Utah Plant Pest UTAH PESTS Diagnostic Laboratory USU Extension Summer 2020 QUARTERLY Vol. XIV NEWSLETTER IN THIS ISSUE Identifying Fox Squirrels and Their Damage in Your Be on the Yard Lookout for Bacterial Wilt of Geranium Japanese Options for Weed Barriers Beetle Murder Hornet Madness Farewell to Ryan Davis In 2006, a small population of Japanese willow, birch, maple, horse chestnut, beetles (JB) was detected in Orem, Utah. asparagus, and sycamore. Both the Grasshoppers in An aggressive multi-year eradication adults and grubs (immatures) cause plant Central Utah program directed by the Utah Department damage. Adults skeletonize leaves and of Agriculture and Food (UDAF) eliminated chew holes in flower buds and petals, soft JB from the state by 2012. A trapping fruits, and corn silks. Grubs that feed on turf IPM in the News program in subsequent years yielded just roots cause discolored patches that feels 11 beetles through 2018. However, in spongy and pulls easily from the soil. Grubs NEW MEDIA 2019, 36 beetles were captured in Salt feeding on roots of other plants may cause Lake County and seven in Davis County – yellow and brown leaves and stems. Adults Asian Giant Hornet (fact the highest in more than a decade. UDAF can be found individually or clustered sheet) declared an emergency in 2020 and is together on plants, whereas grubs can be Japanese Beetle (fact sheet) now working once again to eradicate this clumped under the soil of turf grass. pest. Pavement Ants (fact sheet) Adults are oval, metallic green with bronze- Pest Monitoring Tips (video) Japanese beetle is an invasive pest that colored wings, and about ½ inch long. Squash Bug Tips (video) can be highly destructive to ornamental Males are slightly smaller than females. trees and shrubs, turf grass, and some fruits Adults have six white tufts of hair along Use of Row Covers (webinar recording) and vegetables. It was likely introduced each side of the body (i.e., 5 pairs along from Japan into the eastern U.S. in 1916 each side of the abdomen and another Tomato Diseases (webinar in shipments of ornamental plants. It is pair on the last abdominal segment) and recording) now established in most eastern and some prominent spines on their legs. Grubs are Midwestern states. creamy white, C-shaped, and 1 inch-long when fully grown. JB attacks over 300 plant species, including rose, apple, peach, plum, cherry, grape, continued on next page Japanese Beetle, continued UTAH PESTS TEAM Regardless of the recent detections of JB in Diane Alston Utah, the state is currently recognized by Entomologist the National Plant Board as a “Category 1” Head, Dept. of Biology non-infested state. This status is granted as [email protected] a result of the state’s quarantine regulations 435-797-2516 and annual monitoring efforts. Therefore, Utah residents are advised not to use any Arthropod pesticides against JB. Diagnostician to be filled 435-797-2435 Instead, JB sightings should be reported to the Utah Department of Agriculture and Marion Murray Food or Utah Plant Pest Diagnostic Lab IPM Project Leader at Utah State University. However, Utah Utah Pests News Editor residents can protect their plants from [email protected] future JB infestations by implementing the Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado State University, State University, Colorado Cranshaw, Whitney Bugwood.org 435-797-0776 following strategies: Claudia Nischwitz Keep plants healthy by following Plant Pathologist recommended irrigation and fertilization [email protected] schedules. 435-797-7569 Ricardo Ramirez Include a mix of plants that adult JB avoid Entomologist such as lilac, dogwood, and magnolia to [email protected] discourage adult aggregations. 435-797-8088 Encourage natural enemies, such as Lori Spears parasitic wasps, flies, ground beetles, and Prof. Practice Associate Prof. birds, by planting a diversity of flowering USU CAPS Coordinator plants that produce pollen and nectar. Service, USDA Forest Steven Katovich, Bugwood.org [email protected] 435-797-0354 Lori Spears, USU CAPS Coordinator Nick Volesky Vegetable IPM Associate [email protected] 435-797-0319 Utah Plant Pest Diagnostic Lab BNR Room 203 Utah State University 5305 Old Main Hill Logan, UT 84322 Service, Research M.G. Klein, USDA Agricultural Bugwood.org Adult beetles have a metallic green head and To subscribe, click here. copper wing covers (top). All images © UTAH PESTS Grubs form a “C” shape when at rest (middle). and USU Extension unless otherwise credited. Grub feeding can cause patches of discolored turf, and skunks cause additional damage by digging them up (bottom). utahpests.usu.edu Utah Pests Quarterly Newsletter / Summer 2020 / page 2 GUEST AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT Identifying Fox Squirrels and Their Damage in Your Yard Dr. Shandra Nicole Frey is an Extension Associate Professor in Wildlife Biology at USU Extension. Based out of Cedar City, she has a special interest in the field of Human-Wildlife Conflict. Jessica Tegt is the Engagement and Outreach Coordinator for the Berryman Institute in Logan, UT, whose