Thousand Cankers Disease (TCD) quarantine regulations have been expanded to include Loudon and Sevier counties. The disease was first discovered in Knox County in August 2010. These two additional Tennessee counties are now under an emergency quarantine for TCD. TCD is a progressive disease that kills black walnut trees within two to three years after initial symptoms are detected. The disease-causing fungus, Geosmithia, is transmitted by a small twig beetle. Branches and trunk tissue are killed by multiple infections of the fungus, as the beetles carry the fungus from one area to the next. Counties already under an emergency quarantine for TCD include Anderson, Blount, Knox and Union. Ten adjacent counties to the quarantined areas are also restricted for movement of walnut products and hardwood firewood. If you suspect your black walnut tree could be infested with TCD, visit the TDA web site located at http://www.tn.gov/agriculture/regulatory/tcd.shtml for an online symptoms checklist, quarantine map and report form or call TDA’s Regulatory Services Division at 1-800-628-2631. Emerald Ash Borer, an invasive insect that destroys ash trees, was recently found in Claiborne County. The find was made in mid-August and has recently been confirmed by USDA identifiers. In response to the find, TDA is adding Claiborne County to the Emerald Ash Borer quarantine. Blount, Grainger, Knox and Loudon counties are already under EAB quarantine regulations. The quarantine prohibits the movement of firewood, ash nursery stock, ash timber and other material that can spread EAB.

ENTOMOLOGY AND PLANT PATHOLOGY—EPP#60

September 9, 2011 Volume 27, Issue 21

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Inside this issue:

EAB and TCD Quarantines Expanded in TN

EAB and TCD Quarantines Expanded in TN 1-2

Telemicroscopy for Disease & Insect Identification 2

Ban of Most Toxic Rat and Mouse Poisons 3

Soybean Rust Update 4-8

Be on the Lookout for Another Brown Speckled Bug 9-10

Other Pest Management Newsletters 11

By Beth Long

Continued from page 1

Page 2 WHAT’S HAPPENING

Typically, the Emerald Ash Borer beetles can kill an ash tree within three years of the initial infestation. Adults are dark green, one-half inch in length and one-eighth inch wide, and fly only from April until September, depending on the climate of the area. In Tennessee, most EAB adults would fly in May and June. Larvae spend the rest of the year beneath the bark of ash trees. When they emerge as adults, they leave D-shaped holes in the bark about one-eighth inch wide. If you suspect your ash tree could be infested with EAB, visit for . www.tn.gov/agriculture/regulatory/eab.shtml a symptoms checklist, quarantine map and report form or call TDA’s Regulatory Services Division at 1-800-628-2631.

Telemicroscopy for Disease and Insect Identification By Darrell Hensley

Cell phones have made business convenient to communicate to the main office, the boss, co-workers, and/or home. I ran across several tools that may help with when identifying insects and diseases. A professor of bioengineering at the University of California, Berkeley, has developed an inexpensive attachment to turn the digital camera on many of today's mobile phones into a microscope. The attachment is called a CellScope. CellScope can turn a standard cell phone camera into a 5x to 50x microscope. The device can capture images and transmit them far more cheaply than traditional equipment. Brando.com has a tiny size 60X Magnify Microscope which comes with 2xWhite LED for using under Dim/Dark environment, and 1xNote Detector LED for watching the Water Mark of the Paper Note. This product is priced at $17.50 Conice has a 6x18 zoom telephoto lens and one comment made about the product suggested the user reversed the lens and used it as a microscope. Not certain if it works well this way, but if the product is inexpensive enough, I would give it a try. I found several products that were modified for the iPhone which would allow you to build a micro-scope at unplggd.com. An iPhone case, miniature microscope and super glue were used to create a fairly ingenious microscope for under $10. http://www.unplggd.com/unplggd/hacks/cheap-iphone-microscope-mod-126971 BRANDO 60x Magnify Microscope http://www.mobile.brando.com/iphone-4-microscope-with-white-2-led-and-note-detector-led_p05863c0921d092.html

CONICE 6x18 Zoom http://www.dealextreme.com/p/conice-6x18-zoom-attachment-for-iphone-10813 Source: Wired.com http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/03/diy-cellphone-microscope/

