15th, and the first trap captures have been detected in the North Country and Western New York on April 22nd and 24th respectively. Using these first capture dates, and the development models on NEWA, can help you more effectively time your first applications for the egg hatch period, when larvae will be most susceptible to your applications.
Also, the value of mating disruption as a component of OFM and CM management programs cannot be overstated. Prior to pink is the optimal time to deploy pheromones for both of these species; although CM starts to fly a bit later, our favored approach is to use products that incorporate the mating pheromones of both insects, so it’s prudent to act prior to pink to ensure that you’re ready for their emergence. These first flights of the season give us the best opportunity to get on top of internal worm control, because timing and development of the different stages only gets more complicated (i.e., less synchronized) as the season progresses. Options available include hand-applied products such as Isomate CM/OFM TT ties, Cidetrak CMDA Meso-A or OFM Meso-L dispensers, and mechanical aerosol dispensers such as Checkmate Puffer and Isomate CM/ OFM Mist.
OFM mating disruption dispenser in use. Photo courtesy Trece Inc.
Depending on block history and personal philosophy, RAA and TPB can be either annual challenges, puzzling but token annoyances, or a complete toss of the dice. Do they occur, do they need to be treated, are they able to be controlled adequately, and does it matter if they’re just ignored?
Scouting for RAA at the pink stage is possible but often impractical due to the numerous other tasks demanding your attention at this time. However, if your blocks have a history of previous infestations, scouting becomes recommended to control the infestation promply. When scouting for RAA, focus on the clusters. Check 5 clusters in 20 trees, and the action threshold is just one infested cluster. TPB is not a good candidate for scouting, and if the bloom period is prolonged by cool, wet weather, a pink spray is of little use. You’ll need to decide for yourself whether this bug is of sufficient concern to you to justify treating. We have seen few orchards in western NY (and only slightly more in the Hudson Valley) where TPB control is warranted, simply because the most effective treatment has been to use a pyrethroid, which: a) kills predator mites, and b) still rarely lowers TPB damage enough to be economically justified. If you elect a spray of Asana, Baythroid, Danitol, Gladiator, Pounce, Warrior or Beseige at pink for plant bug, you’ll take care of rosy apple aphid (plus mullein plant bug and STLM) at the same time.
If RAA is your main concern, you could elect a pink spray (non-pyrethroid options include Actara, Assail, Beleaf, Lannate, or Vydate) if you have the luxury of a suitable application window. Once again, be sure to consider potential impacts on non-target species such as beneficials, and be aware of your bee supplier’s concerns about effects on pollinating bees.
Leafrollers will also be out there ahead of bloom, but only a portion of the population will be active at this time, so although you might get good control of any larvae you spray at pink, don’t forget that the rest of the population won’t be out (and susceptible to sprays) until bloom or petal fall, so it’s probably better to wait until then to address this pest.
Dogwood borer deserves to be taken seriously as a potential problem in most orchards these days. Mating disruption should be kept in mind for the period between pink and first adult flight in mid-June. If you’re hanging ties or meso dispensers for leps ahead of pink, it could be convenient to multi-task and set out Isomate-DWB ties at the same time. Trunk sprays of Assail are the other option we have. This should be made from pink to mid-June, with a follow up application in prior to early August.
Finally, if mites normally need attention in a given block, and you haven’t elected (or been able to use) a delayed-dormant oil application as a part of your early season mite management program, you’ll be needing to rely on either: one of the ovicidal acaricides (Apollo, Savey/Onager, Zeal) available for use, whether before or after bloom; a rescue-type product after bloom (add Banter, Envidor, Nealta, and Nexter, to the above list) that can reduce motile numbers later on if they should begin to approach the threshold; or Agri-Mek, which falls somewhere between these two strategies. Like the true ovicides, Agri-Mek should also be considered a preventive spray, as it needs to be applied early (before there are very many motiles) to be most effective, generally within the first 2 weeks after petal fall. Recall that Minecto Pro is related to Agri-Mek, and also has miticidal activity, if you expect to use it at petal fall for leafrollers. For any of the rescue products, the operational threshold (through June) is an average of 2.5 motiles per leaf.
Changes in pesticide registrations occur constantly and human errors are possible. Read the label before applying any pesticide. The label is the law. No endorsement of companies is made or implied.