BYGL July 14, 2011

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Lead Editor: Curtis Young

Contributing Authors: Pam Bennett, Joe Boggs, Cindy Meyer, Jim Chatfield, Erik Draper Dave Dyke, Gary Gao, Tim Malinich, Bridget Meiring, Amy Stone and Curtis Young

Buckeye Yard and Garden onLine provides timely information about Ohio growing conditions, pest, disease, and cultural problems. Updated weekly between April and October, this information is useful for those who are managing a commercial nursery, garden center, or landscape business or someone who just wants to keep their yard looking good all summer.

BYGL July 14, 2011

Thursday, 14 July 2011 15:26

This is the 15th 2011 edition of the Buckeye Yard and Garden Line (BYGL). BYGL is developed from a Tuesday morning conference call of Extension Educators, Specialists, and other contributors in Ohio.

In This Issue:

1. PLANTS OF THE WEEK: Annual (Cockscomb); Perennial (Beebalm); Woody (Ginkgo); Vegetable (Cucumber); and Weed (Queen Anne's Lace). 2. HORT SHORTS: Time to Tip Erect Blackberries. 3. BUG BYTES: Summer Cats (Walnut and Yellownecked Caterpillars); White Pine Weevils are Leaving the Building; Head-Clipping Weevil is Afoot; and Windshield Wipes (Eyed Click Beetle, Bagworm and Magnolia Scale). 4. DISEASE DIGEST: Now That's Really Rusty! (Cedar Apple Rust); Quince Rust on Hawthorn; and Grape Black Rot in Fruit Observed by Gardeners and Commercial Growers. 5. TURF TIPS: Turfgrass Diseases Abound (Rust And Brown Patch); Cicada Killers Cruising Ohio Lawns and Landscapes; and Buzz-Bombing Beetles (Green June Beetles). 6. INDUSTRY INSIGHTS: Asian Longhorned Beetle (ALB) Update. 7. WEATHERWATCH. 8. COMING ATTRACTIONS: Diagnostic Workshops for Master Gardener Volunteers; School Integrated Pest Management Seminars Scheduled; Northwest Ohio Green Industry Summer Session; Come to the Annual Gateway Garden Jubilee in Clark County!; and 2012 Ohio Commercial Pesticide Applicator Recertification Conferences Set. 9. BYGLOSOPHY.

APPENDIX - ADDITIONAL WEBSITE RESOURCES

1. PLANTS OF THE WEEK. *ANNUAL - COCKSCOMB (Celosia argenta var. cristata).

This group of cockscomb plants has outstanding flowers that are an interesting addition to any garden. The unique 'brain- like' flower structure is guaranteed to elicit comments from visitors! These plants prefer full sun for best flowering and can be found in a variety of bloom colors and plant heights. It's a very easy annual to grow. Cockscomb can be grown from seeds directly sown into the garden in the spring or from transplants purchased from garden stores. Taller cultivars should be protected from the wind as the blooms can sometimes get top-heavy. The colors of the blooms vary from shades of red to orange, yellow, purple, or pink. They also make an excellent cut or dried flower, lasting a long time in an arrangement.

For more information, see:

Missouri Botanical Garden Kemper Center for Home Gardening Cockscomb information Michigan State University Information on Cockscomb

*PERENNIAL - BEEBALM (Monarda dydima).

Beebalm, a member of the mint family, is a necessity in a pollinator garden. Beebalm flowers are full of nectar that is especially attractive to bees, but will often attract hummingbirds and butterflies. This plant can grow up to 24-48" in height and prefers full sun and moist soil. Unfortunately, beebalm tends to be very susceptible to powdery mildew. Locating plants in full sun and following proper spacing for this plant can help keep powdery mildew at bay. Beebalm comes in a variety of different colors including red, rose, pink, violet, and white. Dividing plants every 2-3 years in the spring will help keep the plant healthy. When dividing, dig up plants as soon as plants emerge. Divide the plant into clumps using a sharp knife. Each clump should include a good root system, as well as several good shoots.

For more information, see:

Iowa State University Extension Texas Agrilife Extension Service

*WOODY - GINKGO (Ginkgo biloba).

Its fan-shaped leaves are truly unique. This medium to large stately tree is wonderful in the landscape, providing one has the male version! Male cultivars such as 'Autumn Gold', 'Lakeview', and 'Princeton Sentry' are some of the more popular selections. Gingko trees grow to around 50-70' tall and are very adaptable to urban conditions and tough sites. They are used quite often as a street tree as the can take adverse growing conditions such as the strip between the street and sidewalk. The tree's golden yellow leaves tend to drop all of sudden when temperatures change and wind kicks up in the fall. These trees have relatively few problems making them a great choice in the landscape.

For more information, see:

OSU Horticulture Information Sheet on Ginkgo

*VEGETABLE - CUCUMBER (Cucurbita sativus).