Ban of Most Toxic Rat and Mouse Poisons

Page 3 VOLUME 27, ISSUE 21

By Gene Burgess

To better protect children, pets, and wildlife, EPA is moving forward with actions announced in June to ban the sale to consumers of the most toxic rat and mouse poisons, as well as consumer rodenticide products that use loose bait and pellets. EPA is convening a meeting of the Agency's science advisory committee this fall to obtain input on a Notice of Intent to Cancel (NOIC) certain rodenticide products that have not adopted the Agency's new safety measures. The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act Scientific Advisory Panel (SAP) will consider the effect of the proposed cancellations on health and the environment, and will review the scientific assessment underlying EPA's NOIC. The NOIC will discuss why the Agency believes certain rodenticide products no longer meet the pesticide statute's registra-tion standard and may cause unreasonable adverse effects on human health and the environ-ment when used in accordance with the label and accepted widespread practice. EPA will seek comments from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the SAP prior to issuing the NOIC to the manufacturers of the nonconforming rodenticide products. In 2008, EPA issued the Risk Mitigation Decision for Ten Rodenticides, which informed rodenti-cide producers of risk reduction measures needed for rodenticide products to continue to meet the FIFRA registration standard. Changes in rodenticide products are essential to reduce the accidental exposures of children and to protect household pets and wildlife. EPA gave manufac-turers of rodenticide products three years to develop and adopt the risk reduction measures. All but three manufacturers have done so voluntarily (Reckitt Benckiser Inc. makers of D-Con, Fleeject, and Mimas; Spectrum Group makers of Hot Shot; and Liphatech Inc. makers of Generation, Maki, and Rozol rodent control products). EPA will pursue cancellation against these manufacturers' affected products in accordance with FIFRA. EPA emphasizes that a number of household rodent control products that meet the Agency's new, more protective risk reduction goals are available to consumers. When used as directed on the label, these products can help consumers control household rodents while greatly reduc-ing accidental exposure to children, pets and wildlife. These new more protective products are listed on EPA's website at: http://www.epa.gov/oppsrrd1/reregistration/rodenticides/rodent-bait-station.html. Modified form EPA Pesticide Updates (9-7-11)

Soybean Rust Update

Page 4 WHAT’S HAPPENING

By Beth Long

Soybean rust disease has not been found in Tennessee so far this year. Very unfavorable condi-tions have been present for disease development due to hot dry conditions this summer. With increased rain and moderating temperatures, weather conditions may become slightly more favorable for soybean rust. However, many soybeans are getting close to harvest and if disease occurs late season only limited damage to the soybean crop should occur due to rust disease. See below for the Field Crop Rust Forecast Bulletin from ZedX, Inc.

Field Crop Rust Forecast Bulletin

September 4th, 2011

Weekly Weather Forecast The affects of Tropical Storm Lee and its aftermath will be the major weather focus through the early part of the week. Currently, heavy rain is falling across Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and portions of Georgia and the panhandle of Florida. Already some portions of Louisiana have received over 10 inches of rain, and this pattern will be expected to continue as the week progresses. The Gulf Coast will continue to observe heavy rain through Labor Day. As the system moves inward and weakens, it will combine with a frontal system that will move it north and east spreading potentially flooding rainfall through the middle of the week over the Appalachians, Mid-Atlantic, and Northeast. Areas of the central Appalachians could observe as much as 10+ inches of rain, while most other areas of the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic will receive 2-6 inches of rain. After Lee passes through, sunny skies and more typical temperatures will return along the Gulf Coast with highs ranging from the lower to mid 80's °F and lows ranging from the lower to mid 60's °F in most locations. Areas of Florida and northeastern Mexico, outside of the effects of Tropical Storm Lee, will observe more typical early September weather with a chance for showers and thunderstorms each day and warmer high temperatures around 90 °F and low temperatures in the lower to mid 70's °F.

Soybean Rust Risk Assessment (ZedX, Inc. & PSU) Although weather conditions during the majority of the growing season have not been conducive for soybean rust development, recent tropical rains from Hurricane Irene, and now Tropical Storm Lee, are producing more favorable conditions. Hurricane Irene's path and heaviest rainfall did not directly affect areas currently positive for soybean rust, but did provide an opportunity for increased northward transport of rust. Given the low source innoculum existing in Florida and along the Gulf Coast, and the minimal amount of spore deposition predicted for the Atlantic Coast, there is minimal risk of widespread soybean rust due to Irene. Tropical Storm Lee, however, is producing more rain and conducive conditions of currently positive areas in Louisiana and the panhandle of Florida. As such, the 'wait' and 'watch' areas have been expanded further northward (see map below).

