Ash Flower Gall Mite
We received this picture question to the office this past week about strange growths in an ash tree. This is the work of the ash flower gall mite (Eriophyes fraxiniflora). This microscopic mite will feed on the developing male ash flowers causing them to distort and form these broccoli like structures in the tree. Typically we get calls and questions about this late winter or early spring when they have turned back and sometimes fall out. The damage is only cosmetic and sometimes heavily infested twigs can break out of the tree. The mite is not considered a pest and generally not recommended to be managed. If your ash tree has a history of the mite and you would like to manage it work with a certified arborist to determine the right strategy for your tree.
Tobacco/geranium budworm
We’ve been seeing some some geraniums and petunias that have started to show symptoms of damage from the budworm. This week we finally got our first sample of the tobacco/geranium budworm. This non-hardy moth comes to us from the south when flies in on spring storms and weather fronts. Generally these moths are unable to survive our winters in Nebraska but they can occasionally overwinter in containers that have been stored in a frost-free location. We see two generations of this moth with the second generation being more destructive to petunia and geraniums because of the heat stress. Management of the budworm is challenging due to the fact they hide either at the soil level or in geranium flower buds during the day. At night they feed on flowers causing petunia blooms to disappear or geranium buds fail to open. Scout and handpick off the plants if seen.
Oak Lace Bugs
We are starting to see lace bugs on oak trees at the office. These insects have a piercing/sucking mouth part that will cause the top side of the leaf to appear stippled and resemble sandpaper. When you flip it over you often see black oily spots and multiple generations of lace bugs. The oil substance are eggs and their waste. Nymphs are more round with spikes. Adults are more box-like with salt and pepper wings. Management is typically not needed on established trees.
Squash Vine Borer
The curse for vegetable gardeners, the squash vine borer. Adults have been spotted and now is the time to start checking your vines for their eggs. Adults are a day flying moth with dull orange abdomen and sometimes get mistaken for a wasp. Individual eggs are laid along the vine and they soon hatch about a week later. Larva will emerge and drill directly into the vine. The use of yellow bows filled with water is a great way to monitor for the adults in your garden. Once found start scouting vines daily and destroy any eggs that you see. When it comes to summer squash you could choose to plant in succession so you have multiple crops at different stages so if one gets knocked off you have others to fall back on. Winter squash can be more challenging. The borer tends to favor Hubbard over butternut squash. Another option would be occasionally burring portions of the vines as they crawl along the ground to allow them to root in. This will help save plants if the main vine is killed. Some authors suggest the use of aluminum foil around the vines at the base to prevent egg laying. If you have a steady hand, you could surgically remove borers from the vine.
Dr. Jody Green has this great info graphic about this garden pest.