Cucumber is a warm season vegetable that grows best during periods of warm days and warms nights. The vines of a standard cucumber grow quickly and require substantial growing space. However, by training vines onto vertical structures and with the development of bush and dwarf varieties, even gardeners with limited space can also enjoy the home grown taste of cucumbers. Cucumbers are usually started by planting seeds directly in the soil after the danger of frost has passed in the spring. The seeds can be planted in hills with 4-5 seeds per hill spaced at 4-5' apart or in rows with plants 2-3' apart and space between rows of 5-6' apart. You can get a jump on the season by starting plants indoors using peat pots or pellets. Like other vine crops it is best to avoid disturbing the cucumber roots when transplanting. A second planting may be done in mid to late summer for a fall harvest. Cucumbers are ready for harvesting 50-70 days from planting. Depending on their use, the cucumber can be picked at any stage of development before the seeds become hard and the cucumber turns yellow.

For more information, see: OSU Extension FactSheet 1608 University of Illinois Extension - Watch Your Garden Grow

*WEED - QUEEN ANNE'S LACE (Daucus carota).

Queen Anne's lace or wild carrot is the progenitor of production carrots. Although native to Europe, it is now common throughout the northern US, where its white lacy umbels are a familiar sight along roads and in fields.

Queen Anne's lace is a biennial plant. The plant forms a rosette of pinnately compounded leaves the first year, then produces several flowers on tall stems the second year. In its second year, the plant bolts from the taproot (the carrot) to a height of 2-4'. The stems are erect and branched; both stems and leaves are covered with short coarse hairs. The individual ray flowers make a tatted, round umbel. It will flower from late June through September.

Some people eat the young taproot, although it is not as sweet and tender as a carrot. It boasts of several herbal qualities, as the seeds have been used as an antiseptic diuretic, and for the prevention and flushing of urinary stones. The seeds are high in volatile oil and supposedly soothe the digestive system when flatulence arises. The root is used as an antacid for heartburn and gastritis. A poultice of the root has been found useful to treat itchy skin. As with any wildflower though, care should be taken to identify the plant correctly, as it has several toxic relatives, such as poison hemlock.

Many butterflies, wasps, and bees are attracted to the flowers of Queen Anne’s lace so, while often considered a weed, it is frequently planted in wildflower and butterfly gardens. The black swallowtail caterpillar favors Queen Anne's lace and other members of the Umbelliferae family as its food source.

For more information, see:

Auburn University Link on Queen Ann's Lace Queen Anne's Lace Photos

2. HORT SHORTS. A. TIME TO TIP ERECT BLACKBERRIES.

Gary Gao noted that some of the blackberries started ripening in southern Ohio. Many of the canes on the blackberry plants are 4-5' tall or taller. These canes need to be tipped back to encourage the formation of laterals or side branches. Tipping can be accomplished by removing the top of the shoot tips of each developing primocane to 48" in late June and July. If new canes get too long, they could be broken off at the base during a strong windstorm. In addition, it will be more difficult to harvest berries on extremely tall canes.

Erect blackberry cultivars differ in their fruiting habits. In some cultivars, the fruit clusters occur well out on the laterals; in others, they are close to the main stem; and in others, they are well distributed over the lateral. In March of next year, at least half of each lateral may be removed.

For more information, see:

OSU Extension FactSheet, "Pruning erect blackberries in the home garden."

3. BUG BYTES. A. SUMMER CATS.

Participants in this week's BYGLive! Diagnostic Walk-About in southwest Ohio observed early instar WALNUT CATERPILLARS (Datana integerrima), and YELLOWNECKED CATERPILLARS (D. ministra). These are second generation caterpillars; participants found egg masses of the walnut caterpillar and defoliation caused by the first generation on its namesake host. The caterpillars of both species are general defoliators and they feed in groups that may include 10-30 caterpillars. Since both species occur at the same time, and since both share some general traits and common hosts, the two species are sometimes misidentified.

Both species of moths lay eggs on the underside of leaves. First instar caterpillars often go unnoticed since they only skeletonize the lower leaf epidermis. Damage becomes more apparent when the caterpillars reach the second instar stage and consume most of the leaf, except for the midvein. In later instars, they devour whole leaves, often including the petiole. Since the caterpillars of both species are gregarious feeders, defoliation tends to occur one branch at a time, unless populations are high and multiple groups are feeding on many branches. Both species of caterpillars have the interesting habit of rearing their front and tail ends in unison to ward off offenders. Also, they both pass through several color phases, meaning that the larvae change color patterns as they mature.

