could only have been achievedthrough actual demonstration.

Many thanks go out to thetour hosts, who provided thesubstance for the tour.Without their help, IR-4 couldnot have brought thiseducational experience to ourcolleagues at the EPA.

(see photos on pg. 10 )

UUppddaattee

The IR-4 Biopesticide Programis following through on pestproblems highlighted inprevious tours. In the 2001Beyond the Battlefield Tour,we visited PA fruit orchardsdevastated by Plum Pox Virus.IR-4 has begun prep-aring forregistration of a transgenicplum pox resistant plumdeveloped by USDA-Kearnysville. In the 2004Beyond the Conven-tionalTour, we first learned of thebacterial disease Clavibacter ingreenhouse tomatoes. Abacteriophage system for thecontrol of Clavibacter hasbeen developed and the IR-4Biopesticide Program isconstructing the regulatorypackage.

Inside thisissue...

NewsletterVol. 37 No. 3 July 2006

268

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SSoommee PPeessttss RReeaallllyy SSttiinnkk!!

TToouurr PPhhoottooss

On June 21, 2006, forty-eight people from IR-4, EPA,and the USDA ARS/CSREESprograms attended the IR-4/EPA/USDA OrnamentalHorticulture Field Tourorganized by IR-4.Affectionately dubbedStraddling the Mason-Dixon,the tour made stops on bothsides of the Mason-Dixonline east of Thurmont, MDand in the Gettysburg regionof PA.

Each stop on the tour wasunique and educational.Many participants had no

idea there was an operationas magnificent as CatoctinMtn Growers, Inc. in theirown backyard of Detour,MD. General Manager,Henry Thorpe, guidedparticipants through their9+ acre greenhouse,informing them about allaspects of their operationsand demonstrating hydraulicsprayers, foggers andmoving boom methods ofapplying pest controlproducts. University of MDOrnamental Horticulture

Specialist, Stanton Gill,joined the tour and spokeabout Integrated PestManagement (IPM) in thegreenhouse industry.

While the tour focused onornamentals, sweet cherriesnever tasted so fresh asthose found at the secondstop, Boyer Nurseries andOrchards near Biglerville,PA. Here participantslearned about the applica-tion of pest management ina wholesale/retail nurseryoperation from fourthgeneration owner, WillLower. In addition to itstree fruit operation, thebusiness has grown toinclude a garden center witha wide selection of shrubs,evergreens, floweringplants, and trees includingbare root fruit andornamental trees from theirnursery. These trees areshipped all over the US,(even Alaska). Duringlunch, Penn State ExtensionSpecialist, Lynn Kime, spokeabout the “Green Industry”in PA.

Discoveringtypical pests thatattack landscapetrees and plantsand how tomanage thembecame the focus

of the third tour stop, atNew Oxford High School inNew Oxford, PA. Thedifference here was learninghow to manage these pestsin a public school system.Heritage Lawn andLandscape Care Owner, TomBechtel, and his partnerexplained the rules andregulations they must complywith in order to maintainhealthy plants in and aroundschool buildings. Because ofthese regulations, they needto plan their applicationsmany months in advance andmostly work on Sunday.Demonstrations of lawn andtree/shrub pest controlapplication equipmentcompleted the activities atthis stop.

Aerial pest managementapplication is somethingmany tour participants justtook for granted. They won'tnow, since they had theopportunity to actually see ahelicopter land on top of atruck, circle a target anddeliver a spray applicationdirectly on that target. AtHelicopter Applicators, Inc.in Gettysburg, PA, owner,Glen Martin, discussed theaccuracy of GPS systems,licensing requirements, andpiloting skills for thisapplication technique, whichbrought an awareness that

Straddling theMason-DDixon

GGrruubb DDiiggggiinngg aattCCrreeaamm RRiiddggee

Agreement shared theirperspectives on supportingIR-4 efficacy and residueprojects.

"I won't repeat what othershave covered..." was HankGiclas' opening comment.Hank went on to confirmthe Western GrowersAssociation's support ofIR-4 with attempts tosecure permanent FarmBill level funding for IR-4."The program is essentialfor our growers and wewant to secure permanentIR-4 funding at the FarmBill level and remove IR-4from budget politics." Thisforward thinking supportfrom a key IR-4 stake-holder (and CommodityLiaison Committeemember) is a directconfirmation of how IR-4 ismeeting the needs of ourgrower clientele.

So, take a sunny Californiaafternoon, mix in a diversegroup of specialty cropgrowers and Voila you'veexperienced the KearneyIR-4 Field Center ShowDay. This meeting was areflective moment in themidst of a busy fieldseason going about theday to day business of IR-4in the Western Region.This unique cooperation ofgrowers, the University ofCalifornia, regulators anddedicated researchers likethe Kearney group, deliversnew pest control productsfor specialty crop growers.

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How do you celebrate theproductive work of an IR-4Field Research Center? Howabout a gathering of keyuniversity professors, stateregulatory specialists, farmadvisors and growers to yourspecialty crop researchfacility? Food residue GLPresearch trials may not bethe most exhilarating sciencethis side of the Pecos, butthe field day attracted criticalstakeholders and theUniversity of CaliforniaAssociate Dean, MichaelParrella, who is also the IR-4Administrative Advisor forthe Western Region.

