I grow blueberries, and they are generally healthy and mostly free of insect damage, but last summer we had quite a few japanese beetles, and I spent some time knocking these into "the soapy cup of death." We lose a few ripe berries to the local birds, maybe 10% of the crop. So far, I just live with the problem, rather than apply bird netting...

I usually have very few pests. However we have had a lot of rain this season and I think that many have increased their numbers. Either that or doubling the number of trees draws pests like a magnet.

From the speed at which everything found my trees and the amount of damage... I have a feeling that I need to do some scouting -- find out what is around here...

I know there are "Abandoned" apple and pear trees all over the place in old fields in our county, as well as "Feral" peaches here and there, but I haven't found any within a mile or so. (I am seriously tempted to do a bit of spraying to see what they bear...)

This is a "New" development, and I wasn't expecting anything for a year or 3....

*sigh*

Thanks

Wow John. I couldn't help laughing at your initial post, but I know it's not all that funny. Sounds like you got hit from several angles. Hoping your situation improves.

John, it sounds like you just have a leaf-eating 'pillar going after your new trees. They find the newly planted tree leaves more tasty, I think they may not be putting out as many noxious compounds to make leaves less tasty since the trees are struggling to get going. Usually they are night eaters so if you go out at night you will find them. Just keep on 'em and once the trees take off they should leave this problem behind. .. and then you'll get a whole new set of problems :-)

Scott

John, things are not that bad here in suburban Maryland in the DC suburbs, but the curculio are definitely out and attacking my apples, which have just hit petal fall. I need to spray some Surround this afternoon. From checking my records it looks like we are two weeks ahead this year. Despite complaints I've been hearing about a harsh winter, the plants have loved it and are going gang busters. Mulberries, which are usually the last to leaf out, are now leafed out (the saying is that when the mulberries leaf out the danger of frost is gone). And for the first time in years I have a breba crop on my figs (I figure it is because the winter was consistently cold, but not too cold).

John:

I have to ask this question: Did you apply any kind of insect protection on your trees when you first noticed the caterpillars? Situations like this usually do not develop overnight.

Almost any of the commonly used insectides like Sevin, Malathion, Permethrin (there are many more), would be able to handle a caterpillar outbreak. If you did spray, what did you use? If you are of the organic persuasion, even the organically acceptable treatment Bt should work, since it is specifically intended for caterpillars. It you are a convinced organic grower, I am not trying to convert you, but you will have to do something to protect your trees, organic or not. I have, however, tried Surround, and it is definitely not for me. I favor early use of chemicals, beginning at bud break, but rarely find it necessary to spray after mid-June. By that time, my thinned apples are safely in their Ziploc bags, and stone fruits are past the insect danger point.

Austransplant: I also have a very nice crop of figs forming on a tree in a protected location that wintered over with 8-foot branches. This is the very first time I have seen figs set a Breba crop in April after over 20 years of trying. I guess they like snow, and, as you suggest, a consistently cold but not below-zero winter.

Don Yellman, Great Falls, VA

I was picking and squishing caterpillars daily at first -- These are little plants... I was pretty sure I could find them and kill them and not have to fool with it once the new leaves hardened off.... (It's what I do with tomatoes)

I finally gave up on that and gave them a good dose of Malathion.

I really strongly considered trying some sort of "IPM" strategy... the problem is that "My" pests are coming from someone else's property.... I am seriously considering buying and releasing some "Beneficials" and trying out lures and traps.... I just can't count on that to have any actual effect on bug populations outside my small yard...

Thanks

John

John: in your case, maybe IPM means, "I'm pickin moths".