The yellownecked caterpillars have black heads, and a bright orange "neck," or prothorax, which gives them their common name. The caterpillars pass through three distinct color phases during their development. First instar caterpillars are copper-colored with no distinct lines. The next color phase begins with second instar caterpillars; specifically, they have distinct alternating longitudinal yellow and orangish-red lines. The final color phase is observed on last instar caterpillars which have alternating longitudinal black and yellow lines. Although all instars have hair, it is most evident during the last instar stage. Walnut caterpillars also have three color phases. Newly hatched caterpillars are yellow and remain this color through the second instar stage. During the third and fourth instar stages, the caterpillars are brick red with faint white stripes. In the final instar stage, the caterpillars are grayish black with long, soft white hairs. Walnut caterpillars practice an unusual molting behavior. When molting, they group together on the bark of their host tree and all molt at the same time, leaving behind a mass of hairy exoskeletons that looks like a patch of fur.

The yellownecked caterpillars feed on a wide variety of trees including: crabapples, flowering fruit trees, maples, elms, nut trees, beech, lindens, honeylocusts, and boxwoods. There are two, and sometimes three, generations in Ohio. As their common name implies, walnut caterpillars favor walnut trees, but they will also feed on hickories, birches, oaks, and willows. This species appears to have only two generations per season in Ohio. Caterpillars of both species feed for 4-6 weeks until full grown (about 2" long), then they drop from the trees and pupate in underground cells. Although the damage caused by both types of caterpillars can be devastating to small trees in landscapes, these caterpillars are seldom considered a serious pest in woodlands. The caterpillars can be easily managed on small landscape trees by knocking them to the ground and performing the "caterpillar stomp dance;" so far, none have become resistant to this control method.

For more information, see:

USDA Forest Service Leaflet Texas A&M University Extension Fact Sheet

B. WHITE PINE WEEVILS ARE LEAVING THE BUILDING.

Several BYGLers reported that white pine weevil (Pissodes strobi) larval feeding damage is now becoming very evident in many areas of Ohio, and Dave Shetlar noted that he is seeing adult exit holes on trees in central Ohio. In the spring, overwintered females deposit eggs in the terminals of a wide range of conifers including: Douglas-fir; all spruces; and these pines - eastern white, Scotch, Jack, red, and pitch. The resulting white, legless, slightly curved, grub-like larvae tunnel downward just beneath the bark, feeding on phloem tissue until pupation. The tops of weevil infested trees become wilted, turn brown, and die. Central leaders are often curved into a "shepherd's crook."

Removing the paper-thin bark from infested leaders will reveal reddish-brown frass (insect excrement) and weevil larvae. As the larvae near pupation, they excavate tub-shaped chambers in the xylem and surround themselves in Excelsior-like wood fibers. This forms the so- called "chip-cocoon" within which the larvae pupate. New adults emerge through the bark creating small, round exit holes. The adults mate and feed on bud and twig tissue; however, their damage is inconsequential. The weevils then move to the duff beneath conifers to spend the winter.

There is one generation per year and populations may be reduced by removing the infested terminals before adult weevils emerge. Wilted terminals should be pruned from trees and the cut ends closely examined to determine if the entire infestation has been removed. Infested material must be destroyed since the weevils will complete their development in cut tops left on the ground. Obviously, it is rapidly becoming too late to manage the weevil by removing infested terminals in central and southern Ohio; however, infested terminals should be closely examined in the northern part of the state for exit holes. Pruning and destroying the infested terminals remains a viable control option if no exit holes are found.

If exit holes are found, it is not too late to cut-out damaged tops and to begin training a lateral branch to become a new terminal. It is also not too late to consider insecticide options for managing this insect. A soil drench or soil injection application of imidacloprid (e.g. Merit, Xytect, etc.) in the fall has been shown be effective in protecting trees against white pine weevil infestations the following season. This application is generally considered economically feasible only for landscape trees and should be reserved for landscapes that have a history of white pine weevil activity.

For more information, see:

U.S. Forest Service Leaflet Penn State Entomology Fact Sheet

C. HEAD-CLIPPING WEEVIL IS AFOOT.

In BYGL 2011-13 (06/30/11), Curtis Young reminded BYGLers that they should be on the lookout for the SUNFLOWER HEAD-CLIPPING WEEVIL (Haplorhynchites aeneus) on coneflowers. This week, Dave Shetlar reported that he has found some heavy populations in central Ohio. The weevil is a well-documented pest of cultivated and wild sunflowers (Helianthus spp.) in the Great Plains States. It is also known to infest other members of the Aster Family (Asteraceae = Compositae); however, coneflowers appear to be a less well-known menu item based on the literature, and in fact few sources mention this host.

The shiny black to brownish-black weevil is a little over 1/4" long which includes the exceptionally long, curved snout. As with all weevils, this beetle's mouthparts are located at the end of their snout. The females insert their snouts into the flower stems to chew a ring of holes around the stem about 1-1 1/2" below the flower head. The flower stem is not completely cut; the damaged stem just breaks-over causing the flower head to hang from a thin strand of stem tissue.