If you are David Ennes,Francis Carpenter and LauraVan der Staay from theUniversity of California'sKearney Research andEducation Center, you'll havea substantial amount ofwork, equipment and resultsto share with this group ofIR-4 stakeholders. TheKearney Center, located inthe heart of California’sFresno County, is ideal forIR-4 research because of itsdiverse mixture of specialtycrops.

By the numbers, the KearneyCenter conducts over 45residue trials a year (out of atotal of 116 in California this

season) on everything fromavocados and citrus tocantaloupes and zucchini.The recent field dayhighlighted the post-harvesttechnology laboratory usedto support California's treefruit industry and displayedfield plots of tomatoes,peppers and carrots.

Although the Kearney IR-4Center is located a threehour drive south of theUniversity of California,Davis, it is an integral partof the Western Region'swork in California. This fieldstation along with fouradditional UC IR-4 FieldResearch Centers cover ageographical span of 600miles north to south in thestate. Regional FieldCoordinator, Becky Siscofrom UC Davis and KearneyDirector, Fred Swanson,opened the field day with anoverview of how the regionand the Kearney stationwork together to meetspecialty crop grower needs.

Fresno County SpecialtyCrops Advisor, RichardMolinar, posed a variety ofspecific regulatory questionsabout how crop tolerancesrelate to registrations, andCDPR's chief residuechemist Michael Papathakis

also queried Becky Siscoabout these regulatorynuances. This discussion wasfollowed with lively questionsfrom growers and pesticideenforcement officers aboutlabeling language andinsuring that specialty cropsare included on regulatorylabels.

Along with actually viewingthe field research sites, thegroup received an IR-4primer from Dr. Jerry Baronby teleconference fromRutgers University. Dr. BethGrafton-Cardwell followedwith a first hand report ofhow she swam the regulatorywaves and received approvalfor an IR-4 project to controlthe invasive pest citrus leafminer.

The early afternoon sawgrower representativesproviding their perspec-tiveson the importance of the IR-4 program to theircommodities. Lori Bergerfrom the California MinorCrops Council reported onthe usefulness of the WesternRegion's Priority Setting Tool(PST) which prioritizes IR-4projects in advance of theFood Use Workshop. KenMelban with the CaliforniaPepper Commission and IR-4Commodity LiaisonCommittee member, andGary Van Sickle from theCalifornia Tree Fruit

Celebrating a FieldResearch Center

Participants view the KearneyPost Harvest research laboratorywhich supports residue trials forstone fruit, citrus and cherries.

Field Research Director Francis Carpenter addresses the group duringthe field tour portion of the Kearney Field day.

— by Stephen Flanagan, Western Region Assistant Field Coordinator

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2006 Ornamental HorticultureProgram WorkshopFrom October 10-12, 2006, come to the Mile High City at the foot of the Rocky Mountains - Denver, CO - for our2006 Ornamental Horticulture Program Workshop. Hopefully, snowy weather will not be in the forecast for Denver,although the nearby Rocky Mountains will be wearing their wintry snow caps in October. Last year's successful meetinglaunched a 2006 research program with a record number of efficacy trials. This year we anticipate another successfulround of discussions on high priority projects and the setting of priority rankings for products and crops.

The agenda is similar to last year with approximately 2/3 day devoted to each discipline. • Pathology Session - October 10th from 8 am to 3 pm• Entomology Session - October 10th from 3 pm to 6 pm and October 11th from 8 am to noon• Horticulture Tour - October 11th from noon to 6 pm• Weed Science Session - October 12th from 8 am to 3 pm

The deadline for registering for the Workshop is September 15. Also make sure you call the Holiday Inn City Center(800.448.2296; 303.573.1450) by September 15 to recieve a special discounted rate. Online registration atir4.rutgers.edu is encouraged.

The greenhouse foodcrops industry has grownrapidly in recent years withtomato production takingthe lead. The rapidlygrowing greenhousetomato industry hasbecome an importantpart of the NorthAmerican fresh tomatoindustry.

According to an EconomicResearch Service/USDApublication, NorthAmerican GreenhouseTomatoes Emerge as aMajor Market Force 1,”Greenhouse tomatoesnow represent anestimated 17 percent oftotal (sic) U.S. freshtomato supply. Eventhough greenhousetomatoes still constitute aminority share of the U.S.fresh tomato market, their

influence is concentratedand growingin retail channels, ....Around 37 percent of allfresh tomatoes sold in U.S.retail stores are nowgreenhouse grown,compared with negligibleamounts in the early1990s.”

Pest and disease pressurein the greenhouse can besevere and the availabilityof registered controlproducts has not kept pacewith industry needs. Fewbiopesticide products areregistered and conventionalcontrol products are notavailable to control pestexplosions. These problemswere addressed in 2001 atan IR-4 meeting and atgreenhouse conventionsevery year. And this yearthe USDA/IR-4 Food Use

Workshop, which will beheld in Indianapolis, IN, hasbeen expanded to devote anentire day to Food UseGreenhouse issues.

The Food Use GreenhouseWorkshop will includepresentations anddiscussions on the status ofpest management forgreenhouse grown foodcrops. It will focus onidentification of pestproblems, pest control voidsand suggestions forpotential solutions.Current pest controltechnologies includingbeneficial organisms andtools developed in thefloriculture industry alongwith pest control regulation,pesticide resistance andefficacy problems will alsobe discussed.Like the Food Use

Workshop, pest manage-ment problems will beidentified on specificgreenhouse grown fruitsand vegetables followed bya discussion on presentcontrol practices andpotential solutions.

