A recent article published in Entomology Today discusses a recent study by scientist in Europe which indicates that dung beetles living in cow manure may reduce the emission of methane. To read more, click the link below:
Dung Beetles are saving the world from global warming
Saturday, August 24, 2013
Friday, August 23, 2013
The Naming of Plants
Today I received an interesting blog update from the Cambridge Library Collection (CLC). The CLC reissues scholarly books that are out of copyright and of lasting value. A recent blog posting from the CLC discussed the naming of plants and I thought everyone would find it entertaining. The link for the blog is given below.
Cambridge Library Collection - The Naming of Plants
Cambridge Library Collection - The Naming of Plants
Thursday, August 22, 2013
Pest of the Week - Spiny Amaranth or Spiny Pigweed
Amaranth coming from the Latin amarantus is an imaginary flower that is said never to fade. While spiny amaranth (Amaranthus spinosus) or spiny pigweed is one of the most common weeds found in fields and pastures and also seems never to fade.
Natural History
Spiny amaranth is an annual pigweed. A member of the Amaranthaceae family which includes other plants such as joyweed, pigweed and cock's comb. The Amaranthaceae are mostly herbs and rarely shrubs or small trees comprising 65 genera and 900 species.
Spiny amaranth is an annual pigweed and can be as tall 5 feet. Its stems and leaves are hairless and can have a reddish tinge. The leaves are alternate and oval to egg shape. Spiny amaranth plants also have a pair of short spines at the base of leaf petioles.
Some pigweed plants(Amaranthus palmeri) are edible. The use pigweeds as a crop is well documented. The Aztecs cultivated amaranth as one of their crops. They made a dough out of milled amaranth and toasted corn seeds mixed with honey or maguey sap. The dough was formed into idols for various religious festivals. However, some pigweeds have been associated with nitrate accumulation is livestock and they considered toxic to cattle, goats and sheep.
Management Strategies
Mowing can suppress spiny amaranth growth. However the plant will bounce back if mowing is not maintained. For smaller stands of weeds, manually remove plants before flowering occurs and seeds are produced. Herbicides can be used on larger areas as a supplement to a cultural control program, but not as a replacement for a cultural control program.
Additional Information
Spiny Pigweed - Rutgers University
Pigweed - American Indian Health and Diet Project
Amaranthacaea - University of Hawaii
Hay Crop and Pasture Weed Management - University of Tennesse
 |
| Spiny amaranth (Amranthus spinosus) |
Natural History
Spiny amaranth is an annual pigweed. A member of the Amaranthaceae family which includes other plants such as joyweed, pigweed and cock's comb. The Amaranthaceae are mostly herbs and rarely shrubs or small trees comprising 65 genera and 900 species.
Spiny amaranth is an annual pigweed and can be as tall 5 feet. Its stems and leaves are hairless and can have a reddish tinge. The leaves are alternate and oval to egg shape. Spiny amaranth plants also have a pair of short spines at the base of leaf petioles.
Some pigweed plants(Amaranthus palmeri) are edible. The use pigweeds as a crop is well documented. The Aztecs cultivated amaranth as one of their crops. They made a dough out of milled amaranth and toasted corn seeds mixed with honey or maguey sap. The dough was formed into idols for various religious festivals. However, some pigweeds have been associated with nitrate accumulation is livestock and they considered toxic to cattle, goats and sheep.
Management Strategies
Mowing can suppress spiny amaranth growth. However the plant will bounce back if mowing is not maintained. For smaller stands of weeds, manually remove plants before flowering occurs and seeds are produced. Herbicides can be used on larger areas as a supplement to a cultural control program, but not as a replacement for a cultural control program.
Additional Information
Spiny Pigweed - Rutgers University
Pigweed - American Indian Health and Diet Project
Amaranthacaea - University of Hawaii
Hay Crop and Pasture Weed Management - University of Tennesse
Tuesday, August 20, 2013
IPM Notes from August 15, 2013
Pheromone Trap Results
Trap #1 - Black Cutworm
The trap had fallen to the ground due to wind. The trap contained 1 bumblebee, 1 ladybird beetle, and 1 black cutworm moth.
Trap #2 - Corn Earworm
1 click beetle, 5 noctuids, 1 crane fly, 1 unidentifiable beetle, and 3 corn earworm moths
Trap #3 - European Corn Borer – Inactive
Trap #4 - Fall Army Worm
4 sap beetles, 1 fall army worm moth
Helios Trap
Inactive – display/demonstration only
Popcorn Field
Birds are sitting on the tassels and breaking them. We did not find evidence of borers though they are present in the sweet corn. Tassels are out on the early variety, but ears and silks are slow to develop. We noticed this in both the field corn and the sweet corn. Too much water is a different kind of stressor on the crop. We found corn smut on one of the tassels. It was noted that while this is a fungus it is also considered a food delicacy in some cultures. Popcorn harvest is being projected for late September or early October.
