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K-State Turf and Landscape Blog

Author: Teresa Roberts

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Pesticide Applications – What You Need to Know!

Posted on by Teresa Roberts

By Frannie Miller, Pesticide Safety and IPM Coordinator

There is a good deal of interest in using drones, also called unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for the application of pesticides. In our context, a drone is a small, remotely controlled fixed-wing or rotary-wing aircraft. A drone application might be appealing to individuals wanting to spray where it is not practical or desirable to use a traditional spray, or perhaps, for spot spraying.  However, applications are limited by the size of the payload the drone is able to carry and compliance and logistics for such applications can be challenging. Downdraft can affect the deposition of the product and cause off-target movement or volatilization. If you are an applicator who is considering using a drone for applications, here is some basic information regarding licenses that you need to know before you apply any pesticides.

Drone image, courtesy of Brett Bultemeier, University of Florida, Pesticide Information Office

First, any individual who will be operating a drone for pesticide applications shall have a current Remote Pilot Certification under title 14 of the Code of Regulations (14 CFR) 107 and meet all Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requirements. This can be achieved by taking a Commercial Remote Pilot Training course or simply taking the exam at an approved testing center. The fee to schedule an examination is usually around $175. Drones shall be operated under the applicable FAA requirements and the necessary exemptions must be obtained according to the weight of the drone being flown. A Commercial Agricultural Aircraft Operator Certificate shall be obtained if the drone does not meet the requirements for exemption.

The applicator needs to provide the Kansas Department of Agriculture with the make, model, serial number (if applicable) and any other requested information related to the drone and submit a completed and signed application to apply pesticide products. Documentation is needed to confirm that each drone is properly registered with the FAA (FAA registration certificate) and the individual flying it has the proper certification (copy of remote pilot license).  The business making the applications also has to prove they have the proper certification (exemption/rule-making documentation, a Commercial Agricultural Aircraft Certificate) or has obtained the necessary exemptions to KDA.

Commercial pesticide applications via drones or unmanned aerial vehicle are only permitted in the following categories: Category 1: Agricultural Pest Control (1A: Agricultural Plant Pest Control, 1B: Agricultural Animal Pest Control, 1C: Wildlife Damage Control, 1D: Stump Treatment), Category 2: Forest Pest Control, Category 3: Ornamental and Turf Pest Control (3A: Ornamental Pest Control, 3B: Turf Pest Control), Category 5: Aquatic Pest Control, and Category 6: Right-of-Way Pest Control. The individual who is operating the drone during the pesticide application must be a certified applicator in the category that applies to the application. The business need to comply with all existing requirements for obtaining a pesticide business license.

Finally, commercial pesticide applications via drone or unmanned aerial vehicle need to comply with the label requirements of each pesticide product being applied. Remember the label is the law! Unfortunately, though, there is little clear guidance on pesticide labels that pertains to drone applications. One thing to note is that if the label prohibits aerial application then the product cannot be applied by a drone. If aerial application is permitted, the application rate and other parameters need to be in compliance with the label. Also it is important to point out, manufacturers and users are adopting commercial nozzles meant for self-propelled sprayers, which can be a concern for product deposition and coverage.

Insect Heroes of Pollination

Posted on by Teresa Roberts

By Frannie Miller, Pesticide Safety and IPM Coordinator

All around us, insect superheroes are industriously keeping us fed and our world moving forward whether we take time to notice them or not. Did you realize that pollinators like bees, wasps, butterflies, and bats are responsible for pollinating one out of every three bites of food we eat? The stability of our food supply relies on more than 200,000 species of pollinators. As we celebrate National Pollinator week (June 19-25, 2023), it is a good time to focus on insects which may not get as much glory for providing pollination as those we commonly hear about, like honeybees.

For example, tiny insects called thrips (order Thysanoptera) can play a big role in eating and spreading pollen. Thrips feed on pollen and are quite messy. It is estimated a single thrip can get up to 10 to 50 pollen grains on his body, which does not seem like much, but since they are often present in large numbers that can equate to a lot of pollen movement. These insects fly from plant to plant using the stigma as a landing and take-off point. The pollen is easily transferred from the insect to the stigmas during this process. Thrips are important to the pollination of sugarcane and the mahogany tree, but it is important to point out too many thrips can also cause plant damage and transmit diseases, so their presence is not always wanted.

Hoverflies (order Diptera) also known as flower flies are “incidental” yet prolific pollinators. The adult flies hover over flowers to drink the nectar. Pollen is transferred between the fly and the flower when their hairy bodies brush up against the stigma of the flower. Hoverflies may not carry as much pollen as bees, but they visit the flowers more frequently. These insects prefer small, flat flowers which allow easy access to the nectar, but they do visit a wide variety of our global food crops and flowers.

Hoverfly

For those of us who like eating chocolate, then the chocolate midge (order Diptera) is of extreme importance. These midges seem to be the only creatures which can find their way into the long, twisty, intricate flowers of the Cacao tree to provide pollination. Their pollination duties are most active at dawn and dusk to be in sync with when the flowers are fully open. This pollination allows the prized seed pods to form, which are needed to produce chocolate. Interestingly enough these insects are threatened by clearing cutting of the rain forest as they need the damp rotting leaf litter on the forest floor to thrive.

