Browsing by Author "Alford, Adam M."

Now showing 1 - 11 of 11
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    Cabbage Webworm
    Alford, Adam M.; Doughty, Helene; Kuhar, Thomas P. (Virginia Cooperative Extension, 2019-03-18)
    Describes life cycle of Cabbage Webworm, its damage to crops and methods of control.
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    Colorado Potato Beetle
    Kuhar, Thomas P.; Day, Eric R.; Alford, Adam M. (Virginia Cooperative Extension, 2018-11-27)
    Describes the Colorado Potato Beetle, its life cycle, and notes the kinds of plants it eats, and describes the damage and methods of control.
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    Combining Agronomic and Pest Studies to Identify Vegetable Soybean Genotypes Suitable for Commercial Edamame Production in the Mid-Atlantic U.S.
    Lord, Nick; Kuhar, Thomas P.; Rideout, Steven L.; Sutton, Kemper L.; Alford, Adam M.; Li, Xiaoying; Wu, Xingbo; Reiter, Mark S.; Doughty, Hélène; Zhang, Bo (Scientific Research Publishing, 2021)
    Currently, domestic production of vegetable soybean (aka “edamame”) lags well behind consumer demand, with approximately 70% of U.S.-consumed edamame imported each year. A major barrier for growth of the U.S. edamame industry is an overall lack of varieties with adequate consumer acceptability and adaption to the U.S. climate and environment. In this study, we evaluated eleven vegetable soybean genotypes (including one commercial check) for differences in yield, pod size, and resistance to local insect, bacterial, and fungal pressures in order to identify genotypes with the greatest potential for use in commercial edamame production. Although there were variations in average pod length (42.1 - 53.6 mm), width (10.9 - 12.7 mm), and thickness (6.29 - 7.34 mm) among the genotypes, only pod length showed statistical significance. In addition, genotype significantly affected fresh pod yield. The prevalence of specific insect pests varied by location and year and included soybean aphid, potato leafhopper, Mexican bean beetle, as well as a complex of stink bugs and lepidopteran larvae. For each of these insect pests, significant differences were observed. Some plant diseases observed on the edamame genotypes included: downy mildew, bacterial pustule, Fusarium pod rot, Cercospora blight and purple seed stain, and damping off. In 2018, in Whitethorne, VA, soybean downy mildew was quite prevalent and disease symptoms varied considerably. Overall, genotypes V16-0524 and R15-10280 showed particularly favorable yield, and resilience to native pests compared to the commercial check, UA-Kirksey. The genotypes V16-0524 and R15-10280 showed strong potential to increase the availability of varieties that can be used for commercial edamame production in the Mid-Atlantic region.
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    Corn Earworm on Vegetables
    Kuhar, Thomas P.; Philips, Chris; Doughty, Hélène; Alford, Adam M.; Day, Eric R. (Virginia Cooperative Extension, 2019-03-25)
    Describes life cycle of Corn Earworm, and its damage to many vegetable crops. Also provides information about monitoring crops for the caterpillars, and methods of control.
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    Diamondback Moth
    Alford, Adam M.; Kuhar, Thomas P. (Virginia Cooperative Extension, 2018-11-27)
    Describes the Diamondback Moth (Plutella xylostella), its life cycle and damage to crucifer crops. Also provides information on natural control, monitoring, and chemical control.
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    Effect of Plastic Mulch Colors on Anasa tristis (Hemiptera: Coreidae) Population Dynamics in Summer Squash, Cucurbita pepo (Cucurbitales: Cucurbitaceae)
    Boyle, Sean M.; Alford, Adam M.; McIntyre, Kelly C.; Weber, Donald C.; Kuhar, Thomas P. (Oxford University Press, 2022-06)
    The squash bug, Anasa tristis (De Geer), is a serious pest of cucurbit crops across the United States, especially within summer squash (Cucurbita pepo L.) systems. Using their piercing sucking mouthparts, squash bugs feed on both leaf tissue and fruits, often leading to leaf necrosis, marketable fruit loss, and even plant death. To date, the relationship between squash bug presence and plasticulture has not been adequately investigated. This 2-yr study evaluated the effects of white, black, and reflective plastic mulch colors on the occurrence of all squash bug life stages and marketable zucchini yield in Virginia. In both years, A. tristis adults and egg masses were more numerous on zucchini plants grown in white and reflective plastic mulch compared to bare ground plants. Greater nymphal densities and marketable fruit yield were observed in certain plastic mulch treatments versus the bare ground treatment, yet these differences were not consistent in both years. Contrary to the repellency effects reflective mulches have on other cucurbit insect pests, our research suggests that reflective and other plastic mulch colors can negatively impact squash bug management, especially in regions with high A. tristis pressure. Our study offers new insights for cucurbit growers to use when considering whether they should implement plasticulture in their growing systems.
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    Fall Armyworm in Vegetable Crops
    Alford, Adam M.; Kuhar, Thomas P. (Virginia Cooperative Extension, 2019-03-18)
    Describes the fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda), its life history, caterpillar damage to crops, and methods of control. Also provides an extensive list of host crops, grasses, and weeds.
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    The Minute Pirate Bug (Orius)
    Alford, Adam M.; Andrews, Heather; Kuhar, Thomas P. (Virginia Cooperative Extension, 2019-03-18)
    Reviews the minute pirate bug (Orius) including a description, life cycle, feeding habits, habitat, and control.
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    Pepper Maggot in Sweet (Bell) Pepper
    Alford, Adam M.; Barlow, Vonny M.; Kuhar, Thomas P. (Virginia Cooperative Extension, 2019-04-01)
    Describes Pepper Maggot, its life cycle, damage to vegetable crops, and methods for monitoring and control.
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    Potato Aphid on Tomatoes
    Alford, Adam M.; Kuhar, Thomas P.; Reiter, Sara; Doughty, Hélène (Virginia Cooperative Extension, 2019-03-29)
    Describes the Potato Aphid, its life cycle, damage to crops, and methods of control.
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    Spread of Larinus minutus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), a biological control agent of knapweeds, following introduction to northwestern Arkansas
    Alford, Adam M.; Kring, Tim; Raghu, S. (Florida Entomological Society, 2016-12)
    Spotted knapweed, Centaurea stoebe L. (Asteraceae), is an invasive perennial forb that has become economically and ecologically damaging in North America. The weevil Larinus minutus Gyllenhal (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), a biological control agent of invasive knapweeds, was introduced to 37 sites in northwest Arkansas since 2008 as part of a biological control program for spotted knapweed. In 2011 and 2012, 25 of these release sites were surveyed to monitor how L. minutus infestation rates changed in relation to distance and time from release. The initial L. minutus introductions at these sites occurred from 2008 to 2011. Transects were used from the point of initial weevil introduction to establish sampling quadrats in which capitula were collected to document weevil presence and infestation rates. The mean maximum distance of weevil colonization and mean local abundance (within the first 50 m from the release point) were calculated in relation to time (yr) since release. Five sites had > 10 quadrats in both sampling years and were analyzed with an exponential decay function to model localized population growth and spread. Annual increases in mean local abundance and maximum distance of colonization were observed. These results were substantiated by localized growth (at 3 sites) and spread (at 2 sites) that occurred at the 5 sites analyzed with the exponential decay function. These findings suggest that in years following L. minutus introduction, assuming similar release strategies and environmental conditions, consistent increases in weevil infestation rates and spread from the release site may be expected in about half the sites at which populations establish.