Continued from page 4

Page 5 VOLUME 27, ISSUE 21

The right image displays the current threat level of soybean rust. The yellow “wait” areas are considered slightly at risk, orange “watch” areas are at moderate risk, and red “warn” areas are at great risk or already identified positive for soybean rust. Risk areas are estimated based on meteorological factors affecting spore transport and deposition and factors conducive for further development within the canopy such as temperature and mois-ture. Biological factors such as host plant and crop phenology are also considered. Risk assess-ment maps are produced by the PSU Ensemble Field Crop Rust Forecasting Program.

Southern Corn Rust Risk Assessment (ZedX, Inc. & PSU) Southern corn rust (SCR) has recently expanded in coverage in Mississippi and has been identi-fied in southern and central Illinois along with western Kentucky (see map at right). Conditions will remain favorable as rainfall from the remnants of Tropical Storm Lee moves from the Gulf Coast through the central Appalachians, Mid-Atlantic, and Northeast. Therefore, further spread from areas positive for SCR in the coming weeks is possible.

The above right image displays the current southern corn rust observations (red counties) and the locations scouted for southern corn rust (blue counties). Note the expansion of SCR in Mississippi and the first positive identifications in 2011 in Illinois

Continued from page 5

Page 6 WHAT’S HAPPENING

Precipitation Pattern A significant amount of rainfall was observed along the Atlantic coast from North Carolina through New England. However, the Southeast and Southcentral U.S. have observed lower than normal rainfall amounts over the past two weeks. Therefore, the drought conditions (see map below) will be likely to persist in Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas. Heavy rainfall from Tropical Storm Lee, however, will help to alleviate drought conditions in the Southeast and in Louisiana, as well as abnormally dry and moderate drought conditions in the central Appalachians.

The above image is the most recent drought monitor map produced by the National Drought Mitigation Center. Note the continued exceptional drought areas across Texas and Oklahoma.

Continued from page 6

Page 7 VOLUME 27, ISSUE 21

Long Range Field Crop Rust Risk Assessment The long range assessment of drought for the U.S. indicates an improvement to drought condi-tions in the Southeast and along the Gulf Coast. Recent rainfall-from Tropical Storm Lee could add even more improvement and mitigate some of the predicted development of droughts in Louisiana and the south and central Appalachians respec-tively. Unfortunately, the drought in Texas is expected to persist through the remainder of the growing season for most of the state. Certain areas of extreme eastern Texas have been aided by rainfall from Lee, and as such, some improvement is expected to drought conditions in these areas.

The above image is a seasonal climate outlook depicting the tenancy for drought during the forecast validation period. The outlook is produced courtesy of the NOAA-NWS Climate Prediction Center (http://www.cpc.noaa.gov/). Note the large area of persistent drought across the south central United States. Continued improvement is predicted across the Southeast along with some improvement in the Mid-Atlantic and along the Gulf Coast.

Tropics Tropical Storm Lee is currently moving inward over southern Louisiana spreading rain from Louisiana and Mississippi through Georgia and the panhandle of Florida. Rainfall has been greater than 10 inches in some areas along the Gulf Coast, and heavy rain is expected to continue along the Gulf through Monday as the system moves inward. As the week progresses, the remnants of Lee will dump as much as 10 inches of rain through the central Appalachians and 3-6 inches of rain across the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast as it combines with a frontal system and moves northeastward. Hurri-cane Katia is currently positioned well to the northeast of Puerto Rico and Hispaniola moving north-west with winds of 100 mph. Although Katia is predicted to become a major hurricane by Monday morning (sustained winds in excess of 110 mph), the forecasted track does not bring it toward land over the next 5 days (see map below). A lot of uncertainty in the forecasted track of Katia exists in forecast models, so there is still a minimal risk of Katia making landfall along the Atlantic Coast near North Carolina. Even if Katia does not make a direct landfall along the Atlantic Coast, it is likely that heavy rain and gust winds will affect portions of the Southeast and Atlantic Coast by next weekend.

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Page 8 WHAT’S HAPPENING

The above image shows the predicted track of Hurricane Katia over the next 5 days. Note the large amount of uncer-tainty in the track by Friday morning. A small chance still exists that Katia could make landfall along the Atlantic Coast near North Carolina. This image is courtesy of the NOAA National Hurricane Center (http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/). Acknowledgments: The Field Crop Rust Forecast Bulletin is produced by Jeremy Zidek (ZedX, Inc.) with assistance from S.A. Isard and J. Golod (PSU). It contains maps and other information contributed by student interns in the PSU Ensem-ble Field Crop Rust Forecasting Program, USDA, and NOAA. Funding for forecasting is provided by the USDA.

