Caseload at the UW Insect Diagnostic Lab remains low at this time, but has increased slightly over the last two weeks.  Insect activity is expected to increase over the next two weeks with warmer temperatures.  A summary of recent fruit crop insects reported at the UW Insect Diagnostic Lab can be found below:

Virginia Creeper Leafhopper: A vineyard in south central Wisconsin captured hundreds of Virginia creeper leafhoppers on a sticky card trap.  In this case, the insects were found associated with Boston ivy, but this species can also feed on Virginia creeper and grapes, so future scouting was recommended. 

San Jose Scale: A sample of San Jose Scale was recently submitted from apple twigs in Door County.

European Red Mites: Eggs of the European red mite were recently found on an apple twig sample from Door County.

Tarnished Plant Bugs: In the last two weeks, a few sightings of tarnished plant bugs were reported from south central Wisconsin.

Brown Marmorated Stink Bug: I’ve received several reports of the brown marmorated stink bug over the last two weeks from south central and southeastern Wisconsin.

Fruit Insect Note: Subscribers of DATCP’s Wisconsin Pest Bulletin were recently notified by email of changes for 2021.  While there will not be a weekly emailed pest bulletin, the information from pest surveys will be available in a streamlined format on the DATCP Pest Survey webpage (https://datcp.wi.gov/Pages/Programs_Services/PestSurvey.aspx).  Growers should bookmark the pest survey page and check regularly for updates.  In addition to growing degree day information, there is a section relevant to fruit growers (Apple Orchard Pests), which includes survey data for a number of fruit pests.  Thus far, redbanded leafroller and spotted tentiform leafminer have been active in some parts of Wisconsin. 

This article was posted in Insects and tagged Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, European red mites, Insect Diagnostic Lab, insects, Tarnished Plant Bug, Virginia creeper leafhopper.