Females move into the dangling flower head to feed on pollen, mate with males, and lay eggs. Eventually the flower head breaks from the stem and drops to the ground. Heavily de-flowered coneflower plantings look like a collection of soda straws. The eggs hatch once the flower heads drop to the ground and the weevil's grub-like larvae feed on the decaying flower head tissue. It is speculated that the female weevil's odd head-clipping behavior prevents other insects from competing with their off-spring in utilizing the flower head. Mature weevil larvae leave the flower heads and crawl into the soil to spend the winter. Pupation occurs the following spring to early summer and adults appear sometime in July. There is one generation per year.

The best method for controlling this weevil is to remove and destroy the dangling flower heads. This will prevent weevil larvae from completing their development. If the flower heads are removed gently to avoid disturbing the hidden adults, the heads can be dropped into a bucket of soapy water to kill the adults and reduce the weevil population. Insecticides are not a good option. First, there are no insecticides labeled for flowering landscape plants that include this weevil on the label. Second, since coneflowers attract a wide array of important pollinators, insecticide applications could potentially cause collateral damage to these "good bugs."

For more information, see:

Kansas State University Fact Sheet

D. WINDSHIELD WIPES.

BYGLers also ran into a few other insect and mite problems this week including:

*Cindy Meyer in Butler County which is relatively near the current Asian longhorned beetle (ALB) infestation in Clermont County, reported receiving a specimen of an insect that a client thought might be an adult ALB. As it turned out fortunately, the insect was not an ALB, but rather an EYED CLICK BEETLE (Alaus oculatus) also known as the Eyed Elater and Eastern Eyed Click Beetle. The eyed click beetle is a large, black beetle with white spots on its body and two large eye-spots on its pronotum. It is truly understandable that one would confuse this insect with ALB. However, one thing that the eyed click beetle is lacking is the long antennae. Dave Shetlar also informed BYGLers that there is a second species of eyed click beetle in Ohio called the BLIND CLICK BEETLE (A. myops) also known as the Small-eyed Click Beetle and the Blind Elater. The blind click beetle is similar to eyed click beetle, but smaller and narrower in size, and the eyespots on the pronotum are much smaller. The confusions aside, OSU Extension and all the other partners involved in tracking ALB are thankful for the additional watchful eyes out in the field. Keep those look-alikes coming!

For more information, see:

Bug Guide Webpage

*Curtis Young reported that undetected BAGWORM (Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis) populations are beginning to severely damage host plants upon which they are feeding. This is especially true on hosts such as arborvitae, juniper and spruce. Even though the bagworms are still relatively small (1/4-1/2" in length of bag), their feeding activity is causing needle death, thinning of canopies, and browning of entire portions of plants. The severity of these symptoms is dependent on the size of the bagworm populations on the host plants. The bagworms are relatively small at the current time and are still easily killed with a multitude of different products, so get out there and search those sensitive plants before damage gets any worse.

For more information, see:

Universtiy of Kentucky FactSheet on Bagworm

*Dave Shetlar reported that adult female MAGNOLIA SCALES (Neolecanium cornuparvum) are continuing to feed and in the process, producing large amounts of honeydew. Objects below feeding populations of magnolia scales are being covered with the sticky stuff. Since there has been a relative lack of rain in many areas of Ohio, the honeydew is collecting in large quantities and black sooty mold is growing in many of these loads of honeydew. Dave advises that it is not too late to treat the infested magnolias with dinotefuran (e.g. Safari) to stop any further production of honeydew. However, one will have to come back in the September to treat again, because some females have already produced eggs and there is the potential that the eggs will survive to hatch in the fall.

4. DISEASE DIGEST. A. NOW THAT'S REALLY RUSTY!

Erik Draper shared his experience with the most incredible example of CEDAR APPLE RUST (Gymnosporangium juniperi-virginianae) on an apple tree that he has ever had the pleasure of viewing. On a botanizing excursion in a local park, he noticed a tree with apparent water stress symptoms, because from a distance the leaves appeared to be totally scorched! Upon moving closer to the tree, something didn't seem quite right about the leaf color. This called for a closer inspection which yielded the incredible finding of leaves which were almost entirely covered by fungal rust lesions. Having walked by this tree hundreds of times in the past decade, this phenomenon has never previously been viewed.

Knowing that the fungus known as cedar apple rust is heteroecious, meaning it needs two species of plants to complete its life-cycle, Erik tried to piece together what caused this perfect storm of lovely lesions. He had always collected a few cedar apple rust galls with oozing, gelatinous, orange, telial horns full of spores from a nearby juniper, but this rust covered-leaf phenomenon on the apple had never been seen by Erik before this year. After looking around carefully, the story became clear. Even though the apple tree has always been located two trees away from the juniper, this year the number of cedar rust galls in the juniper was extreme. This resulted in the inoculum load of spores, released from the juniper to the apple tree, being incredible. The extended periods of cool, wet weather this spring, combined with the tremendous inoculum load, created the perfect conditions for leaf infection. And one could guess, after looking at those leaves, that every spore released by the galls on the juniper, appeared to land and infect the apple leaves.

