Trap Plants as a Tool Against Thrips parvispinus in Tropicals

*Sweet alyssum (Lobularia) as a trap plant for T. parvispinus.*

Thrips parvispinus has become a serious pest of tropical ornamental crops in North American since 2020. Due to the severity of the damage, IPM strategies are needed to complement chemical control until an effective and economical biocontrol program can be developed for this pest.

Mass trapping through traps, lures, or trap plants can be an effective strategy for thrips. We’ve already seen that mass trapping cards REALLY help with this pest (more on that, later). And, it seems that trap plants may also be an effective strategy when used properly in vegetative crops.

Read on for what we did and how to implement it on YOUR farm.

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Poinsettia Pest Management Pointers 2023: Late Production and the Whitefly “Tipping Point”

It’s that time of year again, when problems early in the crop may have caught up with you. This includes root rots, Lewis mite, and Bemisia whitefly.

Now, you’ll be forced to make a choice with your poinsettia crop. Do you stay the course with a biocontrol program? Or spray for pests? And, as always, the question is “spray with WHAT”?

This post has tips on pest management decision making when it comes to common poinsettia problems in October.

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Got Tropicals? How to Detect and Monitor for Thrips parvispinus.

*Figure 1.* Thrips parvispinus female. Photo by A. Summerfield, Vineland.

In a previous blog post, we talked about which pesticides can control Thrips parvispinus if you end up with an infestation from imported plant material.

But how do you figure out if this invasive pest is in your facility in the first place? And, if so, what’s the best way to monitor their populations?

After working with this pest for the last 1-2 years, researchers like myself have figured out which monitoring methods are most effective. This can help you identify the problem early, begin a management plan, and monitor the efficacy of your controls.

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Poinsettia Pest Management Pointers: Early Production 2023

Hopefully you’ve read our previous post on pest management in propagation. Now it’s time to cover poinsettia IPM during early production.

This post will cover the first signs of root rots, as well as whitefly and Lewis mite monitoring and management. As healthy plants are better able to defend themselves from pests and diseases, we’ll also give a quick nutrient refresher.

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Poinsettia Pest Management Pointers 2023: Receipt Through Potting Up.

Poinsettias are here! In the next few posts we’ll be breaking down production into into 4 key growing periods: Receipt/Propagation, Early Production, Late Production, and Finishing.

This post on propagation will cover things you can do now to treat pests and diseases in your cuttings to prevent BIG problems later. And make sure to check out Dr. Chevonne Dayboll’s previous post on ensuring cutting quality.

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Japanese Beetles Have Started To Emerge

Posted on June 27, 2023 by Cassie Russell

Back by not so popular demand, Japanese Beetle (Popillia japonica) adults are starting to emerge and take flight in southern Ontario! We caught our first adults in pheromone traps on June 23rd in Guelph.

Look for these shiny green and copper beetles feeding on grape leaves, roses and many other trees and shrubs. Where possible, homeowners can knock adults into a bucket of soapy water (to smother them). Several insecticides are registered for the adults in the nursery, including BeetleGONE and Imidan.

Preventative applications of Intercept and Acelepryn are registered for white grubs (e.g. European chafer, June beetle, and/or Japanese beetle) in nursery and greenhouse production and the application period begins now.

If you’re looking for more direction on what can be applied (and when) for JB control for phytosanitary measures, below is a link to the JB control infographic and article from a few months ago:

Japanese Beetle Control 2023: Changes to Allowable Pesticides and Updates to Infographic

Pesticides for Parvispinus: Results of an On-Farm Trial

*Female T. parvispinus (left) on a mandevilla flower; a smaller male (yellow, right) can also be seen.*

Although the invasive pest Thrips parvispinus continues to threaten tropical ornamental crops, the good news is that the sky isn’t falling. Producing crops like mandevilla, schefflera and hoya is still possible, at least in a closed greenhouse setting.

Although developing a reliable biological control program for this pest is probably a few years off, a suite of pesticides is available in the U.S. and Canada to successfully manage T. parvispinus.

This post covers these pesticides, their relative efficacy and demonstrates outcomes when used in an 8 month on-farm trial in mandevilla.

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REMINDER: “Potential Solutions for Parvispinus” Webinar TOMORROW!

Join us for a GrowON webinar tomorrow (Tuesday May 30th) on potential solutions for Thrips parvisipinus from “boots on the ground” folks. This includes technical reps, industry consultants, and extension specialists.

Read on for more information and how to register.

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Upcoming GrowON Webinar on May 30th! “Potential Solutions for Parvispinus: Lessons from the Field”

Webinars on Thrips parvispinus are coming fast and hard lately, as scientists and extension agents try to get you the very latest information on this serious pest of ornamentals and peppers.

Join us for a GrowON webinar next Tuesday on potential solutions for this pest from “boots on the ground” folks. This includes technical reps, industry consultants, an your friendly neighborhood extension specialist in Ontario.

Read on for more information and how to register.

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Japanese Beetle Control 2023: Changes to Allowable Pesticides and Updates to Infographic

It will soon be that time of year again, when Japanese beetle (JB) adults begin to fly! However, there have been some changes to acceptable control products for JB growers need to be aware of in order to be in compliance with certification programs for this pest.

This post highlights changes to treatments and also provides an updated infographic for JB control for those exporting to non-JB areas (both domestically and to the United States).

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