high. In some parts of the state, fly emergence and activity 

 followed normal patterns, but in others, where rain show- 

 ers were infrequent, AMF activity in August was below 

 normal. In one warmer block of Delicious peak nonbaited- 

 spherc capture (mean of 4.5 per trap) occurred during the 

 week ending 9/11. AMF fruit injury in 8 monitored blocks 

 averaged 0.89% (Table 1), and in an additional 18 grower- 

 sprayed blocks injury averaged 1.4%, unusually high levels 

 for sprayed commercial blocks. Overall, AMF trap cap- 

 tures were high, with an average of 25 flies per trap in the 

 18 aforementioned blocks from early July to early Septem- 

 ber. 



European red mite activity also began early, with 

 up to 20 mites per leaf seen on 5/14 in a Granville block 

 which had received an oil treatment and which did not have 

 a history of using predator-harsh materials. Two moni- 

 tored blocks needed treatment for mites before the end of 

 May. Pcrhapsdue to early prey mite buildup, predator mite 

 activity was also very high later in the season. A.fallacis and 

 the Stigmaeid mite, Z. mali (yellow mites), were common 

 in some monitored blocks. Some orchards had as many as 

 20% of leaves with ^./a//ac/.y, and up to 40% with Z. mali 

 in August. In addition, some unusual predators, such as the 

 Conioptcrix, were noted in Granville on 7/ 14; however, the 

 Coccinelliid beetle, Stclhoris puncliim, an important mite 

 predator in Pennsylvania and parts of New York, was not 

 reported anywhere in Massachusetts this season. 



Plumcurculio pressure began shortly after bloom 

 and continued for 3 to 4 weeks. Most growers maintained 

 an insecticide cover through the period, and PC damage 

 was not significant in monitored blocks. 



Leafminers (LM^ showed unusually low activity 

 throughout the state. Overwintering generation LM emer- 

 gence was apparently affected by very cold weather and 

 snow during the time of emergence. Adults which had 

 begun to move from the groundcover to tree canopies may 

 have been "knocked down" by the cold. After that, visual 

 trap captures continued at a low level into bloom. The few 

 growers who had a leafminer problem had difficulty timing 

 sprays correctly, and few monitored blocks had 100% 

 leafminer control. Third generation LM injury (late sea- 

 son) was high in several blocks, which should also have 

 resulted in an increase in parasitism, normally highest in 

 that generation. 



Potato leafhopp cr (PLH) was first spotted in a 

 commercial orchard in Wilbraham on July 8, and activity 

 continued in some parts of the state through August. By 

 harvest, "hopper burn", a yellowing of leaf margins, some- 

 times progressing to death of leaf margins, was widespread 

 in the state. A single azinphosmethyl spray appeared to 



provide control at the HRC, and we have had no reports of 

 apparent PLH resistance to other organophosphates. 



A pple grain aphids and green apple aphids both 

 reached high numbers before bloom in many instances. 

 Green aphids dispersed onto apple fruit early as well, 

 although absolute numbers of aphids on fruit remained 

 low. In monitored orchards, however, no significant honey- 

 dewand no sooty mold problems were noted during harvest 

 surveys in spite of aphid presence earlier. Cecidomyiid 

 predator larvae were present in overwhelming numbers (5 

 to 10 per terminal). Syrphid larvae were not really a factor 

 in biocontrol until near the end of aphid activity. 



Japanese beetles were noted in unusually high 

 numbers in some commercial orchards in 1987. Although 

 one grower reported high enough defoliation to warrant 

 treatment, most problems were not that severe. Beetle 

 problems were typically localized and could have been 

 spot-treated. 



Birds caused a significant amount of damage to 

 fruit this year. Cortlands continued to be a favorite target 

 of crows, bluejays and other species. Peaches also received 

 much damage statewide. It has been suggested that the dry 

 summer forced birds to look for moisture sources wherever 

 they could, and that recurrence may be reduced in similar 

 years by providing bird baths or other clean water sources. 



Disease Status, 1987 



Scab i ncidence wasgenerally light, but variable. In 

 the eastern part of the state, within 50 miles of the coast, 

 scab was heaviest. Early season rain in the eastern part of 

 the state lasted for longer periods, though temperatures in 

 both east and west were similar. Infection periods, there- 

 fore, occurred in the east when they did not in the western 

 areas. A dry summer meant that there was little, if any, 

 secondary spread after June. Fruit scab was generally 

 confined to the calyx end, indicating early season infections 

 which spread. 



Blossom end rot w as heavier than normal in some 

 orchards. The same weather which promoted calyx-end 

 scab undoubtedly promoted end rot. The causative organ- 

 ism for this was not Sclerolinia but Allcmaria. 



Powdery mildew developed into a more serious 

 problem than usual last year. We used the pest messages to 

 advise growers that the disease was becoming widespread, 

 and that fungicides which affect both mildew and scab 

 should be used. 



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