For more information, see:

OSU Extension Factsheet, Cedar Rust Diseases of Ornamental Plants University of Arkansas - Cedar Apple Rust Factsheet

B. QUINCE RUST ON HAWTHORN.

Participants in this week's BYGLive! Diagnostic Walk-About in southwest Ohio observed a remarkable amount of quince rust (a.k.a. cedar-quince rust) stem infections on white hawthorns. Joe Boggs noted that the twig dieback caused by the rust cankers was so severe that at a distance the overall tree symptoms mimicked a severe case of bacterial fire blight. Landscape and nursery managers may be more familiar with hawthorn fruit (haw) infections of this rust fungus (Gymnosporangium clavipes). The peculiar looking bright orange spore structures (aecia), protruding from the fruits, are not an uncommon sight. The fruit infections only detract from tree aesthetics while the stem infections can cause serious harm to the tree.

As with the other Gymnosporangium rust fungi that occur in Ohio, G. clavipes alternates between two very different types of plant hosts. The fungus infects several species in the Juniperus genus including J. communis, J. horizontalis, J. sabina, J. scopulorum, and J. virginianae which is also known as the Eastern red cedar from whence the "cedar" name often appended to the disease name is derived. On junipers, the fungus produces spheroid twig cankers from which spores are released that infect plants in the rose family (Rosaceae). The stem cankers on juniper can become perennial meaning the cankers will continue to enlarge and release spores for several years. The cankers may also cause stem dieback on juniper.

Spores released from the juniper cankers infect rosaceous hosts in the spring as new leaves and flowers are emerging. The fungus is capable of infecting over 480 rosaceous plant species in 11 genera including quince, crabapples, pears, and serviceberries; however, infections are most apparent in Ohio on hawthorns. In most cases, fungicide applications are not warranted in the landscape, but if stem dieback becomes a perennial problem, or where fruit infections, particularly of hawthorns, are severe and result in unwanted tracking of orange-colored spores into houses, preventive fungicide sprays in the spring may be an option.

For more information, see:

University of Illinois Extension Fact Sheet

C. GRAPE BLACK ROT IN FRUIT OBSERVED BY GARDENERS AND COMMERCIAL GROWERS.

Gary Gao received phone calls concerning grape black rot from both home gardeners and commercial grape growers. Early in the season, black rot on berries started out as small, round, light-brown spots on the fruit. The rotted tissue in those spots softens, and sinks into the fruit. Each spot enlarges quickly, rotting the entire berry in a few days. This is what grape growers are seeing now. The diseased fruit will shrivel, becoming small, hard, black, wrinkled masses called "mummies." Tiny black pycnidia are also formed on the fruit mummies. The mummies usually remain attached to the cluster.

Black rot is one of the most damaging grape diseases in Ohio. All cultivated varieties of grapes are susceptible to infection by the black rot fungus. If not controlled, some or all of the grapes within a cluster will be rotted. The disease is favored by warm, humid weather that is normally experienced during the summer throughout most of Ohio. The most critical period to control black rot with fungicides is during the period from early bloom through 3-4 weeks after bloom. One of the most effective fungicides for black rot control is mancozeb, however it cannot be used within 60 days of harvest. Captan or myclobutanil should be used instead.

For the most current spray recommendations, commercial growers are referred to OSU Extension Bulletin 506-B2, "Midwest Commercial Small Fruit and Grape Spray Guide," and backyard growers are referred to OSU Extension Bulletin 780, "Controlling Diseases and Insects in Home Fruit Plantings." These publications can be obtained from a local county Extension office or the Extension Publications Office at [ http://estore.osu-extension.org ] and search by publication title.

For more information, see:

OSU Extension FactSheet HYG-3004-08, "Grape Black Rot." OSU Extension Bulletin 780, “Controlling Disease and Insects in Home Fruit Plantings.”

5. TURF TIPS. A. TURFGRASS DISEASES ABOUND.

Joe Rimelspach noted that "it's a great year to be a turfgrass pathologist!" Extreme environmental conditions including heavy spring rains and high summer temperatures have conspired to launch a number of turfgrass diseases on Ohio lawns including RUST on perennial ryegrass and BROWN PATCH on turf-type tall fescue.

There are actually several types of rusts on turfgrass that can be caused by a number of different fungi including: black stem rust (Puccinia graminis), crown rust (P. coronate), leaf rust (Uromyces dactylidis), and yellow stripe rust (P. striiformis). Yellow flecks on the leaf blades are the first signs of rust disease on turfgrass. The yellow flecks enlarge which cause the leaf epidermis to rupture and release yellow-orange powdery spores. These fungal spores easily get on shoes, mowers, and pets but are not harmful to humans or animals. Rust infections seldom cause grass plants to die; however, Joe noted that the occurrence of rust on lawns this year is unusually early so season-long damage may be more severe.

