Warming temperatures (mid to low 70’s in the Hudson Valley today) are predicted over the course of the next three days. The mild temps today prompted yet another wave of BMSB movement to urban structures and orchard fruit remaining on the tree. Adults are likely to continue feeding on late season varieties such as Pink Lady through the end of harvest. We continue to recommend maintaining a tight program in orchards where populations of adult BMSB are present.
In previous years we have seen increasing levels of fruit feeding injury within the first 90′ from the orchard edge near woodlands through the harvest of our latest variety, ‘Pink Lady’ in mid-November. Today we observed 1% BMSB injury from a commercial block in Columbia County, NY of Pink Lady along the orchards wooded edge. Clean fruit going into storage have seen dramatic increases in BMSB damage expression coming out of storage. As with earlier harvest dates, it’s likely the fruit injury expression will increase while it hangs on the tree and if BMSB keep feeding through harvest, once the fruit is out of storage along the packing line.
We continue to use a ‘Provisional Trap Threshold’ of 10 adults per trap per week was developed by Tracy Leskey’s team at USDA ARS-W.V. The threshold provides growers with a scientific basis for management, one that we will continue to test as an action threshold this season. I will be posting trap numbers tomorrow once we get them from the field (even our technical support need a holiday!!).
Since the adults will be moving in and out of orchards, scouting will need to be retained to confirm their presence in late season fruit. The insect will seek host food sources to stock up on reserves to take them through the winter while seeking and moving to urban structures and forest trees (upper canopy of dead trees with ‘flaking’ bark) as overwintering sites. Lack of substantial rainfall leading to dry conditions will likely increasing fruit injury from BMSB as the insect seeks a source for water.
Trap Capture and Scouting Threshold: Throughout the Hudson Valley there is a large disparity between orchards of both presence and abundance of BMSB. In some sites management will need to intensify until the last variety is completely harvested, while in other sites BMSB will not be found in traps in numbers that warrant control measures. In all sites scouting should also continue through the remainder of harvest.
Using the ‘Provisional Trap Threshold’, if BMSB adult captures exceed 10/ trap per week, or if the insect is observed on the tree, using 1 BMSB per 100 feet of perimeter orchard linear row, applications for management of BMSB should be made. Employ the first available window using one of the most effective insecticides that will best fit your harvest schedule.
The list of the most effective insecticides for BMSB management is found using this link. NYS labeled insecticides effective for use against the BMSB are available in four major classes including pre-mix formulations.
Thionex and Bifenthrin are the most effective insecticides for use against the BMSB. However, at this point in the season early blocks should be managed using Bifenthrin, Danitol and Lannate (14d PHI), with later harvested blocks employing Thionex (21d PHI). Blocks being harvested next week should use Leverage 360 (7d PHI). Boarder applications to cover most vulnerable blocks should be considered.
