Landscape Message: Apr 6, 2018 edit note: As usual, I intend to post excerpts from these Landscape Messages for general information. I know it's from Massachusetts but other New England states should have similar conditions. Please go to the links for further details. -Claire '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' From the Cape Cod Region (Barnstable) Regional notes: "The cleanup from the string of storms in March continues, the sound of chainsaws can be heard anytime it isn’t raining or snowing and sometimes even when it is. There are a large number of pitch pine, Pinus rigida that have been uprooted or have damaged crowns from the storms. The damage is likely to attract black turpentine beetle, Dendroctonus terebrans." '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' See the Winter Moth and Gypsy moth updates under the Insect section. "Winter Moth: (Operophtera brumata) The winter moth population is at a record low! The 2018 outlook concerning winter moth caterpillar population numbers in Massachusetts is very positive for those of you in the eastern areas of the state accustomed to dealing with damaging populations of this insect. Dr. Joseph Elkinton, Professor of Environmental Conservation at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, has excellent news: data from his lab’s research locations in eastern Massachusetts suggest that this invasive pest’s population size is at an all-time low. In fact, the 2017 winter moth population was the lowest they have seen since studying and working toward the biological control of this insect for the past 13 years. The populations of winter moth are so low in Massachusetts at this time, that Dr. Elkinton’s lab and scouts for UMass Extension’s Landscape Message are having a very difficult (to impossible) time locating winter moth eggs to monitor egg color change, development, and hatch for the 2018 season." ''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' "Gypsy Moth:(Lymantria dispar) The outlook for the 2018 season in regard to gypsy moth is significantly better than it would have been if Entomophaga maimaiga didn’t impact the gypsy moth caterpillar population in late June of 2017. At that time, many dead caterpillars were seen hanging from tree trunks and branches, killed by the fungus, which was aided by the wet spring weather earlier in the year." "Egg hatch for this insect is also not yet upon us, and occurs after winter moth egg hatch. Gypsy moth egg hatch typically occurs between 90-100 Growing Degree Days, using a base of 50°F and average temperatures. This is usually around the first week in May in Massachusetts, but variations in temperature may lead to early egg hatch in the last week in April."

Landscape Message: Apr 6, 2018 edit note: As usual, I intend to post excerpts from these Landscape Messages for general information. I know it's from Massachusetts but other New England states should have similar conditions. Please go to the links for further details. -Claire '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' From the Cape Cod Region (Barnstable) Regional notes: "The cleanup from the string of storms in March continues, the sound of chainsaws can be heard anytime it isn’t raining or snowing and sometimes even when it is. There are a large number of pitch pine, Pinus rigida that have been uprooted or have damaged crowns from the storms. The damage is likely to attract black turpentine beetle, Dendroctonus terebrans." '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' See the Winter Moth and Gypsy moth updates under the Insect section. "Winter Moth: (Operophtera brumata) The winter moth population is at a record low! The 2018 outlook concerning winter moth caterpillar population numbers in Massachusetts is very positive for those of you in the eastern areas of the state accustomed to dealing with damaging populations of this insect. Dr. Joseph Elkinton, Professor of Environmental Conservation at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, has excellent news: data from his lab’s research locations in eastern Massachusetts suggest that this invasive pest’s population size is at an all-time low. In fact, the 2017 winter moth population was the lowest they have seen since studying and working toward the biological control of this insect for the past 13 years. The populations of winter moth are so low in Massachusetts at this time, that Dr. Elkinton’s lab and scouts for UMass Extension’s Landscape Message are having a very difficult (to impossible) time locating winter moth eggs to monitor egg color change, development, and hatch for the 2018 season." ''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' "Gypsy Moth:(Lymantria dispar) The outlook for the 2018 season in regard to gypsy moth is significantly better than it would have been if Entomophaga maimaiga didn’t impact the gypsy moth caterpillar population in late June of 2017. At that time, many dead caterpillars were seen hanging from tree trunks and branches, killed by the fungus, which was aided by the wet spring weather earlier in the year." "Egg hatch for this insect is also not yet upon us, and occurs after winter moth egg hatch. Gypsy moth egg hatch typically occurs between 90-100 Growing Degree Days, using a base of 50°F and average temperatures. This is usually around the first week in May in Massachusetts, but variations in temperature may lead to early egg hatch in the last week in April."

Landscape Message: Apr 20, 2018 edit note: As usual, I intend to post excerpts from these Landscape Messages for general information. I know it's from Massachusetts but other New England states should have similar conditions. Please go to the links for further details. -Claire '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' "The Landscape Message will be updated weekly in April, May and June. The next message will be posted on April 27. To receive immediate notification when the next Landscape Message update is posted, be sure to join our e-mail list." "See the Insects section for the latest Winter Moth update! " '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' ''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''

Landscape Message: August 21, 2020 UMass Extension's Landscape Message is an educational newsletter intended to inform and guide Massachusetts Green Industry professionals in the management of our collective landscape. Detailed reports from scouts and Extension specialists on growing conditions, pest activity, and cultural practices for the management of woody ornamentals, trees, and turf are regular features. The following issue has been updated to provide timely management information and the latest regional news and environmental data. The Landscape Message will be updated bi-weekly August through September. The next message will be available on September 4. To receive immediate notification when the next Landscape Message update is posted, be sure to join our e-mail list. ''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' Environmental Data The following data was collected on or about August 19, 2020. Total accumulated growing degree days (GDD) represent the heating units above a 50° F baseline temperature collected via our instruments for the 2020 calendar year. This information is intended for use as a guide for monitoring the developmental stages of pests in your location and planning management strategies accordingly' Drought conditions have worsened in our state. Updated on 8/18, this map shows some of MA in category D2, "Severe Drought", with the rest classified as either "Moderate Drought" (D1) or "Abnormally Dry" (D0): https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/CurrentMap/StateDroughtMonitor.aspx?MA To track water use restrictions/bans by town, regularly check the MassDEP map:https://www.mass.gov/doc/water-use-restrictions-map/download ''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' Drought Monitor - Northeast Map ''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' From the Insects section: A Review of Beneficial Insects in the Landscape: It can never hurt to be reminded that the grand majority of insects found in our landscapes are in fact, not pests. I know this may be difficult to believe when that statement is followed by a long list of pests of trees and shrubs as well as pests of public health concern – but truly, the majority of insects we run into on a daily basis are either innocent bystanders (and may have no impact on trees and shrubs) or even beneficial (they provide many ecosystem services such as decomposition and may even provide free pest management services). Therefore, it is prudent to remind ourselves that beneficial insects are naturally present in our landscapes and to act accordingly. Never attempt to manage an insect that you have not accurately identified first. For the purposes of tree and shrub insect pest management, this review will focus on insects that are either predators, parasites, or parasitoids of common insect pests of trees and shrubs. Please note that the following lists do not represent all known beneficial insects found in the landscape: