Additional Photos:

• Predaceous Diving Beetles: These beetles, in a family of water beetles called Dytiscidae–based on the Greek dytikos, meaning “able to dive” [in water]–are out and about now, and being noticed by some homeowners. They are nothing to be concerned about, however, and you can find them in the ‘Curiosities’ group of our Fact Sheets section, as they are indeed a source of curiosity for many people.  They show up sometimes in swimming pools, or in driveways or parking lots where it is suspected that they mistake the shiny surface of many automobiles for bodies of water, as is their natural habitat (i.e. they are aquatic, and have structural modifications ideal for swimming). When in water, they move their hind legs together like oars. Backswimmers also swim this way, but other aquatic beetles move their two back legs one at a time when swimming.  As their name implies, these beetles prey on other insects and critters–such as tadpoles–small enough for them to overpower with their short, but sharp, mandibles. The larvae (which stay in the water) are also predaceous, and are commonly known as water tigers (photo of larval stage).

Above: Some Predaceous Diving Beetles found in Maine.  Most Predaceous Diving Beetles are dark brown, blackish or dark olive in color. Some have golden highlights such as the one shown above (far-right).

• White Grubs: We are getting a lot of white grubs brought in to our office for identification, the vast majority of which thus far this season are the European Chafer [MSU provides an excellent fact sheet on this critter and we are linking to theirs until we can add the finishing touches to one of our own].  Our insect diagnostician says he is seeing evidence of their feeding damage to grass in peoples’ lawns, cemeteries, etc. in the Orono & Old Town, and Bangor & Brewer areas now.  It seems that the European Chafer has had several profitable seasons in a row, and it may take an especially harsh (i.e. COLD) winter before we begin to see their numbers decline.  As it stands now, this pest seems to be on the rise, unfortunately.

May is Lyme Disease Awareness Month in Maine!! Know Ticks, No Lyme

[Text courtesy of the Maine CDC]: Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne disease in Maine.  May is Lyme Disease Awareness Month in Maine, so remember to do your tick checks!  With the mild winter, it is never too early to start thinking about tick prevention.

Unengorged Deer Tick (also called Black-legged Tick) (UMaine Extension photo)

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection that is carried by Ixodes scapularis (the deer tick).  Maine had a record high number of cases in 2011, with positives occurring in all 16 counties.  Lyme disease is most common among school-aged children and middle-aged adults.  As the weather begins to get warmer, more ticks will be out in the open.  Most Lyme disease infections in Maine occur during the summer months.

Note from UMaine Extension: Visit the Ticks page of our Home & Garden IPM website for more tick photos (including pictures of other kinds of ticks): http://umaine.edu/home-and-garden-ipm/frequent-specimens/frequent-ticks/

The most common early symptom of Lyme disease is an expanding red rash that occurs 3 – 30 days after being bitten.  Fever, joint, and muscle pains may also occur.  Lyme disease is treatable, and the majority of patients recover after receiving appropriate therapy.

Lyme disease is a preventable illness.  Maine CDC recommends following the “No Ticks 4 ME” approach which includes:

1.    Wear protective clothing
2.    Use an EPA registered repellent: http://cfpub.epa.gov/oppref/insect/
3.    Perform daily tick checks
4.    Use caution in tick habitats

Ticks must be attached for at least 24 hours for the bacteria that causes Lyme disease to be transmitted, so prompt removal of ticks is extremely important.  Anyone with a known tick bite, or who spends time in a tick habitat, should watch for symptoms for at least 30 days after exposure.  If symptoms develop, call your healthcare provider.

Additional information:
Maine CDC has numerous educational materials available online at http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/infectious-disease/epi/vector-borne/lyme/index.shtml

For more information:

• MPBN Radio Story with UMaine Extension Pest Management Specialist, Jim Dill
• [1/9/2012] Researchers Discover Destructive Fruit Fly Now in Maine
• Instructions for Traps for SWD
• SWD Alert authored by entomologist, Alan Eaton, at the University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension.
• Michigan’s SWD Site (Michigan State University)

Tar Spot fungus on a maple leaf (click for a magnified view) (additional images below)

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As you may have noticed, many of the maple trees in the area developed unsightly black leaf spots over the course of the 2011 summer and foliage was turning brown and dropping rapidly.  The combination of the fungal pathogens ‘tar spot’ and ‘anthracnose’ caused this aesthetic damage to maples throughout Maine.

Tar spots, as the name suggests, are raised, black spots that form on the upper surfaces of maple leaves, not as the result of contact with actual tar, but due to a fungal infection.  Fungi from the genus Rhytisma, most commonly Rhytisma Acerinum, typically shows up on maples in late spring or early summer as light green or pale yellow spots.  As the season progresses, the yellow color intensifies and raised, black tar-like spots are formed within the yellow spots.

Tar spot alone is rarely serious enough to be detrimental to the overall health of infected trees.  However, as the infection progresses trees become unsightly and can experience premature defoliation.  If infected maple leaves begin to crinkle and turn brown, anthracnose, another common disease of maple, may also be present.

