http://eppserver.ag.utk.edu/Whats/wh2003/Issue-3-03.htm “WHAT’S HAPPENING?” University of Tennessee - Agricultural Extension Service Entomology & Plant Pathology - EPP #60

Volume No. 3 - May 2, 2003

CARPENTER BEES SEEN PATROLLING STRUCTURES by Karen M. Vail

Carpenter bees have been very active and residents have been alarmed by these large bees flying near eaves. Quite often it is the male carpenter bee that is seen patrolling the area and they are unable to sting. The females are not aggressive, but may bite and sting if handled. Males are easily distinguished from females by a large white marking on their “face”. So if you want to impress someone, reach up and grab one of those males hovering in your face.

Carpenter bees are large bees and are similar in appearance to bumble bees, except the dorsal (top) surface of the abdomen is almost devoid of hairs and appears to be entirely black in the carpenter bee. Also, don’t confuse the white-faced male carpenter bee with a baldfaced hornet which also has a white “face”. You’re most likely to encounter a female baldfaced hornet and she is not forgiving. Catching this female in your hand may cause her to sting, release an alarm pheromone and recruit hundreds of other nest mates - all with stingers.

While carpenter bees are pollinators for several species of plants such as may pop, they are considered pests when they bore into wood. Bare, unpainted, weathered softwoods, especially redwood, cedar, cypress and pine, are preferred. Painted or pressure-treated wood is less likely to be attacked. Some common nest sites include eaves, fascia boards, siding, wooden shake roofs, decks and outdoor furniture. A gallery for brood is excavated in weathered and usually unpainted wood and the exit hole is a nearly perfect circular hole about 1/2" in diameter. These holes often appear as if they were made by a drill bit. The gallery initially extends straight from the opening, but soon makes a right angle turn to go with the grain of the wood. In the gallery the female lays an egg, provisions it with nectar and pollen and seals the cell with chewed wood pulp. Galleries may contain six cells and are four to six inches long on average. However, because the galleries are reused and may be used by more than one bee, lengths of up to 10 feet have been reported. The new adults will appear in late summer.

Nonchemical or preventive controls include painting wood surfaces. Individual bees can be

http://eppserver.ag.utk.edu/Whats/wh2003/Issue-3-03.htm (1 of 7)12/5/2012 6:49:13 AM http://eppserver.ag.utk.edu/Whats/wh2003/Issue-3-03.htm caught with a net and killed or swatted with a badminton racket. Also, a flexible wire can be inserted into the hole to kill adult and larval bees, but the wire needs to be strong enough to break the wooden cells and flexible enough to make the right angle turn.

Insecticidal dusts (Tempo 1D, DeltaDust, Zep Pest Termite and Ant Killer) can be puffed into nest holes in the evening when the carpenter bees are at rest. An insecticidal dust fills the void very well and will not soak into the wood as a liquid might. The bees should have access to the nest for at least 24 hours to allow them to spread the dust through the galleries. The hole is then sealed with a wooden dowel coated with suitable sealants, such as carpenter’s glue or wood putty, to prevent reinfestation, moisture intrusion and wood decay. Carpenter bees overwinter in previously used galleries, so the structure should also be inspected in the fall and any holes that may have formed should be treated and sealed.

In the past, many fact sheets would refer to the use of Sevin (carbaryl) for control of carpenter bees; however, I have not been able to locate a Sevin label that listed wood as a use site. Ficam dust (bendiocarb) is very effective in controlling carpenter bees, but it was voluntarily withdrawn from the market. Existing stocks can still be used.

Homeowners may not have access to insecticidal dusts labeled for wood treatment and thus may need to apply sprays ( Bee/wasp killer aerosols, Ortho Termite and Carpenter Ant Killer [bifenthrin], Bayer Advanced Home Pest Control Indoor and Outdoor Insect Killer ready-to-use pump [cyfluthrin] and others) into the nest opening.

