Buckeye Yard and Garden onLine

BYGLers also ran into a few other insects and mites this week, including:

* Joe Boggs reported that the silk nests of EASTERN TENT CATERPILLAR (Malacosoma disstria) in branch forks of cherry, a favored host, are now becoming very evident in southwest Ohio. Nests are rapidly moving past golf ball-size and closing in on baseball-size. Colonies of early instar FOREST TENT CATERPILLAR (M. americanum) are producing noticeable damage to expanding leaves. The colonies may contain hundreds of hairy caterpillars and their collective image resembles patches of fur on twigs and branches. The caterpillars are primarily being found on maple and oak. Fortunately, high populations of both eastern and forest tent caterpillars are highly localized geographically.

* Joe also reported that overwintered PINE NEEDLE SCALE (Chionaspis pinifoliae) eggs are hatching in southwest Ohio, and crawlers are … crawling. The accumulated GDD that predicts this event is 305; the area has reached 313. The tiny, mobile, rusty-red first instar nymphs (crawlers) are the life stage that is most susceptible to contact insecticides. Insecticidal soaps, horticulture oils, and a number of "standard" contact insecticides are effective; however, thorough coverage is required. Also, conifers should be closely monitored since egg hatch can occur over an extended period of time requiring a second application. A soil drench application of the systemic neonicotinoid insecticide dinotefuran (e.g. Safari) in the fall will provide preemptive control of this armored scale.