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UME Demonstration Garden Blooms!

Part of our demonstration concept is to introduce homeowners to interesting native plants that they may not have thought of planting. For instance, this Culver’s root (Veronicastrum virginicum, figure left) has neat, spike-shaped stalks with delicate white flowers which attract beneficial insects like this bumble bee. If you’re looking for an alternative ornamental grass, check out the wild oats. You will have a beautiful green grass with interesting seed pods.

From left to right: Alex Mudry, Julie Pearson, June Leyland, Jessica Richards, Sandee Heredia, Derex Thompson. Not pictured: Elisabeth Forde, Xavier Gray, Karen Hile, Matt Perez, Elena Wilcox. Photo credit MG Brent Burdick 

1. The insects feed on plant sap. All life stages of this insect have piercing-sucking mouthparts that stab into plants to suck out sap from the phloem. Therefore, they do not cause chewing damage like caterpillar pests and do not feed directly on fruits like stinkbug pests. Instead, they can stress trees and other plants by draining them of water and nutrients through collective feeding of many insects.

2. They have a single generation per year. So their populations do not build-up within a season like some insect pests that have multiple generations within a single year. Nymphs hatch out in late-May and reach the adult stage by early August. They overwinter as eggs in egg masses that are laid on tree trunks or any smooth surface of objects stored outside (stone, pallets, cars, equipment, etc.).

Two immature stages of spotted lanternfly. The first three nymph stages are black with white spots, the fourth and final stage is red with white spots. Photo credit: USDA.gov.

3. SLF loves tree of heaven. Earlier nymph stages of SLF have a broader host range, and will feed on many different species of plants, but as the insects reach the later nymph and adult stages, they preferentially feed on tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima). Current research suggests that although this is the preferred host, SLF does not require tree of heaven to complete its development.

4. Adults form large aggregations. As the adult SLF prepare to mate and lay eggs in September and October, they tend to move to new locations and aggregate in large numbers on individual trees. Very little is known about how SLF chooses which trees to use for their aggregations, and predicting where these large adult “swarms” end up is impossible.

5. SLF feeding causes a big mess. Because SLF feeds on plant sap, they have to process a lot of water to meet their nutritional needs. As a result, they are constantly excreting a dilute sugary substance known as “honeydew” as they feed on trees. The combined honeydew excrement of many SLF feeding on trees can attract stinging insects that feed on the sugar, and can cause sooty mold to grow under large feeding aggregations.

6. Grape and fruit crops have reported damage. Heavy feeding by SLF adults later in the season has caused damage to vineyards in PA, where the insect was first introduced. The sooty mold produced by heavy feeding in fruit trees has also caused some yield loss due to unmarketable fruit. SLF is not known to cause damage to grain or vegetable crops, though young nymphs may feed on these occasionally.

7. There are many pesticide options. Pesticide spray trials, primarily conducted in PA, have identified several insecticides with good activity against SLF. These can easily be incorporated into fruit spray programs if large feeding aggregations are detected later in the season. For landscape trees and ornamental plants, read this management guide by Penn State Extension.

8. There is a quarantine in place. Counties in MD and neighboring states with established SLF populations have quarantines in place to prevent moving this insect long distances to new locations. The quarantines require any companies (including farms) moving articles into or out of the quarantine area have a permit and inspect the goods for any SLF life stages. Get information on how to get a permit.

9. Biological control agents are being studied. For long-term control of SLF in the eastern U.S., scientists are evaluating different species of parasitic wasps for introduction. These wasps attack immature stages (egg or young nymph) of the insect, killing them before they have the chance to reproduce.

10. You can help slow the spread. SLF is a great hitchhiker, and has made its way to the U.S. by hitching a ride on goods transported across the globe. You can help limit the spread by learning how to identify SLF life stages, and inspecting materials, equipment, and other goods before moving them from areas that have SLF. If you do find any life stages of SLF, you can contact your local Extension office, or contact MD Department of Agriculture directly at dontbug.md@maryland.gov.

I am Cai Diggs, a sophomore majoring in Environmental Science and Technology at the University of Maryland – College Park. With a concentration in Ecological Technology Design, I plan to focus on the implementation and development of green technologies throughout my career; these technologies can include solar panels, green roofs, wind turbines, and more. I have had the privilege of working alongside Alan Leslie, an Agricultural and Food Systems Agent, at the Charles County Extension Office and at the Upper Marlboro Research Farm this summer. (Photo above: Cai picks Heirloom tomatoes in a high tunnel at the Upper Marlboro Research Farm.)

Visit my Blog to learn more about me and other interns' time with Extension!

Growing with 4-H

The 4-H program in Charles County offers many opportunities for kids from 5 to 18. Below are some of the most recent accomplishments. Check out our calendar for the complete list and descriptions of the ongoing projects.

The camps could not happen without the outstanding group of volunteers who gave freely of their time to help each youth have that once in a lifetime feeling of accomplishing a certain task and learning a new life skill. Each camp allowed youth to sign up for three classes of their choice, such as ceramics, archery, woodworking, and photography, to name a few, that they participated in each day. The afternoons were spent working as a team in recreation, swimming or group meetings to plan the closing campfire activities. 

At the closing campfire, youth learned some long-standing 4-H traditions that have been passed down through generations. The 4-H’ers got to showcase the different skits, stunts, and challenges they had been preparing all week for the closing. They also had time to reflect on what camp meant to them by presenting a serious skit. Some of the comments from the serious skits were: “If it weren't for 4-H camp, I wouldn't have developed the friendships that I cherish forever. 4-H camp is a life-changing experience. So thank you for changing my life.”  And, “Camp is my favorite place in the world. I cry every year at the end and talk about it nonstop during the year. I love 4-H camp!” 

Thanks to Randy Watts Floral Design in Indian Head, and Flowers by Donna in Annapolis, for donating flowers to the 4-H Program so the kids could see how flowers reproduce.

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