mission is to reduce wildlife damage and resolve human- wildlife conflicts through teaching, research, and extension. Joseph Berger, Bugwood.org Bugwood.org Joseph Berger, Native to the eastern United States, fox squirrels (Sciurus niger) were first documented in Utah in 2011, and have since been causing plant and landscape damage, particularly along the Wasatch Front. It is unknown how fox squirrels made their way into Utah; however, it is possible they followed riparian corridors through Colorado and were only detected once their populations grew in number. Fox squirrels are the largest tree squirrel in the U.S., at Utah State University Nicole Frey, Shandra 17 to 28 inches long and 17.5 to 37.5 oz in weight. They are easily distinguished from our native red squirrels (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus), by their larger size and orange-red fur on their tails and undersides. Red squirrel is the smallest tree squirrel in the U.S. (at 10 to 15 inches long and 5 to 8 oz in weight), with a grayish-red body and tail, and white belly. Fox squirrels are similar in size to our native rock squirrels (Spermophilus variegatus); however, rock squirrels are grayish-brown and are usually found in rocky terrain and canyons. Shandra Nicole Frey, Utah State University Nicole Frey, Shandra Unlike rock squirrels, fox squirrels are primarily arboreal. Although fox squirrels can be found foraging on The fox squirrel (top) has orange-red fur on its tail and the ground, they will usually run up into a tree when underside and is much larger than Utah’s native squirrels, threatened. including the smallest tree squirrel, the red squirrel (middle) and the grayish-brown rock squirrel (bottom). continued on next page www.utahpests.usu.edu Utah Pests Quarterly Newsletter / Summer 2020 / page 3 Fox Squirrel, continued Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado Colorado Cranshaw, Whitney Bugwood.org State University, Fox squirrels may feed on fruits, such as pear (left). In winter, they chew bark away and feed on the subsequent sap flow middle( ). Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado Colorado Cranshaw, Whitney Bugwood.org State University, The bark damage is identified by the chew marks right( ). Colorado Cranshaw, Whitney Bugwood.org State University, Damage Caused by Fox Squirrels Exclusion from Crop Trees: Exclusion from trees is virtually impossible because of squirrels’ ability to climb Along the urban Wasatch Front, fox squirrels have found and jump from trees and man-made structures, including a home among urban trees such as oaks, hickories, and telephone and power lines. To reduce damage to tree maples that provide storable food. Coniferous trees such branches, you can wrap branches with a fabric tree as pine and spruce provide shelter and food throughout wrap. To reduce access to trees, trim branches away from the winter. Fox squirrels prefer to nest in tree cavities; power lines or houses, thus restricting squirrel movement. however, when none are available they build nests using To temporarily exclude a squirrel from a fruit tree, cover cut branches of the tree in which they occur. the tree with bird netting during the fruit ripening period. Squirrels can chew through the netting, but if there is other Because fox squirrels readily adapt to living among food available they may be temporarily dissuaded from structures such as housing, farms, and orchards, they the fruit. If you have a tree that is isolated, and there is no can become pests. They harvest nuts, berries, and fruit way for a squirrel to access it from above, you could install from residential trees and commercial operations. Also, a metallic skirt around the trunk of the tree to discourage squirrels may strip large areas of bark from trees during squirrels from climbing the tree. the winter, sometimes causing serious damage to shade trees. In residential areas, fox squirrels can damage lawns Trap and Relocate: This is illegal because fox squirrels when they bury and subsequently dig up nuts they have carry diseases that may be spread into neighboring areas. stored during the winter. Other chewing damage has been Also, fox squirrels are agricultural pests, and thus they reported on sprinkler heads, utility boxes, and cable wires, should not be transported to agricultural land. damaging residential and agricultural irrigation systems. Repellents and Frightening Devices: Repellents, Management Options frightening devices, and similar products may succeed in reducing squirrel activity around houses or gardens for a Methods to manage squirrels to minimize their damage limited time. However, research suggests that like birds, fall under the following categories: exclusion, habitat squirrels will acclimate to these devices and return to their modification, repellents, trapping, shooting, and hunting. initial behavior. Exclusion from Gardens: Fox squirrels may be excluded Lethal Traps: Fox squirrels are not native to Utah and from garden boxes by installing a wire mesh fence around therefore are not a regulated game species at this time.