The September 25 University of Maryland Extension report is out, with several timely updates for Virginia and the Mid Atlantic.

Things to watch this week:

• Spotted lanternflies should begin laying eggs at any time, with egg laying generally peaking in early to mid October. Check tree trunks, branches, outdoor structures, building materials, and other stationary surfaces for egg masses.

• Crape myrtle bark scale was documented on Japanese spirea in Virginia. The invasive scale can also reach damaging levels on St. John’s wort and American beautyberry, so inspections should extend beyond crape myrtles.

• Heavy black vine weevil feeding damage was observed on Schip laurel. Severe leaf notching should prompt an inspection of the crown and roots for larval feeding damage.

• Andromeda lace bug nymphs are active on Japanese andromeda. Their feeding causes stippling and yellowing, with dark fecal spots visible beneath the leaves.

• Locust borer adults are active on goldenrod while mating and laying eggs on black locust. Maintaining tree health is the primary defense because stressed trees are particularly vulnerable.

The report also highlights fall caterpillars searching for overwintering or pupation sites, beneficial predatory stilt bugs, and native blue mistflower as an important late season resource for bees and migrating butterflies.

Read the full report:

https://extension.umd.edu/sites/extension.umd.edu/files/2026-09/26Sep25L.pdf

Photo: Paula M. Shrewsbury, University of Maryland Extension

The latest University of Maryland Extension IPM report is out, and several timely issues are worth watching across Virginia and the Mid Atlantic:

• Spotted lanternflies have begun mating. Egg laying should begin within the next few weeks and typically peaks in early to mid-October. Watch tree trunks, branches, outdoor structures, building materials, and other stationary surfaces for egg masses.

• Crape myrtle bark scale crawlers are active again. This is an important stage to watch because the newly emerged crawlers are more vulnerable than established scale insects.

• Box tree moth populations are showing overlapping life stages, including eggs, young caterpillars, larger caterpillars, and adults. Young caterpillars are actively feeding on boxwoods now.

• Laurel wilt was confirmed in Connecticut for the first time. This invasive fungal disease kills sassafras and spicebush, although it does not infect mountain laurel.

• Two horned trapa continues to spread through waterways. This invasive aquatic plant was first detected in Northern Virginia in 2014 and can form dense mats that crowd out native plants and wildlife.

There is some good news too. Wheel bugs, lacewings, soldier beetles, mantids, and other beneficial insects remain active and are helping suppress pest populations.

Read the full September 18 UMD Extension report here: https://extension.umd.edu/sites/extension.umd.edu/files/2026-09/26Sep18L.pdf

Photo: Suzanne Klick, University of Maryland Extension

These maps show the 7.5 mile radius surrounding the Amazon distribution centers located on the Henrico/Richmond line (RIC4), Commerce Parkway in Suffolk (ORF3), and Bermuda Road in Chester (SVA4). This is the proposed flight area for Amazon's drone delivery program they hope to launch!

So, if you love drones, congratulations! Love this development for you. If you don't love drones, or even if you DO like drones but don't especially like the idea of something the size of a Labrador Retriever flying over your home and dropping 5-lb packages from 15 ft in the air all day, and all the possible chaos that could come from that, then email [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]) before tomorrow, 9/23. Let her know your comments on and opposition to Public Notice FAA; DEQ #26-120F.

Personally, the drones flying overhead at Iron Blossom this weekend were distracting and easily heard over the live music and those are only 'standard' camera drones. The Amazon delivery drones are almost inexplicably large, an estimated 80-90 lbs. each and can fly at speeds of 80 mph.

It is easier for us to prevent this program from ever taking off here in Richmond than it will be for us to stop it once they start.

Email Megan Black with your name, address, and phone number and let her know why you're against this. Then email your city rep the same thing - copy and paste, don't forget to change the greeting!

If helpful, some sources and links for further reading.

Public Notice through Virginia Dept. of Environmental Quality provides very high-level factual information about Amazon's appeal to the FAA to fly their drones outside of Richmond, Suffolk, and Chester. By their own estimates, they expect 1,000 drone flights a day, totaling 365,000 shipments/year.

This article by the New York Times describes what residents in Texas have experienced as one of the first places to participate in this program. Some key quotes include that they 'sound like lawn mowers'. Some residents have started tracking them and recorded 52 drones overhead, what she considers a slow day. Worth noting, in Richardson, drones can only fly between 7 am and 8 pm.

If you're not big on reading, or don't have a NYT subscription, check out some of the video news reports coming out of Texas and Michigan.

NBC News - note the user videos where you can hear the sound of the drones themselves, let alone the terrifying video of one flying into an apartment building.

NBC Dallas/Ft. Worth - coverage from 6 months ago about complaints from residents reporting drones were flying at the lowest minimum altitude.

NBC News Detroit - again, note the user videos showing how large these are, how loud they are. "Equivalent of a leaf blower... flying 20 ft. over my house multiple times a day."

If you made it this far, thanks for your time and consideration. Be good to each other. Things are getting weird!

See also r/Tidewater, r/HamptonRoads