Don’t forget to register forthe workshop atir4.rutgers.edu. Theregistration fee is $125but goes up significantly tothose who register afterAugust 11.

1written by Linda Calvinlcalvin@ers.usda.gov andRoberta Cookcook@primal.ucdavis.edu

New Greenhouse Food UseWorkshop — by Charlie Meister, IR-44

Southern Region FieldCoordinator

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The International CraneFoundation (ICF) has beennotified by the UnitedStates EnvironmentalProtection Agency (EPA)that temporary approvalhas been given for the useof the non-lethal birdrepellent, Avitec™. In2006, this repellent canbe used as a seedtreatment by farmers inWisconsin, Michigan, andMinnesota in areas whereSandhill Cranes have beendamaging corn fields byeating corn seeds shortlyafter planting. Thisapproval significantlyadvances ICF's goal toreduce conflicts arisingbetween farmers and theincreasing population ofSandhill Cranes in theMidwest.

Avitec™ has an activeingredient of 9,10anthraquinone, a naturallyoccurring substance usedby plants to repel birds.The use of Avitec™represents a decade ofeffort by ICF andcollaborators to preventdamage caused by cranes.Cranes eat newly plantedcorn seeds that occur instraight rows atpredictable intervals.Planted kernels are mostvulnerable for about twoweeks after the cornseedlings emerge. Cranesdetect Avitec™ at verylow levels and avoid it.Though treated, plantedkernels are not consumed

by cranes and the birdscontinue to forage onwaste grains and otherfoods in those same fields.

This benefits thefarmer because wastecorn and many types of beetle larvae can latercause problems as thecrop matures. Avitec™ isa pragmatic andecologically soundsolution to crane cropdamage. Importantly, thedeterrent does notpreclude cranes fromforaging in cultivatedareas where they obtainsignificant caloric andnutritional supplements.By discovering, testing,and deploying an effectivenon-lethal seed treatment,agriculture and conserv-ation have developed awin-win situation wherepeople and wildlife co-exist more harmoniously.

This first agriculturalapplication of 9,10anthraquinone, approvedwithin the United Statesas a bird repellent, is theresult of a collaborationamong a myriad oforganizations andagencies. ICF has workedwith the U.S. EPA; theUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison; the Wisconsin

Department ofAgriculture, Tradeand ConsumerProtection; Michiganand Minnesotaagriculturedepartments;Departments ofNatural Resources for

Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin; four farmingorganizations in threestates; the Department ofWildlife Services (USDA);many individual farmers;U.S. Senator Herb Kohl'sOffice; the IR-4 Project ofRutgers University; threelocal chapters of theAudubon Society; andArkion, the manufacturerof Avitec™. Applicationsfor longer term use ofAvitec™ are being pursuedfor the 2007 plantingseason.

Growers in Wisconsin,Michigan, and Minnesotacan reach Dr. EileenCullen (UW-Extension) formore information on theuse of Avitec™ during the2006 season at 608-261-1507.

The restoration ofWisconsin's Sandhill Cranepopulation is a conserva-tion success story. Fromthe 1930's, the state'scrane population was

estimated at 26 nestingpairs. Over the last 23years, the ICF-sponsoredAnnual Midwest CraneCount has documented athree-fold increase in theWisconsin's cranepopulation. To learnmore, visit the ICFwebsite: savingcranes.org.

Cranes and Farmers to Benefit fromNewly Approved Bird Repellent

CCoonnttaaccttIInnffoorrmmaattiioonn ffoorr IIRR-44 RReeggiioonnaall FFiieelldd CCoooorrddiinnaattoorrssaanndd AARRSS DDiirreeccttoorr

Northeast Region Ms. Edith Lurvey 315.787.2308ell10@cornell.edu

North Central RegionDr. Satoru Miyazaki 517.336.4611 ncrir4@msu.edu

Southern RegionDr. Charles Meister352.392.2399cmeister@mail.ifas.ufl.edu

Western RegionMs. Rebecca Sisco 530.752.7634 rsisco@ucdavis.edu

USDA-AARS Dr. Paul H. Schwartz301.504.8256schwartp@ba.ars.usda.gov

Corn seedling damage

— by Jeb Brazen & AnnBurke, International CraneFoundation

Photos courtesy off the ICFF

Photo taken by Crane WU

Sandhill Crane flock in field

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rotation partners areneeded for resistancemanagement.

Phosphite materials havepreviously been reportedto have efficacy and mode-of-action which is similarto that of Aliette, at afraction of the cost, andthey are very safematerials, both for theenvironment and thehandler. During 2005,ProPhyt and Agri-Fos werecompared to Aliette and astrobilurin product,Cabrio, at the two Georgiaon-farm locations (Clinchand Bacon Counties). Inaddition, an alternationtreatment of ProPhyt andCabrio was also tested.

Four applications of thespecified treatments wereapplied in June and July(2005). In both locations,all products provided nearequivalent disease control;there was on average an82% reduction in Septorialeaf spot and a 92%reduction in anthracnoseleaf spot. Defoliation datawas taken at the BaconCounty site, and diseasecontrol resulted in 75%greater leaf retention, evenin mid November. Leafretention would result insubstantial yield benefits inthe following year.

