1. White Grubs have begun to hatch and will continue to hatch into August. Clients should monitor their lawn by rolling back sod in open areas. If 8 or more grubs can be found per square foot, insecticide treatment is justified. The only rescue treatment that works well is Dylox. Sevin is labeled for white grubs, but does not work well. Dylox is short lived and white grubs need to be present for it to be effective. Homeowners may have to re-apply. If clients apply imidacloprid (Merit, Scotts GrubX) and water it in now, it will take about two weeks for it to begin to work. Correct irrigation through summer is important for control and turf recovery.

Online Info: http://entomology.unl.edu/turfent/documnts/wgbmgmt.htm or
http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2500.html

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2. Ash Trees Dropping Leaves - most likely a weather related issue. Sudden changes in weather and prolonged dryness encourage leaf drop. If leaf margins are brown, this indicates leaves are losing moisture faster than it is being replaced by roots. May be an indication of a root or trunk related problem. Check the trunk for borer holes.

Online Info: http://www.nfs.unl.edu/FH/ashborer.htm

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3. Bagworms on Evergreens- Defoliation of spruce and juniper. Small, brown bags made of webbed together needles are found on stems with a larvae inside the bag. Bacillus thuriengiensis or most general use insecticides with carbaryl or permethrins work if applied at hatching (late May into June). Pick off and destroy bags at this time of year.

Online Info: http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2149.html

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4. Pine Wilt Prevention - Greyhound by Arbor Systems is available for injection to prevent Pine wilt. Approx $300.00 per tree.

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5. Hosta Virus X- Jay Fitzgerald, UNL Extension Specialist, is seeing a significant number of hosta in local nurseries with Hosta Virus X. It affects different hosta cultivars in different ways, so it is impossible to give a definitive description of symptoms. The most common symptom is blue or green markings on light colored leaves that follow leaf veins and give plants a mottled appearance. The tissue often appears lumpy, puckered, and of different thickness or texture. Less common symptoms include dried, brown spots and twisted, deformed leaves.

Infected plants should be destroyed. Most common transmission is mechanical transfer of sap. Whenever dividing or trimming plants, growers should sterilize tools using bleach, rubbing alcohol, or ammonia between each plant.

Online Info: http://www.inthecountrygardenandgifts.com/articles/hosta_virus_x.php

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6. Japanese Beetles- A well established population of Japanese beetles can be found in Northwest Omaha, although additional sightings have occurred in central, west, and southern Omaha. These beetles are metallic green with coppery brown wing covers and five tufts of white hair on each side of the abdomen. The adult beetles cause defoliation injury on ornamental plants by eating the leaf tissue, but do not eat the leaf veins resulting in leaves that are lacy in appearance or "skeletonized." The larvae are grubs that feed in the upper two inches of soil on plant roots. A small number of adult beetles could be control by hand-picking, or with insecticide applications using carbaryl or permethrin.

Online Info: http://www.ianrpubs.unl.edu/sendIt/g1623.pdf

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7. Leaf Scorch on hosta and other ornamentals may look like a fungal leaf disease. The leaf tips or margins dry out and turn whitish to tan or brown. Sometimes leaves will be bleached in the middle. Leaf scorch may be due to leaves losing water faster than roots can replace it on hot days. Trim off damaged leaves. Check for unhealthy growing conditions, such as poorly drained soil or overwatering that leads to unhealthy roots unable to efficiently supply water.

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8. Green June Beetles, Cotinis nitida, are feeding on the ripening fruit of tomato and other garden plants in the Lincoln area. The large beetles look like our common May/June Beetle but are a dull, velvety green and tan color with iridescent green undersides. These beetles have poor navigational skills and seem to fly until they hit something. They also give off a buzzing sound that sounds somewhat like a bumble bee. In large numbers, Green June Beetles can cause some damage. If needed, hand-pick or use general use insecticide such as Sevin and Malathion.

