Katydid eggs found during winter pruning

Hello, everyone,

Over the last few weeks, I have received images of eggs laid on grapevines, in an overlapping scale-like fashion (usually in two rows).  These are likely seen as pruning progresses.  These are katydid eggs (photo attached).  Many katydids feed on plant tissue, while some are predatory.  Even for phytophagous species, numbers are rarely high enough to cause an economic concern.  Katydids are leaf mimics and less often seen than heard.  Their chorusing is a pleasant addition to a summer night! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjM9tZE_bDg

More later!
Doug

VCE control recommendations now posted

Hello, everyone,

While the Spray Bulletin for Commercial Tree Fruit Growers was posted in February, most other control recommendationa are included in the Pest Management Guide series from Virginia Cooperative Extension.  The 2018 PMGs just went online!

In case you are interested, here is a complete list of the PMGs and similar guides:

• 2018 Pest Management Guides
  
• Commercial Horticultural and Forest Crops (including Commercial Vineyards, Commercial Small Fruit, Commercial Hops)
  
• Home Grounds and Animals (including Home Fruit)

• 2018 Spray Bulletin for Commercial Tree Fruit Growers

• 2018 Mid-Atlantic Commercial Vegetable Recommendations

More later, Doug

Searching for SLF egg masses

Hello, everyone,

On Mar 20, we made a collecting trip to the known spotted lanternfly zone - a one square mile square around northern Winchester.  We found multiple egg masses - a photograph is attached.  There is also a photo of an idle rail car - there were egg masses on tree bark on both sides of the rail bed.  This is not the oviposition period, but it is easy to see how eggs laid on rail cars that are idle for hours or days would allow easy hitchhiking!  Observations in Pennsylvania indicate that SLF readily lays eggs on rough, rusty metal surfaces.

A reminder that we now have a reporting portal to report suspected SLF finds:https://ext.vt.edu/spotted-lanternfly.

Our goal here is two-fold - to see if there are additional infested areas beyond the area we know, and also, to track the presence of SLF as it extends its range.  Please report an instances discovered!

Doug