This is exciting research-derived information, sinceit again supports thepremise that the phosphitematerials have equivalentactivity to either Aliette,

Researchers at theUniversity of Georgia, withfinancial support from theIR-4 Project andEnvironmental ProtectionAgency (EPA), haverecently tested use ofphosphite fungicides forcontrol of major leaf spotdiseases of blueberry -with amazing success. PhilBrannen, extension fruitpathologist with UGA,conducted the on-farmresearch in Clinch andBacon Counties incollaboration with localcounty agents ElvinAndrews and DannyStanaland.

The IR-4 Project workswith companies to registeror expand registrations offungicides for minor-usecrops, of which blueberriesare a part. Brannen states,"the IR-4 Project has beeninstrumental in this projectby providing funding forefficacy data and labelexpansion. For example, asa result of supportedtesting, ProPhyt, one ofthe phosphite fungicides,recently expanded its labelto include leaf spots ofblueberry." The EPA is alsointerested in thesematerials, since they arerelatively benign for theenvironment comparedwith other standardfungicides utilized inblueberry production.

Septoria and anthracnoseleaf spots of blueberry,caused by Septoriaalbopunctata and

Colletotrichumgloeosporioides,respectively, are prevalent.

Surveys in 2002 and2003 indicated that theseare the primary leaf spotsof blueberry in Georgia.When left uncontrolled,these diseases can causeconsiderable defoliation bymid-fall. Recent small-plotresearch has shown asignificant negative effectof these diseases on bothflower bud initiation andyield the following spring.As many as fiveapplications are requiredfor adequate control ofSeptoria leaf spot, andeven more sprays may beneeded on cultivarssusceptible to other leafdiseases that appear laterin the fall, such asanthracnose and rust.Control has been largelylimited to strobilurinproducts (Cabrio, Abound,or Pristine) or Aliette.More recently (2004),Bravo (chlorothalonil)products have beenutilized through a 24C(state) label. Applicationcosts for Aliette are high,and as a result, there isstrong producer resistanceto use this material.Chlorothalonil productscan not be utilized whenfruit are present, due tophytotoxicity issues, andchlorothalonil has potentialissues relating toenvironment/healthconcerns - relative toother safer materials. Assuch, economical and safe

Cabrio or other conven-tional fungicides, at afraction of the cost. Fromthe standpoint ofenvironmental friendliness,the phosphites are relativelybenign, and they are saferthan some chemicals such aschlorothalonil (Bravo), whichis also utilized for resistancemanagement with thestrobilurins, a class offungicides. In addition, thephosphites also providesuppression of some root rotdiseases. Therefore, theproducts are ideal for theblueberry market, andproducers are quicklyadopting these materials fortheir blueberry integratedpest management programs.To learn more contact PhillipBrannen, Extension PlantPathologist - Fruits,University of Georgia atpbrannen@uga.edu.

New Environmentally-ffriendlyFungicides for Blueberry

HQ is Moving..IR-4 HQ Offices will beclosed on or about August4, 2006 for one week aswe relocate to Princeton,NJ. HQ personnel willhave limited access toemails, but plan on beingfully operational on orabout August 14. Visit thewebsite ir4.rutgers.edu forupdates on the move.

Sometimes insects andmites become "pests" as aresult of resistance,changes in pestmanagement systems, oran accidental introductionof an exotic species. Inother words, what wasonce not a pest, or rarely apest, suddenly becomes amajor crop limiting factorand an urgent unmet pestmanagement need. Suchhas been the case recentlywith a group of suckinginsects collectively knownas stink bugs.

At last year's IR-4 FoodUse Workshop (FUW), Dr.Peter Shearer, RutgersUniversity Department ofEntomology, made a strongcase for a national IR-4efficacy project to evaluatea range of new chemistriesfor control of stink bugs.His plea was on behalf ofvarious stakeholder groupsthat have indicated thatstink bugs have, in recentyears, become moreproblematic on apples,pears, strawberries andother specialty crops.Although there wassignificant interest at theFUW for a national IR-4stink bug efficacy projectto be supported in 2006,due to funding cuts, thisproject could not beinitiated. However, therecognized need for betterstink bug managementoptions has resulted infocused researchthroughout the U.S.

Stink bugs have beenemerging as a major pestcomplex of peaches in themid-Atlantic region, and agroup of state and USDAresearchers in this area,led by Dr. Shearer, isorganizing a multi-faceted

FFeeaattuurree

6

research plan to developan integrated stink bugpest management programthat enables peach andother tree fruit growers tominimize crop damagecaused by stink bugfeeding on developingfruit.

Peach growers, probablymore than growers of anyother orchard crop, haveexperienced severeconsequences of the FoodQuality Protection Act of1996. Implementation ofthis act has resulted ininsecticide label changesthat have eliminated someproducts from use onpeaches while drasticallychanging how otherproducts can be used.Pyrethroid insecticidesthat are quite effective forstink bug control areavailable and relativelycheap, but they are well-known for their potentialto cause secondary pestoutbreaks, and leading torapid resistancedevelopment of manylepidopteran pests.In eastern peachproduction, numerousstink bugs attack peaches,including green stink bugs(Acrosternum sp.) andseveral species in thegenus Euschistus, butresearchers are especiallyconcerned over therecent establishmentof the newlyintroduced brownmarmorated stink bug(Halyomorpha halys[Stal]), which wasintroduced into theU.S. near Allentown,in east central PA.,around 1996. Thishemipteran breeds inextremely highnumbers on many

agronomic andhorticultural crops, andhas been observed causingsevere damage to peaches.Researchers plan todevelop accuratemonitoring tools, evaluateeffects of cultural practicesand integrated manage-ment options on stink bugabundance and damage,determine efficacy ofcurrently registered andpromising new reduced-risk chemistries, and totransfer knowledge gainedfor grower implementation.