Online Info: http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/dp_hfrr/extensn/problems/GreenJuneBeetle.htm

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9. Sunscald is a non-pathogenic disease which occurs on peppers and tomatoes when fruits are exposed to too much sun, particularly when leaves are defoliated by insects or diseases. Affected areas are light-green on immature fruits and soft areas on mature fruit. Affected areas later become dry and sunken with a papery tan to white texture.

Online Info: http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/vegproblems/problems/d_sunburn.html

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10. Bean Leaf Beetles are ¼” long, reddish brown beetles with four black spots on their wing covers. They chew holes in leaves and pods during the day. Most damage occurs in July and September. Use Sevin or Rotenone. Watch label for waiting period before harvest. Floating row covers can be used up until the plants begin to bloom.

Online Info: http://www.oznet.k-state.edu/hfrr/extensn/problems/beanleaf.htm

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11. Striped and Spotted Cucumber Beetles cause feeding damage on plants and spread bacterial wilt. They are ¼” long, greenish beetles with 12 black spots or 3 black stripes. They are present from early spring to frost. Use an insecticide such as sevin or rotenone - that is registered for food crops. Be careful to avoid spraying when honeybees are present. Floating row covers may be used up until plants begin to bloom. The beetles can transfer bacterial wilt from plant to plant that causes vines to suddenly wilt and die. Controlling the beetle is the only means of controlling bacterial wilt. Diseased plants should be removed as soon as possible to reduce spreading the disease.

Online Info: http://plantclinic.cornell.edu/FactSheets/bactwiltccbits/bactwiltccbits.htm or
http://vegetablemdonline.ppath.cornell.edu/factsheets/Cucurbit_Beetles.htm

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12. Blossom End Rot- Sunken brown or black lesions on the underside or blossom end of developing tomatoes, eggplant or peppers are caused by a calcium deficiency resulting from a water deficit in the plant during early tomato development. Keep tomato plants evenly moist, avoid root injury when weeding and apply organic mulch. Do not allow plants to wilt between waterings. Remove affected fruits.

Online Info: http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/3000/3117.html

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13. Tobacco Hornworm causes defoliation of tomato, eggplant, pepper or potato. They are a 3” long green caterpillar. This is the larval stage of the "hawk", "hummingbird" or "sphinx" moth. If necessary, control by hand-picking or spraying with an insecticide such as carbaryl or Bacillus thurengiensis.

Online Info: http://www.coopext.colostate.edu/4dmg/Pests/tomato.htm or
http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/dp_hfrr/extensn/problems/hornworm.htm

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14. Squash Vine Borer causes sudden wilting of a plant or individual vines on squash, zucchini, pumpkins and/or gourds. Cucumbers and melons are usually not attacked. Adults are red and black clear-winged moths that lay eggs at the base of the main stem from June into July. Larvae bore within stems, usually the lower 3’, and cause girdling which prevents water and nutrient movement in the plant. The point where a borer enters a stem is marked by a hole with yellow granular or sawdust-like frass exuding from it. Injured vines often decay and become wet and shiny. If a plant wilts but there is no evidence of borers, other possible causes are root feeding by cucumber beetle larvae or bacterial wilt.

Chemical control may be used at egg laying time or physical barriers to egg laying can be tried for small plantings. Wrap the main stem, covering it completely and paying particular attention to the soil line, with old nylons or aluminum foil before egg laying.

Online Info: http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2153.html

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15. Blister Beetles have been found on clematis and other plants. Blister beetles have long, slender bodies with a relatively large head. They can be various colors but we usually see gray beetles. These insects release a caustic substance when crushed that can raise blisters on the skin. The adult stage causes the damage, not the larvae. The beetles tend to move in swarms and can cause a great deal of defoliation, but may not stay in one area for very long. Often beetles will move on in a day or two. If beetles are handpicked, be sure to wear gloves. The beetles will feed on beans, peas, potatoes and other vegetables. The immature beetles feed on grasshopper eggs. Sevin is registered, but generally not great at killing the insects.

On line info: http://www.ext.nodak.edu/extpubs/plantsci/pests/e1002w.htm