According to Mike Potter, University of Kentucky, a broadcast insecticidal spray onto wood surfaces attracting large numbers of bees may be needed as a deterrent. A broadcast spray, such as Bayer Advanced Powerforce Carpenter Ant and Termite Killer Plus Concentrate [cyfluthrin], Ortho Home Defense System/Termite & Carpenter Ant Killer [bifenthrin], or Spectracide Bug Stop [lambda-cyhalothrin]), is often warranted when carpenter bees are riddling large areas of wood such as siding on a barn, wood shake roofs, or decking. A broadcast treatment is best accomplished with a pump up or hose end sprayer that targets the wood surfaces that are most favored by the bees (fascia boards, joist ends of redwood decks, etc.). Residual effectiveness of deterrent surface applications is only about 1-3 weeks, so the treatment may need to be repeated.

A few years ago, we were conducting carpenter bee research with the representatives from a local pesticide manufacturer and we needed to exclude the bees from currently occupied nests in the fascia boards. We waited for a warm sunny day in which we hoped all the bees would be foraging outside of the nest. We covered the nest openings in the wood by stapling/nailing the gutter guard over the fascia board and onto the board below. Many bees became trapped behind the guard. Some were killed when attempting to forage, but many others from the next generation (last summer) were also trapped. Now, the gutter guards are not aesthetically

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Sources: Potter, M. 2003.Managing Carpenter Bees. KENTUCKY PEST NEWS. Number 982, Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service. 04/21/03 www.uky.edu/Agriculture/kpn/kpnhome.htm

SWITCH FUNGICIDE LABELED FOR BLUEBERRIES AND BRAMBLES by Steve Bost

Switch 62.5WG fungicide has been registered for use on bushberries (blueberries, currants, gooseberries, elderberries, huckleberries, and other cultivars and hybrids of these) and on caneberries (blackberries, raspberries, and cultivars and hybrids of these). Switch, a Syngenta product, contains the active ingredients cyprodinil and fludioxonil. Switch was previously registered for use on strawberries and onions.

The new, supplemental label lists the diseases mummy berry, anthracnose, Alternaria fruit rot, Phomopsis, and Botrytis fruit rot. Most of these diseases apply to blueberries; it remains to be seen what blackberry and raspberry diseases other than Botrytis will be controllable with Switch. Additional research will reveal this.

The rate for bushberries and caneberries is 11-14 oz per acre, with a limit of 56 oz per acre per year. Label indications: Make the first application during early bloom. A second application should be made 7-10 days later. Additional applications can be made at 7-10 day intervals if conditions remain favorable for disease development. Make no more than 2 consecutive applications before using another registered fungicide. The preharvest interval is 0 days. Do not plant any other crop for a period of 12 months after use unless Switch is registered for that use.

CAPTAN LABEL CHANGES by Steve Bost

Several changes have been made on the Captan 80WDG label. These changes have not yet been made to other formulations of captan (Captan 50W, Captan 80W, Captec 4L). However, the changes to these other formulations are in the registration process and should be available soon.

http://eppserver.ag.utk.edu/Whats/wh2003/Issue-3-03.htm (3 of 7)12/5/2012 6:49:13 AM http://eppserver.ag.utk.edu/Whats/wh2003/Issue-3-03.htm Blackberries, raspberries, and dewberries have been added to the Captan 80WDG label. There was a void in anthracnose control on these crops in the absence of Benlate, and the registration of Captan should enhance our control efforts. Botrytis fruit rot and spur blight are also on the label. Captan should also help with cane blight control. Captan 80WDG is labeled at 2½ pounds per acre and has a 3-day preharvest interval. The label allows repeat applications at 10- to 14-day intervals, with a seasonal maximum of 12½ lb per acre. For blackberry anthracnose control, I have obtained the best results when using Benlate by making the first application at early bloom and making two additional applications at two-week intervals.

The lengthy restricted-entry interval (REI) was a hindrance to the use of captan in fruit crops, especially during harvest. The REI was 4 days (96 hr) for apples, stone fruit, blueberries, and grapes. For strawberries, the REI was 24 hr. On the new Captan 80WDG label, the REI is 24 hr for apples, stone fruit, and strawberries. For blueberries, grapes, and brambles, the REI is 72 hr.