Note: Many of the cornstalks in all the corn fields are exhibiting purple stain and black stain on the stalks. These are bacterial diseases that are not currently threatening to the crop but are easily seen. Moisture from the frequent rains has been getting between the leaf and stalk, providing a nice moist environment for bacteria to grow. If that bacteria were to move to the ears and shucks, that would be a problem for sweet corn consumers who would reject it as visually unappealing. Popcorn, because of its harder hull is least affected. Field corn is affected only when the bacteria is actually producing mycotoxins in the ear which renders the crop inedible.
Grain Corn Field
Grain corn is in the dough/early dent stage. The milk ring is present and the kernels are still receiving nourishment from the plant (i.e. the kernel tips have not turned black).
A problem noted with this variety of field corn is that the ear has grown past the covering of the husk, exposing it to insects, birds, and moisture. Moisture/water in the ear can lead to two major problems; during late stages of drying the kernels may sprout, and it becomes a perfect environment for bacterial mold and fungus (remember, we did find smut) which will produce mycotoxins that make it unfit for feed.
We did find a Corn Earworm in the ear that we examined today.
Sweet Corn Field
Harvesting began on Wednesday. All of the varieties that were ready were harvested. The ears were then graded and those that were evaluated as consumer perfect (no insect damage, no environmental damage, no disease) were counted for yield. We will have to wait until the whole harvest is complete before we can get figures from Ray. However, we heard that 600 lbs of sweet corn were donated Wednesday. Picking resumes again on Friday and will continue intermittently as different varieties mature.
Wheat/Soybean Field
We are seeing leaf damage from defoliator insect species – about 10%. (Soybeans can tolerate up to 60% leaf loss before being adversely affected.) We found an ‘inchworm’ and leaf hoppers and suspect the presence of grasshoppers and beetles with chewing mouthparts. It is now August 15th and the soybeans are still in a vegetative stage with no evidence of blooms. This is becoming a concern as the soybeans are day-length sensitive. When the days become short enough, the plants will stop making flowers and pods and shift to maturing whatever is there.
Demonstration Plots
Tomatoes
It is now becoming clear that the trellis system makes it much easier to harvest. It is possible to use this system with as few as two tomato plants. It is difficult to find and then reach into the cages to harvest ripe tomatoes. Rotting and damage is occurring to the tomatoes that are in contact with the ground in the free-growing tomatoes. There may be a slight edge in production of the Ramapo variety.
Peanuts
Some pegs are into the ground. These should begin producing peanuts. Again, we are concerned that it is a race to the end of the growing season. An early frost would lessen our production of peanuts.
Cowpeas
Very small peapods are now present.
Buckwheats
Seeds are maturing and dropping off to reseed the plot. However, where the buckwheats were blown over in the windstorm almost none of them survived. Somehow, their stalks being in contact with the ground caused them to die.
Hops
Cones continue to mature and are ready for harvest. We are approaching the time when 75% of the cones would be ready which would be the time that a commercial grower would harvest the entire crop.
Peppers
We continue to harvest peppers. Our efforts in prevention and remediation have paid off – pulling back the mulch, feeding with Epsom salt.
Special thanks to Roger for compiling this week's report.
Trap #1 - Black Cutworm
The trap had fallen to the ground due to wind. The trap contained 1 bumblebee, 1 ladybird beetle, and 1 black cutworm moth.
Trap #2 - Corn Earworm
1 click beetle, 5 noctuids, 1 crane fly, 1 unidentifiable beetle, and 3 corn earworm moths
Trap #3 - European Corn Borer – Inactive
Trap #4 - Fall Army Worm
4 sap beetles, 1 fall army worm moth
Helios Trap
Inactive – display/demonstration only
Popcorn Field
Birds are sitting on the tassels and breaking them. We did not find evidence of borers though they are present in the sweet corn. Tassels are out on the early variety, but ears and silks are slow to develop. We noticed this in both the field corn and the sweet corn. Too much water is a different kind of stressor on the crop. We found corn smut on one of the tassels. It was noted that while this is a fungus it is also considered a food delicacy in some cultures. Popcorn harvest is being projected for late September or early October.
