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Lexington, KY 40546

Online at: www.uky.edu/KPN

Number 1358
SHADE TREES & ORNAMENTALS -Twig Girdlers HOUSEHOLD PESTS -Boxelder Bugs: Common Fall Invaders

September 24, 2013


LIVESTOCK PESTS -Fly Strike in Calves DIAGNOSTIC LAB HIGHLIGHTS INSECT TRAP COUNTS

SHADE TREES & ORNAMENTALS Twig Girdlers Lee Townsend, Extension Entomologist Twig girdlers are longhorned beetles that have a very distinctive approach to laying their eggs. Females select twigs about the diameter of a fat pencil and chew deep, narrow grooves that leave about a 2 footlong section attached by only a slender piece of heartwood. The brown beetles crawl along the terminal portion and make small notches in which the eggs (about 5 to 20) are placed. Girdled twigs containing eggs and white legless larvae break and fall to the ground. The results of this handiwork can be seen littering the ground under a variety of trees including hickory, pecan, and oak. Twig pruning produces growth deformities that affect the shape and appearance of small trees. Collection and destruction of fallen twigs is the most effective means of reducing the potential infestation for next year. Application of insecticides to control these insects has not been very satisfactory.

of them accumulate in the fall and can be seen on tree trunks, or branches, or sunning themselves on the south or west sides of buildings. This harmless accidental invader may be a temporary nuisance as it moves into sheltered sites to spend the winter.

Figure 1. Adult boxelder bug.

HOUSEHOLD PESTS Boxelder Bugs: Common Fall Invaders Lee Townsend, Extension Entomologist Boxelder bugs are common insects that feed on sap from leaves, twigs, and seeds of boxelders, as well other members of the maple family. Large numbers

Adult boxelder bugs (Figure 1) are elongate, 1/2 inch long insects with sucking mouthparts. They are mostly black with some red markings. There are three narrow red lines on the segment behind the head, one down the center and one on each side and a thin red inverted "V" about the middle of the back. The wingless immature or nymphal stage has a black head, antennae, and legs. The red abdomen has an orange-yellow stripe and spot down the center of the back. Boxelder bugs feed on plants during the summer. They move to sheltered areas (including nearby houses and buildings) in the fall and remain there during the winter. Sweep or vacuum up and discard those found inside. They will not multiply nor will they infest any household articles. These insects are

only a nuisance or accidental invader; however, they may leave an odor and stain when crushed. Exclusion is important in reducing numbers that get indoors. Check door sweeps and places outside the house that may allow them to get inside. If large numbers are present every year, removal of female boxelder plants should be considered because this is the major host plant for them. Other alternatives include controlling insects while they are on the boxelder plant or direct sprays of congregations of the insects on outside walls. Insecticidal soap provides a safe control alternative, but it must be sprayed directly on the insects to be effective

Removing manure accumulations and cleaning wounds before strike can occur is the key to preventing the problem. This is a way to approach established strikes as well. Several fly strike products (screw worm aerosols) containing 0.5% permethrin can be used to protect areas. Read and follow the label directions. Contact your veterinarian in cases of severe strike. Green bottle flies are common insects in Kentucky. They lay their eggs in carcasses, feces, and garbage. Large numbers of them are around by the end of summer and they constantly move in search of places to deposit eggs. The eggs hatch in less than a day and the maggots feed on bacteria in these sites for 3 to 4 days before entering the soil to pupate. Adults emerge in about 10 days to start the cycle gain.

LIVESTOCK PESTS Fly Strike in Calves Lee Townsend, Extension Entomologist Nick Roy, ANR agent for Adair County, reported more than the usual numbers of fly strikes to calves in his area this fall. Fly strike begins when a female blow fly, usually metallic green bottle fly (Figure 2), lays a small batch of oblong white eggs on an attractive site. These scavenger flies do not deposit eggs on clean dry tissue; they select lingering wounds, accumulations of soft manure around the anus, or tissue around a healing umbilicus. Exudates from irritated and inflamed tissue attract more flies, compounding the problem. Although these maggots do not feed on healthy tissue, their activity can cause damaged tissue in the area to die. Animals are restless and may stop feeding. Consequences include extreme discomfort, infection, and dehydration, and in extreme cases, death of the animal. DIAGNOSTIC LAB HIGHLIGHTS Julie Beale and Brenda Kennedy, Plant Disease Diagnosticians; and Sara Long, Diagnostic Assistant Agronomic samples diagnosed in the Plant Disease Diagnostic Lab in the past week have included sudden death syndrome and injury from bean leaf beetle feeding on soybean. On fruit and vegetable samples, we have diagnosed leaf blotch and anthracnose on strawberry; frogeye leaf spot and cedar-apple rust on apple; bacterial spot on peach; Fusarium dry rot, bacterial soft rot, and scab on potato; and scurf on sweetpotato. On ornamentals and turf, we have seen foliar nematode on Japanese anemone; Fusarium wilt and Rhizoctonia root rot on chrysanthemum; bacterial leaf spot on ivy; Alternaria leaf spot on sunflower; bacterial leaf scorch, Actinopelte leaf spot and jumping oak gall on oak; Phloeospora leaf spot on mulberry; Rhizosphaera needlecast on spruce; and brown patch on fescue.

Figure 2. The green bottle fly Phaenicia sericata, is commonly involved in fly strike cases.

2013 INSECT TRAP COUNTS September 13 to 20 Location Black cutworm Armyworm European corn borer Corn earworm Southwestern corn borer Fall armyworm Princeton, KY 0 0 0 25 0 2 Lexington, KY 0 4 2 2 0 2

Graphs of insect trap counts for the 2013 season are available on the IPM Web site at http://www.uky.edu/Ag/IPM/ipm.htm.

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.

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