Landscape & Garden Alerts

Eastern Idaho Pest Alert - July 11, 2025 | Volume 6, Issue 9

All Crops    Eastern Idaho, Magic Valley

Posted on: July 16, 2025 by Jemila Chellappa

Eastern Idaho Pest Alert - July 11, 2025 | Volume 6, Issue 9
Coverage: Bannock, Bingham, Bonneville, Cassia, Fremont, Jefferson, Madison, Power, and Teton Counties
Prepared by: University of Idaho Extension, Bonneville County
Editor: Ron Patterson

Featured Pest Alerts

Blister Mites (Phytoptus pyri, Eriophyes mali)
Host Crops: Apples, Pears
Symptoms: Brown, blister-like galls on upper leaf surfaces; stunted growth and early leaf drop in heavy infestations
IPM Tips:

• Apply dormant oil sprays in late winter
• Monitor with a hand lens during early spring bud break
• Use sulfur dust or miticides post-bloom as needed
• Encourage predatory mites and avoid broad-spectrum insecticides

Pollinator & Predator Spotlight – Painted Lady Beetle (Mulsantina picta)
Benefits: Natural predator of aphids, mites, and soft-bodied pests
Habitat: Conifers, meadows, and gardens
Conservation Tips:

• Include native flowering plants and conifers
• Leave mulch, bark, and leaf litter undisturbed for overwintering
• Refrain from using broad-spectrum pesticides

Codling Moth (Cydia pomonella)
Current Stage: First and second generation overlap ongoing
Spray Guidance:

• High-pressure sites: Follow Option A (insecticide) or Option B (oil + insecticide) and repeat every 14–18 days
• Low-pressure sites: Begin at first egg hatch and adjust timing based on trap data
• Backyard Options: Use products like Spinosad, Malathion, or codling moth virus (Cyd-X) based on label rates
  Note: See full tables (pgs. 6–7) for region-specific spray dates from Burley to Driggs

Fire Blight (Erwinia amylovora)
Symptoms: Blackened shoots resembling fire scorch; visible two weeks post-bloom
Management Tips:

• Prune on dry days and disinfect tools between cuts
• Apply protectants or resistance inducers during bloom (e.g., Actigard, Regalia)
• Apply biologicals (e.g., Blossom Protect, Serenade) at bloom or post-bloom
  Backyard Note: If no blooms are present, focus on sanitation and pruning

Webinars & Upcoming Events

• July 22 – Chip Bud Grafting Fruit Trees – Bracken Henderson (7:30 PM MT)
• July 24 – Plant Talk Q&A – Ron Patterson & Reed Findlay (7:30 PM MT)
• August 12 – Deer Proofing Your Yard – Sara Mahdavi (7:00 PM MT)
• August 26 – Dehydrating Your Harvest
• Sept 9 – Understanding Manures
• Sept 23 – Freeze Drying Your Harvest
  Zoom Link: https://uidaho.zoom.us/j/92616335377

More Information: Check the Attached PDF

Contact: 

Lena Allen 

Horticulture Secretary

University of Idaho Extension – Bonneville County
1542 E 73rd S, Idaho Falls, ID 83404
(208) 529-1390
bonneville@uidaho.edu

uidaho.edu/extension/county/bonneville
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» Pest_Alert_July_11_2025_blister_mites_painted_lady_beetles.pdf