Note: Many of the cornstalks in all the corn fields are exhibiting purple stain and black stain on the stalks. These are bacterial diseases that are not currently threatening to the crop but are easily seen. Moisture from the frequent rains has been getting between the leaf and stalk, providing a nice moist environment for bacteria to grow. If that bacteria were to move to the ears and shucks, that would be a problem for sweet corn consumers who would reject it as visually unappealing. Popcorn, because of its harder hull is least affected. Field corn is affected only when the bacteria is actually producing mycotoxins in the ear which renders the crop inedible.
 |
| Corn Mutation |
Grain Corn Field
Grain corn is in the dough/early dent stage. The milk ring is present and the kernels are still receiving nourishment from the plant (i.e. the kernel tips have not turned black).
A problem noted with this variety of field corn is that the ear has grown past the covering of the husk, exposing it to insects, birds, and moisture. Moisture/water in the ear can lead to two major problems; during late stages of drying the kernels may sprout, and it becomes a perfect environment for bacterial mold and fungus (remember, we did find smut) which will produce mycotoxins that make it unfit for feed.
We did find a Corn Earworm in the ear that we examined today.
Sweet Corn Field
Harvesting began on Wednesday. All of the varieties that were ready were harvested. The ears were then graded and those that were evaluated as consumer perfect (no insect damage, no environmental damage, no disease) were counted for yield. We will have to wait until the whole harvest is complete before we can get figures from Ray. However, we heard that 600 lbs of sweet corn were donated Wednesday. Picking resumes again on Friday and will continue intermittently as different varieties mature.
Wheat/Soybean Field
We are seeing leaf damage from defoliator insect species – about 10%. (Soybeans can tolerate up to 60% leaf loss before being adversely affected.) We found an ‘inchworm’ and leaf hoppers and suspect the presence of grasshoppers and beetles with chewing mouthparts. It is now August 15th and the soybeans are still in a vegetative stage with no evidence of blooms. This is becoming a concern as the soybeans are day-length sensitive. When the days become short enough, the plants will stop making flowers and pods and shift to maturing whatever is there.
Demonstration Plots
Tomatoes
It is now becoming clear that the trellis system makes it much easier to harvest. It is possible to use this system with as few as two tomato plants. It is difficult to find and then reach into the cages to harvest ripe tomatoes. Rotting and damage is occurring to the tomatoes that are in contact with the ground in the free-growing tomatoes. There may be a slight edge in production of the Ramapo variety.
Peanuts
Some pegs are into the ground. These should begin producing peanuts. Again, we are concerned that it is a race to the end of the growing season. An early frost would lessen our production of peanuts.
Cowpeas
Very small peapods are now present.
Buckwheats
Seeds are maturing and dropping off to reseed the plot. However, where the buckwheats were blown over in the windstorm almost none of them survived. Somehow, their stalks being in contact with the ground caused them to die.
Hops
Cones continue to mature and are ready for harvest. We are approaching the time when 75% of the cones would be ready which would be the time that a commercial grower would harvest the entire crop.
Peppers
We continue to harvest peppers. Our efforts in prevention and remediation have paid off – pulling back the mulch, feeding with Epsom salt.
Special thanks to Roger for compiling this week's report.
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
IPM Notes from August 8, 2013
Welcome and a special thanks to the Fernbrook Farm students who were a great help all morning.
Pheromone Trap Results
Trap Report
Trap #1 - Black Cutworm
2 moths (Black Cutworm), 1 spider, 1 mosquito, 1 beetle (click)
Trap #2 - Corn Earworm
8 moths (noctuids) and 1 beetle (click)
Trap #3 - European corn borer
Borer – Inactive
Trap #4 - Fall Army Worm
1 moth – Fall Army Worm
Helios Trap
Inactive
Alfalfa Field
We used 2 sweepers to collect samples of the bugs present in the field. We found leaf hoppers (small but a large number), cucumber beetle, aphids, lace wings, forage loopers, and clover mites.
Hops
The hops are doing poorly with some having the tops dying. We are looking for borers but did not find any holes or other evidence. There are also leaf hoppers.
Sweet Corn
There is borer present in the corn tassels. Evidence includes the presence of frass and broken-over tassels. We found a borer but did not identify it specifically. It is causing the tassel stalk to weaken and fall over. There is also a purple color on the lower stalk that is a stalk disease. Bill says we would need to send it to the lab to get a specific identification. At this time these problems are not a threat to the crop. There is deer damage. They are eating corn silk and tassels.
Soybean Field
This is a late group 3 possibly a 3.8. This means mid to late October harvest.
They are still flowering. Beans are immature. The bean stalks close to the ground have become large and woody (possibly a result of all the rain and the branching of the plants) – this will be difficult for the harvester. We are still seeing Cercosporia and some Septoria. There is also evidence of thrips (leaf puckering).