In the Southern Region,registrant funds wereorganized by IR-4 RegionalCoordinator Dr. CharlesMeister to support aproposal from Universityof Kentucky EntomologistDr. Ric Bessin to examinethe effectiveness of arange of registered andexperimental insecticidesagainst stink bugs. Dr.Bessin's work (on aresearch farm with ahistory of stink bugdamage to sweet corn,apples, tomatoes andpeppers) focused on thebrown stink bug,Euschistus servus, aparticularly difficult stinkbug to control in peppers.

On the west-coast, stinkbugs have been the focus

of considerable researchincluding 1) the conspersestink bug, Euschistusconspersus Uhler in WAState pome fruit (Krupke,Brannen and Jones atWSU in Wenatchee); and2) with a complex of stinkbug species in CApistachios (daSilva, Daaneand Bently at University ofCA).

In the midwest, Dr.Celeste Welty at OhioState has researched stinkbugs on tomatoes foryears, especially control ofthe one-spotted stink bug,Euschistus variolarius, withnew reduced riskchemistries.

These few excerpts fromresearch across the U.S.demonstrate the breadthof stink bug problems andsuggest that we willcontinue to hear aboutneeds for stink bugmanagement in a widevariety of speciatly crops.In addition, theestablishment andexpanding range of theexotic brown marmoratedstink bug in several partsof the U.S. will necessitatesignificant investment inresearch to satisfystakeholder needs.

Contributors: RutgersUniversity - Dr. PeterShearer, Dr. GeorgeHamilton, and Anne Nielsen;IR-4 Project - StephenFlanagan, Dr. CharlesMeister; University ofKentucky Entomologist - Dr.Ric Bessin; USDA/ARS,Beltsville, MD - Dr. Jeffrey R.Aldrich and Dr. AshotKhrimian; and Ohio StateUniversity - Dr. CelesteWelty.

Some Pests Really Stink! — by Van Starner, IR-44Coordinator, Entomologyand Pathology

white strip

blackand white banding

brown marmorated stink bugHalyomorpha halys

7

BBrroowwnn MMaarrmmoorraatteedd SSttiinnkk BBuugg RReesseeaarrcchh aatt RRuuttggeerrss Adapted from a research summary provided by Anne L. Nielsen

Key among the criteria used by the Professors C.C. Compton & G.M. Markle Entomological Fund selection committee inthe decision to present the 2006 award to Anne Nielsen were her research accomplishments with the brown marmoratedstink bug, and the oral and poster presentations of her work at various regional and national entomological conferences.Below is a synopsis of Anne's work with this recently introduced insect.

The brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys (Stal), an exotic stink bug native to Japan, China, Taiwan and Korea,was introduced into Allentown, PA, around 1996, most likely via shipping containers from Asia. The first confirmed H.halys specimen observed in NJ was caught in a blacklight trap in Hunterdon County in 1999. Like many other stink bugspecies, H. halys overwinters as an adult; however, unlike other stink bugs, H. halys frequently overwinters in largedensities inside houses. In China and Japan, H. halys is a pest of numerous crops including soybeans and tree fruit, andmany of the same host plants are also found in the U.S. Due to its high fecundity, aggregation behavior, wide host range,lack of natural enemies and current insecticide restrictions, it is predicted that H. halys will cause economic damage tovarious horticultural and agronomic crops in the U.S. The research conducted on H. halys at Rutgers Univ. focuses onunderstanding the biology, management, and population dynamics of this invasive species.

H. halys provides a unique opportunity to study the dispersal pattern by which invasive species may spread. While H. halysis still in the early stages of dispersing from the original site of introduction, blacklight traps and a public informationcampaign are being used to supplement field-collected data on its distribution and dispersal behavior. This will provide abetter understanding of the population dynamics in both agricultural and ornamental systems, as well as the populationdistribution in suburban areas as it spreads to new locations. Data from blacklight traps indicates that on NJ farms, a largepeak in first generation adult flight activity occurs in late July/early August, but developmental rate studies demonstrate thatH. halys has the potential of two generations per year in southern NJ. Data are also being collected to determine if H.halys is impacting native pest species of stink bugs - competition with native species often occurs following theintroduction of an exotic species. A website is also maintained (www.rce.rutgers.edu/stinkbug) where the public can learnabout H. halys and report specimens. These reports have been useful for determining the relative range of the populationin the mid-Atlantic states. H. halys is well established in most NJ counties, most of PA, northern DE, and a few counties inMD. Dispersal and establishment of new H. halys infestations appear to be following major interstate highways I-78, I-81and I-95. Its range is gradually moving south and west as H. halys is now found in VA, WV, and OR.

Chemical management of H. halys is also being evaluated in the laboratory and the field. Various insecticides are beingscreened using a glass-vial assay to establish baseline toxicity data. Products tested thus far indicate that certain pyrethroidsand neonicotinoids appear to be effective against adult H. halys. Field trials are being conducted to evaluate control andimpacts on IPM programs. Rutgers Univ. is also conducting pheromone trapping studies to determine the attractiveness ofvarious pheromones and trap designs used for monitoring adult H. halys. The H. halys aggregation pheromone has notbeen identified, but pheromones from two other stink bug species are very effective at attracting both male and female H. halys.