The fungi that cause tar spots and anthracnose overwinter on infected leaves that fall to the ground.  The following spring, the fungi produce spores which are carried by the wind and can re-infect susceptible foliage at bud break, if weather conditions are right.  The most effective management strategy is to rake and destroy infected leaves in the fall, thus reducing the amount of overwintering fungi.  The application of fungicides to control tar spot is typically not recommended because complete coverage of all infected leaf surfaces is necessary and can be extremely difficult as well as costly.

James F. Dill & Griffin M. Dill

Tussock moth caterpillars (Family Lymantriidae) were very abundant in Maine in 2011 and they were ‘itching’ for attention! One reason for all the attention they receive (during late summer and early fall) is that, unfortunately, the hairs on these caterpillars can cause a very itchy rash.  The prickly hairs are a defense mechanism (they are NOT poisonous or venomous).  It is important to note that children are more susceptible to the rash than are adults, and children are also much more likely to be playing with them and handling these showy critters (natural curiosity/fascination/playing outdoors).   The rash from some of the members of this group tends to be short-lived, and clears up on its own after two or three hours.  For other species, however, such as the white Hickory Tussock (shown below), the rash can be much more severe and long-lasting, and a doctor’s visit might be warranted to speed one’s recovery and ease the symptoms / discomfort.

see also: Bangor Daily News story (August 30th, 2011)

Some examples of Tussock Moth Caterpillars found in Maine (the hairs on members of this group can cause an itchy rash):

Note: The caterpillar of the brown-tail moth is also a member of the Tussock family. [brown-tail moth] (Maine Forest Service)

July 22nd, 2011 [Potato Update]: Potato late blight was found in one location in Central Aroostook County.  The infection was in the upper portion of the plants, indicating that the infection was the result of wind-blown spores.  Late blight has also been reported in Denmark, New Brunswick.

July 5th, 2011: The following states confirmed late blight (so be on the lookout): Maine, Michigan, Connecticut, Florida, New York, Delaware and Virginia. Conditions for the development of late blight have been very good in Maine and gardeners and farmers alike should be on the alert to catch any early symptoms on their tomato and/or potato plants.   Typical symptoms will be water-soaked lesions on the leaves with fine, white cottony mycelium on the undersides.  Infections on the stems appear as dark, almost black lesions.

More information about late blight:

• Late Blight: Grower and Farm Stand Alert (Part of our UMaine Extension apple, small fruit and vegetable research program at Highmoor Farm) (download pdf)
• University of Maine Cooperative Extension’s Late Blight publication (Published 2010)
  
• Gardening After Late Blight
• Late Blight on Tomato and Late Blight on Potato (Cornell University–includes photos)
• Organic Management of Late Blight of Potato and Tomato with Copper Products

The beginning of the spring brought large numbers of low-flying, solitary ground-nesting bees over many Maine lawns and flower beds.  These beneficial insects are good pollinators that are helping to fill the honey bee gap.  They are not particularly aggressive and their numbers will lessen as spring turns into summer.

Most of the white grubs that have been coming into our lab this spring from the Brewer, Old Town, Orono, and the Bangor area are European chafer grubs.  This species of white grub starts feeding earlier in the spring, feeds more aggressively, and feeds later into the fall, than the other species in the area.  The European chafer grubs have been quite plentiful in this area for the last three years.  Those desiring an organic approach for the management of the next generation of white grubs, may consider using beneficial nematodes, best applied during the last three weeks of August.  Preventive measures targeting the next generation of grubs, using conventional materials, would generally work best when applied in June and July.  Before using pesticides on your lawn, one should be knowledgeable about soil type and ground water protection and surface runoff patterns which may affect lakes, ponds, rivers and streams.

Once the weather warms and dries up we should have good numbers of black flies, especially near streams and rivers.  It should be noted that black fly populations are not always evenly distributed, but can be in localized dense swarms.   Personal protective tactics, such as limiting exposed skin and the use of repellents, are suggested for those involved in outdoor activities in high black fly areas.

We have had a number of deer ticks brought into the lab starting in April.  Please be sure to do tick checks after hiking, gardening, walking the dog, and other outdoor activities that may take you into the forest or brushy areas.

Clay Kirby
Insect Diagnostician

Bed bugs are making a comeback in the United States for several reasons. Some factors include increased international travel, increased popularity of thrift shops, yard sales, and buying used furniture. Also, the practice of using specific household pest control tactics, and crowded living conditions in certain apartment complexes and neighborhoods has added to the problem. Bed bugs have a secretive life style and can hide in any crack or crevice, going undetected for very long durations.

In addition, bed bug eggs are tiny (smaller than a pinhead) and hard to detect. In a heavy infestation, they can be practically anywhere. For these reasons, we suggest you contact a licensed pest management professional with plenty of bed bug experience.

Learn more by visiting our Bed Bugs Fact Sheet!

Early Spring: new UMaine Extension Late Blight publication now available!

• Gardening After Late Blight
• Additional Late Blight photos and description (from MOFGA)
• EEE information