Be on the Lookout for Another Brown Speckled Bug

Page 9 VOLUME 27, ISSUE 21

By Beth Long and Karen Vail

Another home invader is lurking on the horizon to our South. Along with cooler temperatures, lady beetles, brown stink bugs and other critters begin looking for a nice warm place to spend the winter including our newest home invader, the bean plataspid, Megacopta cribraria (Fabricius), which is also known as the kudzu bug. This new exotic insect was found during the fall of 2009 in Georgia, and is now found in143 Georgia counties, all South Carolina counties, 42 North Carolina counties and 5 Alabama counties. Researchers in Georgia have determined that wisteria, green beans and other l egumes are the bug's true hosts in the landscape and home gardens. A plant becomes a true host of the insect when different life stages of the insect are found on the plant. Bean plataspid, Megacopta cribraria U.S. distribution through September 2011. Source: http://www.eddmaps.org/pests/kudzubug.cfm Large numbers of this bean plataspid were found in the fall the two years in and around kudzu patches and soybean fields. This insect is native to India and China, and has not been found in Tennessee but it is expected to be found here soon – especially in the southern tier of counties close to Georgia.

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Page 10 WHAT’S HAPPENING

During the fall, the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service typically receives calls from homeowners and pest control operators about small beetles amassing on and around white houses. The bean plataspid seems to be attracted to light surfaces and colors, especially white cars and light colored house siding, and appears to be most active during warm periods of the day. This is similar to the congregating activity that might be reported by homeowners calling about the brown marmorated stink bug, a similar brown speckled insect that we are monitoring for in Tennessee. However, according to Dr. Dan Suiter, an entomologist with the UGA College of Agricultural and Environ-mental Sciences, this new exotic species is rounded, pea-sized and brownish with a wide posterior.

If you receive reports of this insect or of the brown marmorated stink bug, please send samples to Dr. Karen Vail at UT Knoxville for identification. For more information and images go to http://www.invasive.org/browse/subinfo.cfm?sub=56834

Megacopta cribraria Credit: Joe Eger, Dow AgroSciences

Found in large numbers on structures in Winder, Barrow County, Georgia.

Credit: Dan Suiter, UGA

OTHER UT NEWSLETTERS WITH PEST MANAGEMENT INFORMATION

Fruit Pest News http://web.utk.edu/~extepp/fpn/fpn.htm Tennessee Crop and Pest Management Newsletter http://www.utextension.utk.edu/fieldCrops/cotton/cotton_insects/ipmnewsletters.htm Ornamental Pest and Disease Update http://soilplantandpest.utk.edu/publications/ornamentalnwsltr.html School IPM Newsletter http://schoolipm.utk.edu Tennessee Soybean Rust Hotline - 877-875-2326

USDA Soybean Rust Web Site http://www.sbrusa.net This and other "What's Happening" issues can be found at http://eppserver.ag.utk.edu/Whats/whatshap.htm Entomology and Plant Pathology Web Site http://eppserver.ag.utk.edu

ENTOMOLOGY AND PLANT PATHOLOGY—EPP#60

WHAT ‘S HAPPENING

Visit the UT Extension Web site at

http://utextension.tennessee.edu

Programs in agriculture and natural resources, 4-H youth development, family and consumer sciences, and resource development. University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture and county governments cooperating. UT Extension provides equal opportunities in programs and employment.

Precautionary Statement

To protect people and the environment, pesticides should be used safely. This is everyone's re-sponsibility, especially the user. Read and follow label directions carefully before you buy, mix, ap-ply, store or dispose of a pesticide. According to laws regulating pesticides, they must be used only as directed by the label.

Disclaimer

This publication contains pesticide recommendations that are subject to change at any time. The recommendations in this publication are provided only as a guide. It is always the pesticide applica-tor's responsibility, by law, to read and follow all current label directions for the specific pesticide being used. The label always takes precedence over the recommendations found in this publica-tion.

Use of trade or brand names in this publication is for clarity and information; it does not imply ap-proval of the product to the exclusion of others that may be of similar, suitable composition, nor does it guarantee or warrant the standard of the product. The author(s), the University of Tennes-see Institute of Agriculture and University of Tennessee Extension assume no liability resulting from the use of these recommendations.