Chocolate Midge drawing from Insect Art Contest by Lillyon R.

These are just a few examples of the limited knowledge of the true depth of pollinators. In the state of Kansas, it is estimated that there are over 400 different native bee species.

We can help pollinators by growing a diversity of pollinator-friendly plants to help increase the availability of food sources. Check out the publication “Pollinators and Beneficial Insects”(https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/MF3588.pdf) for a list of possible plants. In celebration of National Pollinator week, consider purchasing one new food or nectar plant to plant in your landscape or doing your own research to identify one lessor known pollinator. You can also place a shallow dish of water on the ground to provide water for pollinators. Help to inform others about the importance of pollinators and inspire them to make a difference!

Brown Patch on Tall Fescue

Posted on by Teresa Roberts

By Ward Upham and Jack Fry

We have been receiving numerous reports of brown patch showing up on tall fescue. This disease is favored by warm night temperatures and extended periods of leaf wetness. If you go outside in the morning and the lawn is covered with dew and the temperature is in the high 60’s or higher, it means that conditions are getting right for brown patch. The fungus is primarily a leaf pathogen and does not attack the roots. During severe outbreaks, the fungus may invade the lower leaf sheaths and crown and kill plants. But in most cases, the turfgrass can recover from brown patch. This recovery may take two to three weeks, depending on weather.

There is no way to eliminate brown patch from a lawn. It will persist indefinitely in the soil. Therefore, the disease is not carried from one lawn to another. In almost all cases, the limiting factor for brown patch development is the weather, not the amount of fungal inoculum. Although you can’t eliminate the fungus, cultural practices – especially irrigation – can help control it. Don’t water in the evening; instead, water early in the morning. This will help decrease the number of hours the leaf tissue remains wet and susceptible to infection. The frequency of irrigation is not as important as the time of day you do it. Don’t overfertilize and certainly don’t fertilize when brown patch is active. Also, don’t allow your seeding or overseeding rates to become too high.

Fungicide applications should begin in mid-June and continue through August. Often tall fescue lawns will recover from brown patch but infections this year seem more severe than usual and may require overseeding this fall. CLICK HERE to find the useful source for fungicides effective on brown patch.

Feeding Damage to Rose Leaves

Posted on by Teresa Roberts

From the KSU Entomology Newsletter, article by Raymond Cloyd

We have received numerous inquiries regarding insects feeding on the leaves of rose plants. The insects are sawflies and there are at least two species that attack roses this time of year: the rose slug, Endelomyia aethiops, and the bristly rose slug, Cladius difformis. Rose sawflies are the immature or larval stage, which eventually become a black to yellow adult that resemble wasps. Rose sawfly females create openings or slits along the edges of rose leaves with their saw-like egg laying device (ovipositor) in which eggs are inserted. Larvae emerge (eclose) from the eggs and resemble small slugs. Larvae are approximately 1/2 of an inch long when full-grown and yellow-green, with an orange head.

The larvae will fall onto the soil surface to pupate. Rose sawflies overwinter as pupae in earthen cells created by the larvae. There is typically one generation per year in Kansas. Rose sawfly larvae cause damage by feeding on the underside of rose leaves causing the leaves to appear skeletonized.

 

 

 

Small infestations of rose sawflies are best dealt with by removing the larvae by hand and placing into a container of soapy water. A high pressure water spray will quickly dislodge sawfly larvae from rose plants. Once dislodged the larvae will not crawl back onto rose plants. There are contact insecticides containing various active ingredients that are effective in managing populations of sawflies. Sawflies are not caterpillars.

Consequently, the bacterium, Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki, which is the active ingredient in various products (e.g. Dipel®) has no activity on sawflies because the insecticide is only effective against caterpillars.

Registration Open for Kansas Turf and Ornamentals Field Day

Posted on by Teresa Roberts

On August 3, 2023 the Kansas Turf and Ornamentals Field Day will be held at the Olathe Horticulture Research and Extension Center.

Field Day is designed for all segments of the turf and ornamentals industry to include lawn care, athletic fields, golf courses, nursery, landscape, and grounds maintenance. This year’s program includes research presentations, problem diagnosis and commercial exhibits. There will also be time to see current research and talk to experts! A box lunch will be provided.

View the Turf Field Day Program for tour highlights and registration details. Please submit registration with payment by July 25.

Exhibitors who plan to attend should complete registration with payment by July 20 in order to secure a spot at this year’s field day.

