BUREAU OF PLANT PEST CONTROL 

 P.C. Kuzmiski , Chief 



The 1983 growing season was marked by a cool wet spring followed by the hot 

 and dry months of July and August. This caused a flush of new spring growth 

 only to be subjected to the high heat and semi-drought conditions of the summer. 

 Many nurseries experienced the problem of keeping their stock watered. As a 

 result, many plants such as dogwood, flowering crabs and azaleas showed symp- 

 toms of wilted foliage and presented a dry appearance. 



Some of the insect species detected by our nursery inspectors vary from 

 year to year and from location to location within the state. The prevalence of 

 the Gypsy Moth and Japanese Beetle are prime examples of this situation. Most 

 major insect pests of nurseries could well be listed in a few general headings 

 or categories. These categories would be, defoliators, scale insects, borers, 

 leaf hoppers and miners, aphids and mites. 



Control in most cases would be similar for the insects grouped into a 

 single category. To have effective control of insects in a nursery there must 

 be a systematic or organized program of insect pest management. The timing and 

 application of the existing insecticides is as important as is the monitoring of 

 the insect pest problems. There may not be many new insecticides appearing for 

 use in the near future. 



Insects commonly found in the nurseries were leaf chewers, leaf -tiers, 

 aphids, scales, borers, and gall makers. Birch leaf miners continued to be 

 heavy on Gray Birch stock. Japanese Beetles were found throughout but only 

 sporadically in high concentrations. The Gypsy Moth was found principally 1n 

 the Southeastern part of the state including Cape Cod. This pest did not pre- 

 sent a major problem to the nurseries this year. 



Leaf scab and leaf spot fungi infections and mildew were noted in the nur- 

 series during the summer months. 



Some nurseries continued the practice of containerized growing of their 

 stock and utilizing the drip method of irrigation. This is an increasingly 

 popular method of growing nursery stock and is being accepted by more growers 

 each year. 



The following is a summary of the fiscal 1984 Bureau activities: 



NURSERIES AND GREENHOUSE INSPECTION 



No. Nurseries inspected - 340 



No. Greenhouses inspected - 48 ' 



No. Nursery Agents licensed - 295 



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