Lexington, KY 40546

Online at: www.uky.edu/KPN

Number 1284
ALFALFA -Three-Cornered Alfalfa Hopper CORN -Corn Disease Update

September 7, 2011
LIVESTOCK -Evaluating Horn Fly Control on Cattle PEST OF HUMANS -Stinging Caterpillars

ALFALFA Three-Cornered Alfalfa Hopper By Lee Townsend The threecornered alfalfa hopper is a green, wedgeshaped sapfeeding insect that causes distinct physical injury. Adults Figure 1. Girdled alfalfa stem (brown and nymphs band). Photo by S. Osborne. girdle stems, lateral branches, or petioles as they feed on legumes and a variety of other plants. Symptoms include yellowing and wilting above the callus tissue that develops at the injury site. Damaged plants also may break or lodge. Low numbers of threecornered alfalfa hoppers are probably present in many Kentucky fields in late summer Figure 2. 3-cornered alfalfa hopper but can reach adult (UCIPM). damaging levels during late summer in alfalfa and double-cropped or late-planted soybeans. Generally, an insecticide application is not needed at this point in the season.

CORN Corn Disease Update By Paul Vincelli Several corn diseases have been noted in the past several weeks. Diplodia ear rot. Affected ears have abundant white fungal growth between kernels (Figure 3). Infection usually progresses from the base of the ear upward. More information on this disease is available at http://www.ca.uky.edu/agc/pubs/ppa/ppa43/ppa43. pdf. Trichoderma ear rot. A greenish mold is commonly present between rotted kernels (Figure 4). This ear rot is often associated with bird damage to the husk. More information is available at: http://www.ca.uky.edu/agcollege/plantpathology/e xtension/KPN%20Site%20Files/pdf/kpn1278.pdf Ear rot notes. Fortunately, to the best of our knowledge in U.S. corn, there are no known mycotoxins associated with either Diplodia ear rot or Trichoderma ear rot. However, these diseases do affect grain quality and test weight, and they will continue to grow in the field. Thus, fields with significant ear rots should be harvested and the grain dried as soon as is practical. Rotted kernels are damaged kernels, and since the grain integrity is compromised, fungi tolerant of low moisture will have an easier time growing and causing damage in storage. Instead of a 15.5%

target for grain moisture, our agricultural engineers recommend drying damaged corn an extra 0.5 to 1.0 point of moisture for better storability and cooling it as quickly as possible. Producers should make sure to keep that grain well-aerated and dry, and market it sooner rather than later. If you happen to have strip trials with different hybrids, and there are differences in the levels of Diplodia ear rot, be careful about making conclusions about those hybrids. It is easy to be misled by results in such trials. What do I mean by that? Lets say that Hybrid A has 50% of the ears with rot, and Hybrid B has 10%. All of us would want to plant Hybrid B in any fields where Diplodia infestation had been found. Except here is the wrinkle: these hybrids might actually be equally susceptible. How is that possible, given the dramatic difference in ear rot? Because in the case of Diplodia, the timing of spore-splash and infection relative to silking is really, really important. Crops that are just beginning to silk are more susceptible than crops at brown-silk. And Hybrid A might have had the bad luck of being exposed to spores and infection at precisely the peak of its susceptibility, Maybe Hybrid B would even be more susceptible than Hybrid A if they happened to be exposed to identical disease pressure on their respective day of silk emergence. I wouldnt ignore Diplodia ear rot observations from commercial field trials: such information is better than no information. On the other hand, dont put much weight in an observation of less Diplodia damage in a particular hybrid in a strip trial, unless the seed company confirms that the hybrid is known to have some resistance verified by their breeder. Of course, a hybrid like Hybrid A that got hit hard by Diplodia in a strip trial probably is pretty susceptible, so one should think twice about using that hybrid in a field known to be infested with Diplodia. Southern corn rust. This potentially damaging disease was confirmed in corn from Caldwell County several days ago (figure 6). Disease levels overall in the Caldwell County field were low. Furthermore, the prevalence of generally dry

weather with cool nights has helped to keep the disease in check. The disease may be present in other locations in Kentucky, but it hasnt yet been reported in sentinel locations being monitored regularly, so the overall prevalence seems to be low. I am not concerned about the potential impact of southern rust at this point. Check for the disease in fields that were planted very late, although I doubt that any treatment is worth using even in those, because of the forecast for continued cool conditions, especially at night.

Figure 3. Diplodia ear rot of corn.

Figure 4. Trichoderma ear rot of corn.

Common Rust Pustule color is brick-red to cinnamonbrown Pustule shape is circular to elongated Pustules erupt through both upper and lower leaf surfaces. Pustules are found only on leaves Develops in cool to mild weather (favored by temperatures of 59-77F when leaf surfaces are moist)

LIVESTOCK Evaluating Horn Fly Control on Cattle By Lee Townsend

Figure5. Close-up of common rust of corn. (Image by Alison Robertson, Iowa State University). Figure 7. Estimating horn fly numbers (http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ig137)

Southern Rust Pustule color is reddish-orange Pustules are small, generally circular Pustules are densely crowded on the upper leaf surface. Pustules can occur on leaves and husks. Develops in very warm, humid weather (favored by temperatures of 73-82F when leaf surfaces are moist).

The horn fly is a key pest of pastured cattle; many estimates put it at the top of the list in terms of effects on animal performance and money spent annually on control. Horn flies are at peak numbers on animals now so it is a good time to evaluate the effectiveness of your control program. It should be considered successful if there is an average of 50 or fewer horn flies per side for dairy cows or 100 or fewer horn flies per side for beef cattle. You can get a good idea of this by estimating the numbers of flies on at least 10 randomly selected animals in each herd and calculating an average. The drawings provide a good guideline. Select the one that most closely matches the fly number for each animal that you select. Numbers will be greater on dark animals versus light and highest on

Figure 6. Southern rust of corn.

bulls. Compare your average to the thresholds above. There are many control alternatives to use against these blood-feeding flies so one or a combination of methods can be selected based on herd management practices and personal preference. One approach does not necessarily prove to be the best in all situations. Evaluating control now will help you to make horn fly control decisions for next year.

should be watched for signs of shock. These may include rapid, shallow breathing; cold, clammy skin; rapid, weak pulse; and/or weakness, dizziness, or fainting. There are several first aid-type treatment suggestions but none seem to consistently and quickly relieve pain. One often successful strategy consists of applying tape to the contact site and pulling it off to remove (strip) spines from the skin. Other remedies include applying ice packs, baking soda, hydrocortisone cream, or calamine lotion.

PEST OF HUMANS Stinging Caterpillars By Lee Townsend

Figure 8. Puss caterpillar.

Stinging caterpillars are common in late summer and early fall (see August 9, 2011 (#1280) KPN) and reports continue to arrive. The most recent one involved the puss caterpillar, which is covered with long fine hairs including some with venom. Skin contact with stinging caterpillars may produce a range of symptoms: numbness, reddening and inflammation, intense burning, severe pain, or pustules and other lesions. Pain, occasionally accompanied by nausea and headaches, may last for 12 hours or more. In some cases, victims go into shock and require medical attention. Anyone exposed to stinging caterpillars

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