Brown patch on turf-type tall fescue is produced by the fungus, Rhizoctonia solani. Symptoms of the disease are highly variable. On lawns, affected areas appear as large irregularly shaped circles 2-3' in diameter, or as a general thinning of turfgrass. Leaf lesions are irregularly shaped with grayish-brown tissue bounded by dark brown margins. The brown patch fungus occasionally produces white mycelium growth in the turfgrass canopy that may be mistaken for the mycelium of dollar spot or pythium blight. Brown patch may occasionally kill turfgrass plants; however, turfgrass mortality can be greatly reduced if the disease is properly managed

Management of both diseases focuses on applying good turfgrass cultural practices. These include: maintaining a good turfgrass fertility program to promote healthy turfgrass growth; avoiding moisture stress, but also avoiding evening irrigation; raising the lawn mower cutting height to promote deep root development; and avoiding soil compaction. Over-seeding with cultivars that have some resistance to these diseases should be considered for lawns with a consistent history of disease infection. Check the National Turfgrass Evaluation Program for information on cultivar susceptibility by visiting the following web address: http://www.ntep.org/ .

For more information, see:

Penn State University Center for Turgrass Science University of Illinois Extension Fact Sheet

B. CICADA KILLERS CRUISING OHIO LAWNS AND LANDSCAPES.

Cicada killer wasps (Sphecius speciosus) are now making low-level flights over sand volleyball courts, lawns, and bare areas in southwest Ohio landscapes. These giant wasps are considered beneficial since they are the nemesis of ANNUAL DOG-DAY CICADAS (Tibicen spp.). Indeed, an abrupt halt in the staccato "singing" of a cicada, often punctuated by a high- pitched screech, usually means a cicada killer has committed an insecticidal act. It is no accident that the arrival of the wasps coincides with the arrival of the dog-day cicadas. These are the largest wasps found in Ohio, measuring 1.125-1.625" in length. The wasps have black bodies that are marked with yellow to white patches on the first three abdominal (rear part) segments. The head, thorax and legs are rusty-red and the wings russet-yellow. As with all hymenoptera (wasps, bees, etc.), only the females possess stingers (ovipositors); however, they are not aggressive.

The females spend their time digging and provisioning burrows with paralyzed cicada-prey. The males spend their time establishing and defending territories that encompass females. They will aggressively buzz any transgressor who dares to enter their territory; including people. The females prefer to dig their brood burrows in sandy, bare, well-drained soil that is exposed to full sunlight. Although the wasps are considered solitary, they all practice the same nesting behavior. Thus, it is not unusual for there to be numerous burrows, and wasps, in relatively small areas. The males are notoriously territorial and will chase after other males as well as picnickers, golfers, volleyball enthusiasts, and gardeners. Fortunately, it's all a ruse since the males lack stingers.

Cultural practices that promote a thick growth of turfgrass usually eliminate a cicada killer infestation in a lawn in one or two seasons. Landscape infestations may be reduced by mulching or by adding plants to shade the soil. Since this is a beneficial insect, there are no insecticide recommendations specific to controlling these wasps.

For more information, see:

NC State Fact Sheet University of Kentucky EntFact

C. BUZZ-BOMBING BEETLES.

Joe Boggs reported that GREEN JUNE BEETLES (Cotinus nitida) in southern Ohio have begun their annual terrorizing of backyard gardeners, golfers, sunbathers, small pets, etc., as they buzz golf courses and lawns. These large, metallic green beetles tend to emerge en masse. Their large size, coupled with an audible "buzzing" sound, and low level flight plan (cruising at about 2-3'), may induce mild panic with individuals unfamiliar with this insect. The beetles have great entertainment value!

Adults feed on tree leaves as skeletonizers, or they may be found on ripening fruit. Fortunately, they rarely cause significant plant injury, but they may seriously damage fruits. Adults seek out turf with high levels of organic matter (e.g. thatch) in which to lay eggs. Lawns covered with partially composted manures have also been found to be highly attractive to the adults. These adults may also burrow into cool compost piles, under decomposing manure, and into decayed mulch. It has been speculated that this attraction to decomposing organic matter explains why large numbers of adults will assail certain lawns, while ignoring neighboring lawns.

Unlike other white grubs affecting turfgrass, green June beetle grubs create vertical burrows 10-12" into the soil, and they remain closely associated with these burrows. The grubs venture out at night to feed on thatch and other organic matter, and occasionally find their way onto driveways, sidewalks, and into swimming pools, especially after heavy rains. Indeed, the huge grubs appear to practice their backstroke by employing an unusual method of travel ... they crawl about on their backs! Despite their large size, green June beetle larvae seldom cause injury to turf equal to that caused by other white grubs.

