Mass Trapping For Summer Thrips, Part 1: Why Trap and When to Start (Answer: This Week!)

Sometimes your thrips biocontrol program is working great. Other times, it seems to get completely overwhelmed. Thrips can get out of control in Summer, when fall crop production is ramping up. This is where mass trapping can really help.

This post will cover where thrips come from, which species we find on cards, and when the best time is to add mass trapping to your thrips IPM program.

And stay tuned for Part 2, which will cover ways to optimize your mass trapping!

Continue reading →

Your Yearly Reminder of Japanese Beetle Requirements: Get Those Treatments on Before May 15!

Anyone following this blog for the last few years knows I like to remind y’all to make sure you treat your plants for Japanese beetle before May 15! This is because NO pesticides are allowed when Japanese beetle (JB) pupae are present (generally, May 15-June 15 in Ontario),which has gotten some growers into a pickle during spring shipping in the past.

Note that if you’re a nursery crop grower also treating for boxtree moth, you may surpass the maximum allowed applications or rate of Acelepryn per year if you also need to treat for JB. In that case, it might be better to time your treatments for JB in order to use intercept (imidacloprid) instead. So make sure to check out the pesticide timing chart in the JB Infographic in the full post.

This year, I’ve updated the JB Decision Tree and Infographic to include shipping requirements to different areas in the United States. So, if you or your staff need more clarification on any of these points, make sure download the latest PDF.

Continue reading →

Controlling Parvispinus, Oleander Aphid and Spider Mites in Mandevilla: Part 2 – Spider Mite Resistance Management.

Last week, I posted an updated IPM plan for Mandevilla that balances Thrips parvispinus (“Parvi”) control while taking into consideration other pests, as well as costs. The last post covered propagation in detail, including biocontrols and chemicals.

This week I’ll be going over the best way to balance control of Thrips parvispinus (“Parvi”) and two-spotted spider mite (TSSM) in production. I’ll provide a working Parvi spray program that gives you high-quality plants by sale, but also makes sure spider mites don’t walk away with your crop (or your wallet!).

Continue reading →

How To Manage Parvispinus, Oleander Aphid and Spider Mites Effectively in Mandevilla: Part 1 – Propagation.

When Thrips parvispinus first came on the scene in Ontario, our one goal was to knock back this pest any way we could. Four years later, we are suffering the effects of an all-chemical program. This includes high costs, along with insecticide resistance developing in two-spotted spider mite, which used to be managed biologically before Parvipsinus came along.

Based on OMAFA’s work with commercial farms, along with input from technical reps from biocontrol companies, we’ve come up with a more refined IPM program for Mandevilla that balances Parvispinus control while taking into consideration other pests, as well as costs.

I’ll be going over this program in detail over a 3 part series, so buckle up!

Continue reading →

Join our LAST Thrips Identification Workshop on March 4th in SIMCOE!

As control measures differ depending on the thrips species you’re dealing with, the very FIRST step in learning how to manage thrips effectively is proper species identification.

If you’re interested in having someone in your greenhouse operation learn how to do this (so you don’t have to rely on technical reps or government specialists), then keep reading!

This will be our LAST in-person workshop, so make sure to take advantage of this free learning opportunity!

Read on for more details and how to register.

Continue reading →

REMINDER: GrowON Webinar Feb 11th at Noon: Managing Mealybugs

A reminder that on Wednesday, February 11th, GrowON will host Dr. Raymond Cloyd of Kansas State University, for an hour-long exploration of mealybugs and their management.

To attend, click on the registration link in the webinar poster or at the end of the post.

Webinar Description

Who: Dr. Raymond Cloyd, Professor, Kansas State University

What: Mealybugs are a challenge to manage in greenhouse production systems. In this webinar, Dr. Raymond Cloyd (Kansas State University) will discuss the biology, behavior, and feeding damage affiliated with mealybugs. He will then address plant protection/pest management strategies, including cultural, physical, insecticidal, and biological that greenhouse producers can implement to keep mealybug populations below plant damaging levels.

When: Wednesday, February 11th, 12-1pm EST (11-12 CST)

Where: on Zoom. (The recording will also be made available on the ONFloriculture blog at a later date). Please register for this FREE webinar using this link.

More Info: Questions regarding the webinar can be directed to sarah.jandricic@ontario.ca.

Upcoming GrowON Webinar Feb 11th: Managing Mealybugs

Mealybugs, which have long plagued tropical plants, are now appearing in a wider variety of crops, from chrysanthemums to poinsettia. On Wednesday, February 11th, please join Dr. Raymond Cloyd of Kansas State University, for an hour-long exploration of mealybugs and their management.

To attend, please continue reading and click on the registration link in the webinar poster or at the end of the post.

Continue reading →

REMINDER: GrowON Webinar TOMORROW on Nematode Application and Efficacy!

On Wednesday, December 17th, please join Greg Bryant , Technical Lead at Beneficial Insectary, for an hour-long exploration of what nematodes can do, if you treat them right.

To attend, please continue reading and click on the registration link in the webinar poster or at the end of the post.

Continue reading →

In Case You Missed It: Two-Spot Cotton Leafhopper – a New Pest of Hibiscus.

*Fig. 1.* *Two-spot cotton leafhopper. Photo by A. Revynthi, University of Florida.*

Just when we think we have Thrips parvispinus under control, a new pest is threatening tropical ornamentals. The two-spot cotton leafhopper (Amrasca biguttula) is mainly a pest of – you guessed it, COTTON – but also attacks hibiscus. Growers in Ontario should be aware of this pest if importing hibiscus cuttings from the Southern U.S., where this pest has currently invaded.

There’s been lots of good information shared on this pest recently. Read on for a summary relevant to ornamental growers, including what to look for, effective pesticides and what actions you should take NOW.

Continue reading →

GrowON Webinar, December 17: Worms at War – Maximizing Nematode Efficacy for Greenhouse and Nursery Crops.

As December winds down, thoughts are now turning to spring crops. This can include spring bedding crops or nursery plants coming out of their winter sleep. Both of these can bring onslaughts of pests like thrips, fungus gnats, shore flies and even weevils. Nematodes are an important natural enemy in fighting these pests, and are often the gateway into using more biocontrol. But are you using them to the best of their abilities?

Please join Greg Bryant , Technical Lead at Beneficial Insectary, for an hour-long exploration of what nematodes can do, if you treat them right.

To attend, please continue reading and click on the registration link in the webinar poster or at the end of the post.

Continue reading →