Column
More biting insects, apple development and charcoal-like fungus on apples
By John Fulton

[August 26, 2016]  More biting insects - First came the buffalo gnats, then mosquitoes, and still mosquitoes, and now another biting insect. Having bites for the past week or so from the new insect. During the late summer small insects, known as insidious flower bugs and minute pirate bugs (pictured), become real pests by producing painful bites on people. They are about 1/5 of an inch long with black and white markings on the back, and belong to the “true bug” family of insects. They are beneficial insects most of the time, at least while feeding on small insects and their eggs.

They are present all summer in area fields, flower beds, and other landscape areas. Most of the summer the insects are beneficial, but then they become quite the nuisance when their regular food source runs out. Their painful bite is caused by their beak breaking your skin. These insects don’t suck blood or inject venom like mosquitoes.

People differ in their response to the bites. Some people react to the bites like mosquito bites, with swelling and itching. Other people have no reaction at all. Control of insidious flower bugs and minute pirate bugs is not practical. They are mobile, and the populations change greatly. Wearing dark clothing on may help, as the insects seem to be attracted to light colors. Repellents are sometimes effective, but not enough to make a recommendation. Try the repellents for yourself and see if they work for you. You can throw the same group of repellents in to your trial that you stocked up on for the buffalo gnats.

Apple development and charcoal-like fungus on apples

Apple development seems to be running ahead of normal this year. Almost 10 days seems to be the norm. Sooty blotch and flyspeck are caused by different fungi that commonly occur together on the same fruit. The sooty blotch fungus causes surface discoloration with black spots or blotches which can be a fourth of an inch or larger.

These spots may run together, making the apple appear to be covered with something like charcoal dust. This disease is more superficial than anything, since it is only on the skin. Vigorous rubbing, or scrubbing, will remove the black discoloration. If you want to be sure, you can always peel the apples. 

This disease is most common with moderate temperatures and wet weather. Wet weather can include heavy dews which don’t get dried out very well. Anything that cuts down on air circulation helps promote sooty blotch. Pruning and thinning fruit will help improve air circulation, and lessen the disease problems.

The best chemical control program is to use a multi-purpose fruit tree spray, containing captan fungicide, as a preventative. For this disease, it is recommended to begin by early June, and continue the program until harvest. For the organic gardeners, sulfur will help some. However, it is not as good as the captan. Remember many diseases are preventable in home fruit production, but they are not curable. Once you see the problem, it becomes a to-do list item for next year.

[By JOHN FULTON, COUNTY EXTENSION DIRECTOR SERVING LOGAN, MENARD, AND SANGAMON COUNTIES]