 

Pesticide Best Management Practices for Commercial Lawn and Ornamental Plant Care

Posted on by Teresa Roberts

By Frannie Miller and Cheryl Boyer

“The label is the law.” Most pesticide applicators are familiar with this phrase. Yet, pesticides are sometimes used in ways inconsistent with product labels. Examples may include using a product on a site that it is not labeled for, using a rate greater than labeled, using an application method that is not labeled, and many others. Sometimes, pesticides have similar active ingredients but different formulations. Using a formulation not labeled for a particular site is also a misuse. Even though the off-label practice seems harmless at the time, doing so may have unintended consequences, including additional pesticide limitations. The pesticide toxicity and amount of exposure affect the amount of risk to human health. Remember, pesticides are designed to kill certain organisms (insects, weeds, and diseases) and therefore have a degree of toxicity that could cause harm to humans. Label directions are written to minimize risks for homeowners, applicators, bystanders, and the environment. Remember to read, understand and follow the pesticide product label carefully. The following paragraphs discuss some best management practices when making pesticide applications.

First, conduct regular pest scouting to identify issues such as weeds, insects, and diseases, and then assess if the pest pressure justifies treatment. For those pests that are a common problem, develop an integrated pest management (IPM) plan which outlines the non-chemical pest control methods that can be used to help manage these pests. Examples include prevention (sanitation, use of pest-free seeds/transplants), physical barriers (landscape fabric, mulch), mechanical (hand removal, hoeing, plant thinning/trimming), cultural practices (timely watering and fertilization, planting turf varieties to pest pressure), and biological control (promoting beneficial insects). Use pesticides only when pest populations reach economic threshold levels or when conditions favor the development of high populations and then apply the pesticide at the labeled rate. Spot treat if the pest populations are not widely distributed throughout the area. Also, try to select pesticides with low toxicity to humans and other non-target organisms, such as pollinators, pets, birds, etc.

Second, ensure the protection of the environment by calibrating and inspecting application equipment before application. Do not calibrate near ponds, lakes, or other bodies of water, and do not apply to any water body unless the product is labeled for aquatic use. Never clean pesticide application equipment over a mix/load pad that has a drain or where contaminated rinse water can flow into a body of water. Follow spray drift management recommendations/requirements on the product label to help mitigate drift. Examples include not applying when the wind blows> 15 mph or under temperature inversion conditions. Ensure pollinator requirements on the label are followed. These statements are under the “Environmental Hazards” or the “Bee Advisory” box on the label. Avoid using pesticides within the same chemical group or mode of action over an extended period of time to help prevent pesticide resistance. Look at each product’s active ingredient(s) and keep records of what you have used for a specific pest.

Third, follow the label to ensure the safety of applicators, homeowners, handlers, and others. Always keep the product label and Safety Data Sheet (SDS) available for all the products you apply. Always use the label-approved Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). PPE is intended to prevent pesticide exposure to the applicator by creating a barrier between the applicator and the pesticide. Store PPE in a clean and safe place to avoid contamination. Keep pesticide products in the original container and store pesticide products in a safe and secure place that is out of the reach of children.

The turfgrass and ornamental industry spends hundreds of millions of dollars to develop pesticides and the data to prove they can be used safely. Users are responsible for following label directions and handling products in ways that ensure safe use. This is one of the most important steps to take to protect the well-being of our families and communities and ensure access to pesticides in the future.

Boxwood Leafminer

Posted on by Teresa Roberts

From the KSU Entomology Newsletter

Figure 1. Boxwood leafminer adult (Joe Boggs, OSU)

The boxwood leafminer, Monarthropalpus flavus, is a major insect pest of the common boxwood, Buxus sempervirens, which is a plant commonly used in landscapes throughout Kansas.

Boxwood leafminer adults emerge (eclose) from pupae when Weigela florida is flowering in the spring. Adults are 1/15 to 1/9 of an inch (2 to 3 millimeters) long, yellow-orange, and resemble mosquitoes or gnats (Figure 1).

Figure 2. Boxwood leafminer larvae (Howard Russell, MSU)

 

 

Adults leave behind pupal cases attached to the leaf after emergence. After mating, females insert eggs inside the tissue of new leaves. A single female lays approximately 29 eggs and then dies afterward.

Larvae emerge (eclose) from the eggs in about three weeks. Larvae are legless maggots, yellow-white to green, and about 1/9 of an inch (3 millimeters) in length (Figure 2).

Figure 3. Boxwood leafminer larvae (Joe Boggs, OSU)

 

 

 

The larvae feed on the leaf tissue inside the leaf (Figure 3). Boxwood leafminer larvae tunnel between the upper and lower parts of leaf tissue creating blotched or irregular-shaped blisters on the lower leaf surface and raised areas on the upper leaf surface.

Learn more about boxwood leafminer and their control in an article by Dr. Raymond Cloyd by clicking HERE.

Kansas Forest Service Hosting November Workshops

Posted on by Teresa Roberts

Join the Kansas Forest Service Community Forestry Program for statewide workshops in November!  You’ll learn more about the recently completed canopy assessment for all incorporated cities in Kansas, how you can utilize your community’s data and the values of your community’s tree canopy. Biotic and abiotic impacts to community trees, pruning strategies to reduce canopy loss and how to reforest your community will round out these four-hour workshops.

Registration for the day is $5. All programs will run from 8:30am – 1:00pm. ISA CEUs will be available.

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