For more information, see:

NC State Entomology Insect Notes

6. INDUSTRY INSIGHTS. A. ASIAN LONGHORNED BEETLE (ALB) UPDATE.

The most recent Asian longhorned beetle (ALB) cooperative responsive update was distributed on Wednesday, July 13, 2011, and was used as the single source for this article.

As of July 1, 2011, all "assessment survey" activities have been completed. The cooperative response effort is now conducting "delimiting surveys" in the village of Bethel and throughout Tate Township in Clermont County in southwest Ohio. This survey work consists of visual surveys of all host trees within a given radius of the initial find. As of July 12, 2011, the following numbers pertain to the delimiting survey activities: the number of ALB infested trees confirmed - 162; the number of trees surveyed on July 12, 2011 - 293; total number of trees surveyed since July 5, 2011 - 3,859; and the number of square- miles under regulation remains the same - 56.

Key messages being communicated by USDA Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) include: residents in the ALB regulated area established for Tate Township within Clermont County cannot move firewood or wood debris outside of the regulated area and outside of East Fork State Park; residents are discouraged from moving firewood and wood debris inside the regulated area; residents can report suspected ALB by calling 1-855-252-6450 or by going online to www.BeetleBusters.info; and residents can also call 1-855-252-6450 to report any movement of firewood or wood debris within or outside of the regulated area over the past 5 years.

Regardless of the approach that will be taken to address the ALB infestation in Tate Township, USDA/APHIS wants to assure area homeowners that they will not incur costs for the removals of infested trees by the state or federal government.

An informational update meeting will take place this evening, July 14 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at the Bethel Community Center, located at 135 North Union Street, Bethel, Ohio.

For more information, see:

USDA APHIS ALB website Map of the Regulated Area

7. WEATHERWATCH.

The following weather information summarizes data collected at various Ohio Agricultural Research Development Center (OARDC) Weather Stations spanning the dates from July 1-13, 2011, with the exception of the soil temperatures which are readings from Tuesday, July 14, 2011 at 6:05 p.m.

A very dry stretch in NW Ohio was broken on Monday as rain and wind rolled through. Rainfall totals ranged from a trace to 2". Curtis Young reported some tree damage as a result of the winds.

Weather Region of Ave. High Ave. Low Total Normal Soil Temp F Station Ohio Temp F Temp F Precip." Precip." 2"/3"

Ashtabula NE 83.2 62.5 1.03 1.2 80.33/82.13 Wooster NE 86.6 62.2 1.71 1.8 79.94/78.84 Hoytville NW 90.7 66.0 1.13 1.5 94.47/88.06 Columbus Central 90.6 67.0 1.92 2.0 84.89/82.35 Piketon South 87.4 66.5 2.19 1.4 89.46/87.93

For a link to the OARDC Weather Stations, visit: http://www.oardc.ohio-state.edu/centernet/weather.htm

8. COMING ATTRACTIONS. A. DIAGNOSTIC WORKSHOPS FOR MASTER GARDENER VOLUNTEERS.

OSU Extension Master Gardener Volunteers wanting to sharpen their diagnostic skills should register for one of three upcoming workshops held in NW, Central, and NE Ohio. The programs are designed for volunteers and will include first detector training, as well as hands-on samples. Registration for each session is being handled through the local Extension office. Here are the dates and locations: July 27, 2011, in Hancock County; August 30, 2011, in Franklin County; and September 12, 2011 in Cuyahoga County.

B. SCHOOL INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT SEMINARS SCHEDULED.

When it comes to pesticide use in schools, Ohio has new regulations. Is your school in compliance? OSU Extension is available to assist schools with these laws on pesticide use and integrated pest management. In addition to website resources and free consultation, there are two scheduled seminars.

Collins Seminar (Huron County) - July 21, 2011 Mt. Orab Seminar (Brown County) - August 2, 2011

Registration information is available on the website: http://bugs.osu.edu/schoolipm/ .

For more information, see:

IPM Website

C. NORTHWEST OHIO GREEN INDUSTRY SUMMER SESSION.

This year's Northwest Ohio Green Industry Summer Session will be held on Wednesday, August 3, 2011 at the Audio Visual Center at Owens Community College, just south of Toledo, Ohio. Registration will begin at 11:00 a.m. The program will conclude at 4:30 p.m. The early registration fee is $15.00 and must be postmarked by July 29th. On-site registration or registration postmarked after the early deadline will be $25.00. Registration materials are available at http://abe.osu.edu . Readers may also request a packet by mail by calling 419-354-6916.

This year's topics include: How Herbicides Work; Top 10 Sustainable Landscape Ideas; Bio-based Insecticides; Industry Safety; What's Your Label IQ; The Seductive Life of Plants and the Gardeners that Love Them; Difficult Clients & Difficult Diagnostics; Mode of Action (Pests); Shake Hands with Quercus; The Best of the Worst of 2010; and PUCO Regulation Updates. The keynote address will be presented by Matt Ross of Owens Community College on Urban Agriculture.

