The caseload at the UW Insect Diagnostic Lab (IDL) has remained high over the last two weeks.  Reports of fruit crop insect activity submitted to the IDL in early August are summarized below:

Japanese beetles: Japanese beetle reports at the IDL have dipped slightly over the last two weeks, but these insects are still active in most parts of the state.  Growers should continue to scout, as adults are usually active into September.

Brown marmorated stink bug: Reports of BMSB nymphs and adults have come in recently from several spots in southern Wisconsin and the La Crosse area.  Growers with a history of BMSB in their area should continue to keep an eye out for these invasive stink bugs.

Spotted wing drosophila: Several SWD samples from around the state have come into the IDL over the last few weeks.  Reports of larvae in raspberries have also been common.

Picnic beetles (Glischrochilus spp.): Reports of picnic beetles have been on the rise.  These secondary scavengers are fond of fermenting fruits and can be common as harvest approaches.  They tend to scavenge on fruits that have been compromised by previous insect attack, disease, or physical injury.

Social wasps: Activity of yellowjackets and paper wasps has been on the rise around the state over the last two weeks.  These insects have annual life cycles and colonies build up from scratch each spring, reaching maximum size in late summer and early fall.  Similar to picnic beetles, yellowjackets and paper wasps are fond of scavenging on the readily available sugars of compromised fruits.  With their ability to sting, these insects can also cause concerns for workers during harvest.  If high activity is observed in an orchard or vineyard, careful observations can pay off if the nesting location can be found and directly treated.

This article was posted in Insects and tagged BMSB, social wasps, SWD.