22000066 WWiinnnneerr ooff tthhee PPrrooffeessssoorrss CC..CC.. CCoommppttoonn && GG..MM.. MMaarrkklleeEEnnttoommoollooggiiccaall FFuunndd —— AAnnnnee LL.. NNiieellsseennThe 2006 recipient of the Professors C.C. Compton & G.M. Markle Entomological Fund award isAnne L. Nielsen of the Rutgers Department of Entomology. Anne was selected from a group of sevenentomology graduate students. In addition to a $600 gift and achievement certificate, Anne's name isaffixed to a permanent plaque which resides in the entomology department.

The Fund recognizes outstanding achievements by NJ students in the field of entomology. Moniesfrom the fund can also be utilized for other awards such as donations for purchase of books to furtherthe advancement of entomological knowledge, and awards for NJ 4-H insect collections. Awardcriteria include research accomplishments (summary and/or actual publications), academicachievement, teaching achievement, papers and seminars presented, involvement in departmentalaffairs, and other independent entomological activities.

The Fund was established in 1977, by Professor George M. Markle, under the name of Dr. C. C. Compton, a professor atRutgers University from 1963 until his retirement in 1977, and the first National Director of the IR-4 Project. In 2003 thename of the fund was changed to "Professors C.C. Compton & G.M. Markle Entomological Fund" to honor ProfessorMarkle, after his 39 years of distinguished service to the IR-4 Project, Rutgers Cooperative Extension, and RutgersUniversity Department of Entomology. Contributions to the fund continue to be accepted (payable to the RutgersUniversity Foundation), and may be sent to the chair of the Selection Committee, Dr. Van Starner, at the IR-4 Project HQ.

Second, more grubs werefound on arborvitae than onholly. The best treatment inthis experiment for arborvitaewas DPX-E2Y45 appliedduring the summer while thebest treatment in holly wasDiscus™ applied either in thefall or summer.

Future research is planned tocontinue screening productsfor efficacy on oriental beetleat the Cream Ridge Station.

Despite dodging raindropsand lightning, a team of17 started collecting grubdata in April 2006, froman experiment designed tocompare efficacy ofvarious treatments againstoriental beetle larvae inornamental crops. Thisexperiment was establishedthree years ago by Dr. JimLashomb at the RutgersTree Fruit Research &Extension Center in CreamRidge, NJ. The field wherethe arborvitae and hollywere planted hadformerly been plantedwith strawberriesheavily infested withoriental beetle. In2005, as part of the IR-4 OrnamentalHorticulture Program,four products weredrenched once eitherduring summer (Aug 3)or fall (Nov 1) with 1pint of diluted productper plant - Celero®(clothianadin), Discus™(bifenthrin +imidacloprid), DPX-E2Y45 (rynaxypyr), andFlagship™(thiamethoxam). Thisresearch was funded inpart by a USDA-ARSgrant to support thisstation as an IR-4Research Center.

The grub digging teamconsisted of membersfrom IR-4, RutgersDepartment of Biologyand Plant Pathology,and the Cream RidgeExperiment Station.Even the incoming IR-4Executive Director,Jerry Baron, partici-pated, along with Mike

IInnffoorrmmaattiioonn EExxcchhaannggee

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Treatment @ Rate

Timing Number of Grubs

PPeerrcceenntt Control

Number of Grubs

Percent Control

Celero®(clothianadin) @ 0.5 oz per

100 gal

Fall

Summer

4.6 bc

2.6 bc

27.0

59.6

1.7 bc

1.7 bc

56.6

44.4

Discus™(bifenthrin +imidacloprid)@10 oz per

100 gal

Fall

Summer

5.0 bc

3.7 bc

21.5

41.8

0.8 bc

0.7 bc

79.9

78.4

DPX-EE2Y45 @ 0.8 fl ozper 100 gal

Fall

Summer

4.5 c

2.2 c

29.4

65.9

1.2 c

0.8 c

69.8

74.3

Flagship™(thiamethoxam)@ 0.4 oz per

100 gal

Fall

Summer

4.9 b

4.2 b

22.7

33.9

2.2 b

0.9 b

44.0

71.0

Untreated Fall

Summer

6.3 a

6.3 a

--

--

4.0 a

3.0 a

--

--

Arborvitae 'Emerald Green' Holly 'Blue Girl'

Bell, Ute Burke, MarkCantarella, Valerie Fournier,Tom Frieberger, Joe Goffreda,Jim Lashomb, Nikoya Light-bourne, Sherrilynn Novack,Cristi Palmer, Doug Reichert,Anita Shearer, Caryl and RichWinzenreid, AnnaVoordeckers, and JianxinZhang. Over a full week thisteam dug and counted grubson 480 three-five foot tallarborvitae (Thuja sp.) and480 two foot tall holly (Ilexsp.).

The results from thisexperiment were interestingfor two reasons. First, theapplications in the fall didnot tend to provide as goodcontrol as those applica-tions made in the summer,confirming what iscommonly known aboutmanaging grubs - youngergrubs (in the first or secondinstars) are more sensitiveto chemically-basedtreatments than older grubs(in the later instars).

Numbers followed by the same letter are not significantly different.