For more information, see:

ABE Center Web Site

D. COME TO THE ANNUAL GATEWAY GARDEN JUBILEE IN CLARK COUNTY!

Everyone is welcome to attend this FREE event on Saturday, August 6, 2011 from 8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. The Gateway Learning Gardens, located at the OSU Extension office (4400 Gateway Blvd.) in Springfield, Ohio, is a 5 acre learning garden with over 800 different types of plants on display. Themed gardens include herb, annual, perennial, potager, butterfly, bee and hummingbird gardens, a Victory vegetable garden, a new water feature and an addition to the arbor and shade garden, over 35 different container plantings, and an OSU Regional turf research plot. Master Gardener volunteers will be on hand to answer questions, as well as provide garden demonstrations.

Other activities include free hot dogs, drinks, and popcorn, garden-related vendors, music by the Loosely Strung band, and children's activities. This will be the 3rd year that the Garden Jubilee is a "Zero-Waste Event." Most of the trash generated from the 1,500 attendees is either recycled or composted. In the past, about 86% of the waste has been diverted from the landfill. For more information, go to: http://clark.osu.edu/news/gateway-garden-jubilee-2011 . The event is free and for the whole family!

For more information, see:

Clark County Extension News

E. 2012 OHIO COMMERCIAL PESTICIDE APPLICATOR RECERTIFICATION CONFERENCES SET.

Next year's conference dates have been set. While the events are 6 months out, take the opportunity to get them in your calendar today. Here are the dates: January 31, 2012, Kalahari Conference Center, Sandusky; February 8, 2012, John S. Knight Center, Akron; February 15, 2012, Dayton Convention Center; and March 8, 2012, Columbus Convention Center.

9. BYGLOSOPHY

"We hope that, when the insects take over the world, they will remember with gratitude how we took them along on all our picnics." - Bill Vaughan

APPENDIX - ADDITIONAL WEBSITE RESOURCES:

Ohio State University Department of Horticulture and Crop Science Plantfacts The C. Wayne Ellett Plant and Pest Diagnostic Clinic (CWEPPDC) Buckeye Turf Ohio State University Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Program Emerald Ash Borer Information

Following were the participants in the July 12th conference call: Pam Bennett (Clark); Barb Bloetscher (Ohio Department of Agriculture); Joe Boggs (Hamilton); Julie Crook (Hamilton); Erik Draper (Geauga); Dave Dyke (Hamilton); Gary Gao (Horticulture and Crop Science); Cindy Meyer (Butler); Joe Rimelspach (Plant Pathology); Dave Shetlar (Entomology); Amy Stone (Lucas); Nancy Taylor (C. Wayne Ellett Plant and Pest Diagnostic Clinic (CWEPPDC)); Curtis Young (Van Wert); and Randy Zondag (Lake). Additionally, we had guests from Penn State who were in Ohio and participated with Randy Zondag. They included: Sandy Feather (Allegheny); Nancy Knauss (Allegheny); Mike Masiuk (Pittsburgh); Eric Oesterling (Westmoreland); Julianne Schieffer (SE PA); and Emelie Swackhammer (Lehigh and Northampton).

BYGL is available via email, contact Cheryl Fischnich [email protected] to subscribe. Additional fact sheet information on any of these articles may be found through the OSU FactSheet database http://plantfacts.osu.edu/ .

BYGL is a service of OSU Extension and is aided by support from the ONLA (Ohio Nursery and Landscape Association) http://onla.org/ ; http://buckeyegardening.com/ to the OSU Extension Nursery, Landscape and Turf Team (ENLTT). Any materials in this newsletter may be reproduced for educational purposes providing the source is credited.

BYGL is available online at: http://bygl.osu.edu, a website sponsored by the Ohio State University Department of Horticulture and Crop Sciences (HCS) as part of the "Horticulture in Virtual Perspective." The online version of BYGL has images associated with the articles and links to additional information.

Where trade names are used, no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by Ohio State University Extension is implied. Although every attempt is made to produce information that is complete, timely, and accurate, the pesticide user bears responsibility of consulting the pesticide label and adhering to those directions.

Ohio State University Extension embraces human diversity and is committed to ensuring that all research and related educational programs are available to clientele on a nondiscriminatory basis without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, or veteran status. This statement is in accordance with United States Civil Rights Laws and the USDA. Keith L. Smith, Ph.D., Associate Vice President for Agricultural Administration and Director, Ohio State University Extension, TDD No.800-589-8292 (Ohio only) or 614-292-1868.

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OSU Extension embraces human diversity and is committed to ensuring that all educational programs conducted by Ohio State University Extension are available to clientele on a nondiscriminatory basis without regard to race, color, age, gender identity, or expression, disability, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, or veterans status. Keith L. Smith, Associate Vice President for Ag. Adm. and Director, OSU Extension, TDD No. 800-589-8292 (Ohio only) or 614-292-1868.

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