DISTANCE DIAGNOSTICS TIPS by Alan Windham

Recently, while assisting with setting up microscopes in several county offices, I was reminded of the value of having a small television (TV) monitor in close proximity to the microscopes. Most of the Sony digital cameras have a yellow video out port. Using the video out cable which comes with your camera, you can cable your digital camera to a small TV monitor via the white and yellow RCA ports. Its much easier to see the camera view of the specimen under a microscope on a 9-to-13" TV monitor than on a 2.5" LCD panel on the back of the camera. This is particularly useful when sitting down with a client. You can point out mites, small insects, fungal growth, small leaf spots, mottling from mite or insect feeding etc. Also, this method can cut down on the number of images that are not in focus. If the image viewed on the TV is in focus, then it will be in focus on the LCD panel on the camera and suitable for recording. This should greatly cut down on the number of useless, out-of-focus digital images. If your camera has a video out port, you can cable the camera to most LCD projectors and TVs with video in ports. This is useful for meetings and displays where you wish to show a group, images from a microscope or previously recorded images in the slide show mode. Also, the newer cameras are suitable for a Sony Remote Commander (similar to a cable release used on 35mm cameras). Using this remotely cabled device you can turn the camera on and off, increase or decrease the zoom, or record the image all from the comfort of your chair and without touching the camera. Is your camera compatible with the Remote Commander? Check your camera for a gray ACC (accessory) port. The Sony 707, 717, and CD400 are compatible with this device. Other Sony cameras may also be compatible.

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PLANT & PEST DIAGNOSTIC CLINIC HIGHLIGHTS by Tom Stebbins and David Cook The following are samples submitted to the clinic April 20 through May 1, 2003

TOBACCO: Bacterial soft rot on floatbed tobacco plants.

ORNAMENTAL AND TURF: Fireblight on ornamental pear; leaf rust on red buckeye; bacterial shot-hole in cherry laurel; pansy with black root rot; black canker on corkscrew willow; sycamore anthracnose on sycamore; leaf rust on hollyhock; fungal spot (heterosporium spp) on iris; gray mold on peony; bacterial leafspot on oakleaf hydrangea; powdery mildew and stem canker on climbing roses; seiridium canker on Leyland Cypress; winter injury on cherry, dogwood, southern magnolia, holly rhododendron and laurel; hail injury on hosta and phenoxy herbicide injury on several trees and shrubs near sprayed lawn areas.

Turf problems: zoysia with leaf rust.

FRUIT AND VEGETABLES: Leaf rust on blackberries; anthracnose on Chandler strawberries; bacterial leafspot on greenhouse pepper transplants; sclerotinia stem rot on tomato.

INSECTS: Maple petiole borer on sugar maple; elongate hemlock scale; boxwood mite injury on boxwood; spruce spider mites on arborvitae and juniper; thrips injury on African violet; false spider mites on azalea; boxwood leafminer injury on boxwood; azalea bark scale on azalea; holly scale and tea scale on holly; greedy scale on holly; rhododendron lace bug; pine bark adelgids and pine tube moth on white pine; white peach scale on laurel; Pales weevil on scotch pine; armored scale on euonymus; lady beetle larvae on white pine; spring and fall cankerworms on maples, oaks, and hackberry; eastern tent caterpillar on ornamental cherry; rose slugs (sawfly larvae) on rose; bristle oak sawfly larvae on pin oak

In and around the home: Clover mites, odorous house ants, carpenter ants, pavement ants, carpenter bees, foreign grain beetles, saw-toothed grain beetles, Indian meal moths, robber fly, drugstore beetles, stoneflies, German cockroaches, camel cricket, varied carpet beetles and furniture carpet beetles, drain flies, maize weevils, earwigs, dark-winged fungus gnats, crab spider, jumping spider, brown recluse spiders and subterranean termites.

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Precautionary Statement To protect people and the environment, pesticides should be used safely. This is everyone’s responsibility, especially the user. Read and follow label directions carefully before you mix, apply, store or dispose of a pesticide. According to laws regulating pesticides, they must be used only as directed by the label. Persons who do not obey the law will be subject to penalties.

Disclaimer Statement Pesticides recommended in this publication were registered for the prescribed uses when printed. Pesticide regulations are continuously reviewed. Should registration or a recommended pesticide be canceled, it would no longer be recommended by The University of Tennessee. Use of trade or brand names in this publication is for clarity and information; it does not imply approval of the product to the exclusion of others that may be of similar, suitable composition, nor does it guarantee or warrant the standard of the product.

The Agricultural Extension Service offers its programs to all eligible persons regardless of race, color, age, national origin, sex, veteran status, religion or disability and is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

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