AAvveerraaggee NNuummbbeerr ooff OOrriieennttaall BBeeeettllee LLaarrvvaaee ((ggrruubbss)) ppeerr AArrbboorrvviittaaee oorr HHoollllyy ppllaanntt

Digging for Grubs at Cream Ridge— by IR-44 Ornamental Horticulture Manager, Cristi Palmer

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PPeerrssoonnaalliittiieess iinn tthhee NNeewwss

9

The IR-4 Newsletter is published quarterly for distribution tocooperators in our partner State/Federal/Industry research units,State and Federal officials, private interest groups, and privatecitizens. Material from the IR-4 Newsletter may be reproduced withcredit to the publication. Major funding for IR-4 is provided byUSDA-CSREES and USDA-ARS in cooperation with the StateAgricultural Experiment Stations. New Jersey Agricultural ExperimentStation Publication No. P-27200-06-03, supported by state, U.S.Hatch Act, and other U.S. Department of Agriculture funds.

Editor: Sherrilynn NovackIR-4 Publications Communications Coordinator 732.932.9575 x 632, novack@aesop.rutgers.eduNewsletter Committee:IR-4 Administrative Advisors Chair, Daniel Rossi,Northeast Regional Field Coordinator, Edith Lurvey, 315.787.2308. North Central Regional Director, Bob Hollingworth, 517.432.7718. Western Regional Assistant Field Coordinator, Stephen Flanagan,541.752.9291. Southern Regional Field Coordinator, Charlie Meister,352.392.2399. USDA/ARS Field Representative, Ben Fraelich, 229.386.3609. Commodity Liaison Committee member, Dave Trinka of MBGMarketing, 269.434.6791. State Liaison Representative, Charles GilliamIR-4 HQ, Entomology and Pathology Coordinator, Van Starner:Technical Coordinator /Entomology, Ken Samoil and QualityAssurance Specialist, Jane Forder 732.932.9575.

The IR-44 Newsletter Vol 37. No.3 July 2006

IIRR-44 LLiissttsseerrvv

IR-4 has developed alistserv to send emailcommunications of newsand information to those inour directory. If you wouldlike to receive these emailnotifications and have notyet received a welcomemessage, your name/emailmay not be included.

To sign up for the IR-4listserv, send an email toSherrilynn Novack atnovack@aesop.rutgers.eduand request your name /email be included.

IR-4 welcomes Dr. SallySchneider, currently anARS scientist at the WaterManagement ResearchUnit, Parlier, California,who will become the newlead for the USDA-ARSIR-4 team. Assiting her willbe Dr. Daniel Strickman.They will be replacingNancy Ragsdale, whoretired in October 2005.

Dr. Sally Schneider,currently an ARS scientistat the Water ManagementResearch Unit, Parlier,California, will become thenew lead for the IR-4team. Assiting her will beDr. Daniel Strickman.

Dr. Schneider received her

B.S. and Ph.D. (in plantpathology) degrees fromthe University of California- Riverside. Sally hasattained internationalrecognition in the distinctareas of Methyl BromideAlternatives, Site-specificManagement (PrecisionAgriculture) for irrigated

crops, and modelingtobacco productionsystems. She also wasselected by NPS toparticipate in USDA's firstSystems EngineeringTraining Program (SETP)resulting in M.S. degreelevel of knowledge ofSystems Engineering.Sally has consistently andeffectively used thisexpertise while serving onmany study committees todesign managementsystems for variousnational researchprograms. She haspublished numerous

documents, many of whichcan be found on theUSDA-ARS website atars.usda.gov.Working with Dr.Schneider will be Dr.Daniel Strickman, NationalProgram Leader forVeterinary, Medical, andUrban Entomology.

Dr. Strickman received hisB.A. degree from theUniversity of California -Riverside and M.S. andPh.D. degrees (both inentomology) from theUniversity of Illinois. Heserved in the U.S. Military

for 22 years eventuallybecoming a Colonel(Medical Service Corps,US Army and BiomedicalScience Corps, US AirForce). His research inmedical entomology hasfocused on integrated pestmanagement, mosquitotaxonomy, insect behavior,insecticide toxicology, andvector-borne diseases. Hehas written a total of 90refereed journal andreview articles (42 assenior author), authoredsix book chapters, and isthe co-editor of one book. Both Sally and Dan areenthusiastic about theprogram, based oninterests in specialty cropsand toxicology.

Dr. Schneider will beginher duties as NationalProgram Leader forHorticulture / Pathogens /Germplasm on July 23.

New USDA-AARS IR-44 NationalProgram Leaders — by USDA-AARS Field Research Director, Ben Fraelich

Dr. Sally Schneider

Dr. Daniel Strickman

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ir4.rutgers.edu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

OOrrnnaammeennttaall HHoorrttiiccuullttuurree TToouurr PPhhoottooss

10

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TToolleerraanncceess

CCaalleennddaarr ooff EEvveennttss

August 16-117, 2006, 2006 NC RegionIR-44 Meeting: Wooster, OH, Contact:Satoru Miyazaki 517.336.4611

September 11, 2006, 2006 Food Use GreenhouseWorkshop: Indianapolis, IN, Contact: Cheryl Ferrazoli732.932.9575 x 601

September 12-114, 2006, 2006 Food Use Workshop:Indianapolis, IN, Contact: Cheryl Ferrazoli732.932.9575 x 601

October 10-112,2006, 2006 Ornamental HorticultureWorkshop: Denver, CO, Contact: Cheryl Ferrazoli732.932.9575 x 601

October 17-119, 2006 Southern Region Meeting: Ft.Lauderdale, FL,Contact: Robin Adkins 352.392.1978

October 24-225, 2006 ARS Liaison Meeting Corvallis,OR: Contact Paul Schwartz 301.504.8256

Clearances March ‘06- May‘06The trade names listed below are provided as a means to identifythe chemical for which a tolerance has been established. A tradename listed here is not necessarily the name of the product onwhich the new food use(s) will be registered. Only labeledproducts may be used on a food crop, regardless of whether atolerance has been established for a chemical on that crop.

