1. Late Spring/Early Summer Pests:  Elongate Hemlock Scale  Bag Worm  Cryptomeria Scale January 26, 2013 1

2. Elongate Hemlock Scale

3. SYMPTOMS:  Yellowed needles on lower branches, beginning at trunk  Damage moves upward as population increases.  Scale coverings on the underside of the needles  Tree may appear flocked  Premature needle drop  Eventual branch and limb dieback and death of tree with severe infestations Fiorinia externa (Ferris) 3 January 26, 2013

4. MARCH – MAY - As scales develop, male and female armor differs. Male scales mature into adult winged insects Oval females produce protective “elongate” covering. THROUGHOUT SEASON – Eggs are laid within female casing. LATE MAY – Crawlers begin to appear and continue throughout growing season NOVEMBER - MARCH – Scale overwinters in several stages FEMALE MALE Spray active crawlers

5. Elongate Hemlock Scale Management:  Crawlers can be active in April as soon as temperature warms, but are most present in Late May / Early June.  When crawler numbers increase in Early June, begin spray program of 3 applications every 4 weeks, or 4 applications every 3 weeks with a registered insecticide. (This may not be necessary every season.) 5 January 26, 2013

6. Elongate Hemlock Scale Alternative Method  A single basal trunk application of Safari prior to bud break  Tested in Connecticut by Dr. Richard Cowles.  Have any PA growers used this method? 6

7. Bagworm January 26, 2013 7 Hosts: Douglas Fir, Fir, Pine, Spruce – Any tree

8. Bagworm January 26, 2013 8 Young larvae exit bags on silk threads Late May – June.

9. Bagworm January 26, 2013 9 Early Damage

10. Bagworm Life Cycle  The adult male leaves his casing to mate with the females in late August - September.  The females will lay eggs and die in the casings. Eggs overwinter in mother’s casings.  Eggs then hatch early – mid June. January 26, 2013 10

11. Bagworm Management:  Physical – Remove bags from trees by hand before late spring to prevent new bagworms from emerging.  Bio-Rational – Apply a Bacilus thuringensis (Bt) spray in early summer to infest newly emerged bagworms.  Javelin, DiPel  Traditional – Apply a registered insecticide at the time of bagworm emergence. Wait until majority have emerged to spray, and one application should be enough.  Pyreth-it (Pyrethrin), Conserve & Entrust (Spinosad) January 26, 2013 11

12. Cryptomeria Scale

13.  Armored scale  Two generations during the growing season  Found at the base of a tree, close to trunk  Hosts:  True Firs preferred, potentially Douglas-fir and spruces  Damage:  Yellow speckling on needles  Loss of needles in heavy cases 13

14. Overwintering immature scales LATE SPRING – Scales mature into adult females and males LATE MAY / EARLY JUNE – Females lay eggs which stay under scale covering. EARLY TO MID JUNE – Scale nymphs or crawlers hatch out of eggs and move out from under the mother’s scale cover JUNE / JULY – Crawlers settle and begin to form scale covering and feed. EARLY AUGUST – 2 ND generation of eggs develop.

15. Cryptomeria Scale Management:  Monitor undersides of lower branches near the trunk and use a hand lens to see if crawlers are present.  Some level of control can come from natural predators.  When crawlers emerge, make 2-3 applications 7-10 days apart with a registered insecticide or super-fine horticultural oil. Parasitized by lady beetle Exit hole of parasitoid wasp 15

16. Fall Treatments:  Spruce Gall Adelgids  Balsam Twig Aphid January 26, 2013 16

17. Benefit of moving some pest treatments to the fall:  Saves time in the spring  Most beneficial insects are not active at this time of the year. January 26, 2013 17

18. Spruce Gall Adelgids  Small, sucking pests  Feeds on needles and twigs  Form protective waxy, wool-like coverings outside of gall 18 January 26, 2013

19. Cooley Spruce Gall Adelgid - on Douglas Fir Kinked needles Adult with eggs Fall/Early Spring with no wax 19 January 26, 2013

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21. Cooley Spruce Gall Adelgid - on Colorado Blue Spruce 21 January 26, 2013

22. Eastern Spruce Gall Adelgid - on Norway Spruce 22

23. Spruce Gall Adelgids Management:  Clip off galls in early summer before they dry up and open.  Treat with dormant oil in late fall or early spring when trees are dormant.  Apply registered insecticide in early October or before bud break in Spring to target overwintering nymphs.  Remember not to use oil products on glaucous trees! 23 January 26, 2013

24. DIAGNOSIS  For those interested in identifying pests or determining viability of a pest on their own, a Stereo Microscope can be very helpful.  Plan on investing at least several hundred dollars for a stereo microscope.  Or, Rutgers Plant Diagnostic Laboratory will identify diseases and insects for a fee. Visit www.rcre.rutgers.edu/plantdiagno sticlab www.rcre.rutgers.edu/plantdiagno sticlab January 26, 2013 24

25. QUESTIONS? My contact info: Sarah Pickel PA Dept of Ag, 2301 N. Cameron St, Harrisburg, PA 17110 c-sapickel@pa.govc-sapickel@pa.gov; 717-772-5227 January 26, 2013 25