Really? Spring is here? After the snow and the freezing temperatures this past week it is hard to believe but this is spring in Wisconsin!

This season, I am very grateful that Beth Workmaster from the Horticulture Department has volunteered to scout the vineyards at West Madison Agricultural Research Station (WMARS). Unfortunately, Annie Deutsch is no longer with the Division of Extension and no scouting for insect, disease, and grape phenology will be conducted at the Peninsular Agricultural Research Station for the foreseeable future.

Beth reported that she did not see any insect during her scouting at WMARS on May 14, 2020 and that only two grape buds exhibited damage indicative of flea beetle or cutworm feeding. The recent cool weather has been extending bud swell stage and buds are at mixed stages depending on cultivars from bud swell to bud break. It is therefore important to continue watching for flea beetle and cutworms as they may still be feeding on developing buds. For more info on scouting and management for flea beetle and cutworms, please refer to this previous article.

For chemical control recommendations, please refer to the Midwest Spray Guide. The label is the law, please follow the label.

Happy growing season!

This article was posted in Grapes, Insects and tagged cutworm, Grape Flea Beetle, Grapes, insects.