Product: SpinosadTrade Names: Entrust, Spintor, SuccessCrops: All Food Commodities (Tolerance for BaitFormulation only), Alfalfa, Banana, Non-grass animal feed,Peanut hay, Bulb vegetables, Grasses, Cereal grains (exceptrice), MintFederal Register: March 1, 2006

Product: TriflumizoleTrade Names: Procure, TerraguardCrop: Filbert (hazelnut)Federal Register: March 29, 2006

Product: FenhexamidTrade Name: ElevateCrops: Ginseng, PearFederal Register: March 29, 2006

Product: NovaluronTrade Names: Rimon, PedestalCrops: Head and stem Brassica vegetablesFederal Register: April 5, 2006

Product: PendimethalinTrade Name: ProwlCrops: Carrot, Citrus fruit, Tree nuts, MintFederal Register: April 12, 2006

Product: AzoxystrobinTrade Names: Abound, QuadrisCrops: Herbs, Spices, Safflower, Sunflower, Crambe, Flax,Mustard, Field mustard, Indian mustard, Rapeseed, IndianrapeseedFederal Register: May 3, 2006

Product: FomesafenTrade Names: ReflexCrops: Dry bean, Snap beanFederal Register: May 3, 2006

Product: FlumioxazinTrade Names: Broadstar, Payload, Sureguard, ValorCrop: StrawberryFederal Register: May 3, 2006

OrnamentalHorticulture SurveyWe are happy to announce that the IR-4 AnnualOrnamental Horticulture Survey is now posted onthe IR-4 website. This survey is geared for inputfrom growers, landscape care professionals,extension personnel and anyone affiliated withornamental horticulture. After the initial questions,about who they are and what they grow,participants can rank 13 potential needs as “highlyimportant” down to, “not important”. If surveyparticipants rank any needs as “somewhat highimportant” or “high importance”, they will be askedto provide more detailed information such as cropsor target pests/pathogens/weeds. Please take thesurvey and encourage your growers and colleaguesto participate as well. It will be available from nowthrough August 30. The results of this survey willbe the basis for our 2007 research prioritydiscussions at the upcoming Workshop in October.If you would like a printed version that can bemailed or faxed back to us, please email SherrilynnNovack (novack@aesop.rutgers.edu) or CristiPalmer (palmer @aesop.rutgers.edu) with yourrequest. The web link to the survey can be foundat: ir4.rutgers.edu/ornamentalsurvey

IR-4 HeadquartersRutgers, The State University of New Jersey681 Highway 1 South North Brunswick, NJ 08902-3390

PRESORTED FIRST CLASS MAIL

U.S. POSTAGEPAID

JERSEY CITY, NJPERMIT NO. 295

Address Service Requested

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey • University of California • Cornell University• University of Florida • Michigan State University

Major funding for IR-4 is provided by SpecialResearch Grants and Hatch Act Funds from USDA-CSREES, in cooperation with the StateAgricultural Experiment Stations, and USDA-ARS.

IInnffoorrmmaattiioonn EExxcchhaannggee

The oriental beetleAnomala orientalis(Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)is a major pest of nurserystock and ornamentalnurseries in theNortheastern UnitedStates. It is the mostimportant white grubspecies in NJ, CT and RI,and its significance israpidly increasing in thecoastal regions of NewEngland, as well as DE,PA, MD, NC, OH, SC,TN, VA and WV. Due tothe implementation of theFood Quality ProtectionAct of 1996, ornamentalshave lost several of theirinsecticide labels forcurative white grub

control, and heavily rely onprophylactic neonicotinoidimidacloprid (Discus™,Marathon®, Merit®)applications. Halofenozide(Mach2™), anotherprophylactic presentlyavailable, has shown to beineffective against theoriental beetle. In LongIsland (NY), imidaclopridhas come under increasingrestrictions due to itsdetections in groundwater.

Mating disruption is anenvironmentally safealternative to pesticides inwhich pest-specific sexpheromone is used toconfuse males and preventthem from finding the

Mating Disruption Shows Promise

females. Previous studieshave shown that thisapproach holds greatpromise for oriental beetlemanagement in ornamentalnurseries, blueberries,cranberries, and turfgrass.

At Rutgers University, Drs.Fournier, Lashomb, andKoppenhöfer are currentlytesting the efficacy of twoinnovative matingdisruption technologies tomanage oriental beetle incommercial nurseries: 1) a granular, wax-basedformulation of the sexpheromone from SuterraLLC (Bend, OR), a leadingcompany in the area of sexpheromone; and

2) a bubble dispensermade by ChemTicaInternational (Costa Ricaand distributed by AgBioInc., Westminster, CO).These two methods ofrelease should allow alonger period ofpersistence of thepheromone, which in turnshould enable bettercontrol of the pest. Thisresearch is conducted inclose collaboration withJim Johnson, county agentat Rutgers CooperativeExtension of CumberlandCounty (NJ), and DanGilrein, extensionentomologist at CornellCooperative Extension ofSuffolk County (NY).

— Valerie Fournier, Postdoctoral Associate atDepartment of Entomology, Rutgers University