Wheat/Soybean Field
We were specifically looking for nodule production as the plants show signs of nitrogen deficiency. The plants are just beginning nodule production so probably are nitrogen poor. It is also possible that they are lacking potassium. There are no flowers, so this field would be graded in the vegetative stage. It will probably harvest at the end of October.
Popcorn Field
Bill brought a Minolta Spad Meter to test for nitrogen.
“The chlorophyll meter is a portable, hand-held device that instantaneously measures the greenness (or chlorophyll content) of a plant in the field. Nitrogen (N) is closely associated with leaf chlorophyll; thus chlorophyll meter readings of corn leaves reveal the N status of the corn plants.”
A reader greater than 50 means that there is sufficient nitrogen. Our readings were between 50 and 60. The lower readings were in the areas of the field that have been stressed by flooding.
There are two varieties of popcorn in the field – one short season and one long season. We are seeing the beginning of tasseling and the formation of ears on the short season variety. Cereal leaf beetle is present. We found a spot of ‘rust’.
Field Corn Field
Today we did the calculation of yield.
Take a full ear of corn. Count the number of kernels in a representative row. Count the number of rows. Multiply to get the average number of kernels per ear.
We did 8 ears as a representative sample and got an average of 638 kernels per ear.
(smallest ear 570,largest ear 720)
Assume 1 ear per plant. Use the calculation of plants from May 23rd – which is 25,000 plants per acre. Multiply. The result is 15,953,125 kernels per acre.
Divide by 90,000 kernels per bushel. The result is 177.25 bushels per acre. This is the estimated yield for this field. Bill rates it as a ‘good’ yield. It should be profitable when all expenses are deducted.
Note: The identity of last week’s mystery weed is Fall Panicum.
Special thanks to Roger for compiling this weeks notes.
Saturday, August 10, 2013
Pest of the Week - Asian Tiger Mosquito
 |
| Asian Tiger Mosquito - University of California, Riverside |
Natural History
Adults of this mosquito have black bodies with conspicuous white stripes. A distinctive single white stripe runs the length of the back. Body length is approximately 0.5 centimeter. Distinct silver-white bands are evident on the palpus and tarsi. Eggs are approximately 0.1 centimeter in length and dark brown to black. Eggs are laid in moist areas just above the water surface and are capable of overwintering. Eggs hatch upon inundation and immature stages (larvae and pupae) of the life cycle occur in water and it only needs 1/4 inch depth to complete its life cycle. Larvae are filter feeders and occur in standing water found in discarded tires, small containers and tree holes. Pupae are comma-shaped and dark brown in color.
Adult tiger mosquitoes live from a few days to several weeks, largely depending on weather conditions. Hot, dry weather reduces life expectancy. Regardless of life span, adult tiger mosquitoes seldom move far from the containers in which they were born. Most adults will be found within a few hundred yards of the breeding container.
Asian Tiger Mosquitos feed day and night, especially early in the morning and late afternoon. Male mosquitos, as well as very young mosquitos, are vegetarian and eat plant matter. Female mosquitos drink blood from humans, domestic and wildmammals, reptiles, amphibians, and birds.
Management Strategies
Management of adult populations is more complicated than for other mosquito species due to insecticide tolerance to a variety of insecticides. Eliminating breeding habitats can be an effective method to control mosquitoes. Empty or eliminate places that may contain standing water for more than a week. Additionally you should:
- Screen or cover rain barrels
- Clean overgrown ponds and stock with fish
- Clean leaf-clogged gutters
- Throw away or destroy used tires
- Fill tree holes
- Change water in birdbaths weekly
- Empty water from flower pot dishes
- Recycle old bottles and cans
If you must be out and about, here are some tips for avoiding mosquito bites:
- Avoid areas of high mosquito infestation.
- Avoid unnecessary outdoor activities at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active.
- Wear long pants, long-sleeve shirt and hat when outdoors.
- Use mosquito repellents containing DEET. Consult a physician before applying DEET to young children.
- Restrict the outdoor play of your children if mosquitoes are present.
- Drain all water-holding outdoor containers around the home.
- Inspect basements and crawl spaces. If they are flooded, drain as quickly as possible.
- The very young, the elderly and persons with depressed immune systems are at most risk for acquiring disease from mosquito bites.
Additional Information
Featured Creatures: Asian Tiger Mosquito - University of Florida
New Jersey Statewide Adult Mosquito Surveillance Reports - Rutgers University
Asian Tiger Moquito in New Jersey
Mosquito Control - Burlington County Health Department
State of Maryland Mosquito Control Home
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